I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies. (Song of Solomon 6:3, KJV)
Judging from my Facebook newsfeed, it is quite clear that Christians love capitalism. Just in case you missed it, conservative Christians lined up on Saturday to purchase craft supplies at Hobby Lobby to show the world that they appreciate the corporation's refusal to give their employees full access to healthcare coverage. From this perspective, Hobby Lobby exemplifies Christian principles par excellence. For they are sacrificing the almighty dollar to stand up for "religious freedom."
Judging from my Facebook newsfeed, it is quite clear that Christians love capitalism. Just in case you missed it, conservative Christians lined up on Saturday to purchase craft supplies at Hobby Lobby to show the world that they appreciate the corporation's refusal to give their employees full access to healthcare coverage. From this perspective, Hobby Lobby exemplifies Christian principles par excellence. For they are sacrificing the almighty dollar to stand up for "religious freedom."
This weekend we were all witnesses of a marriage--the union between Christianity and Capitalism. Although the two have courted since the days of the puritans, finding commonality in the Protestant Work Ethic, they have only recently consummated the marriage. Perhaps the initial consummation took place in July when we witnessed a similar act between Christianity and Chickfila. Nevertheless, the intercourse that took place at Hobby Lobby on Saturday demonstrates the firm commitments of both marriage parties.
As many Christians argue, a marriage should be fruitful and open to life. The marriage between Christianity and Capitalism has resulted in NEW LIFE--a new religion has entered American culture. This religion has its sacraments--buying goods from "Christian businesses"--and saints, such as Dan Cathy and David Green. It has its own hagiography and stories of martyrdom.
Prayers echo from the pages of social networking sites, calling faithful into participation with the communion of saints.
Prayers echo from the pages of social networking sites, calling faithful into participation with the communion of saints.
I am not sure if you can say this is Christianity and Capitalism as a marriage. Essentially it is a business being told what they must even if it goes against some of the cornerstone beliefs of the CEO. Partons are simply showing support by giving them business to support that choice. It isn't a marriage of Capitalism, is it?
ReplyDeleteI am not very familiar with what the protest is about in the healthcare part of it. Isn't it about birth control? I am guessing HL doesn't want to provide the pill in the healthcare? Well, let's say that is true, why not use condoms or am I missing something more with this?
I have only seen news on this in passing. It seems to have come and gone for me.
Hormonal birth control is for more than just birth control. In fact, a majority of women are on hormonal birth control for medical reasons OTHER than birth control. Hormonal bc is an integral part of women's health and access to it should not be restricted by one's employer.
DeleteWhat does the Religious Right care about? no gay marriage and abortion.Its absurd.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if you can say this is Christianity and Capitalism as a marriage. Essentially it is a business being told what they must even if it goes against some of the cornerstone beliefs of the CEO.
ReplyDeleteYou answered your own question. The CEO is using capitalism to enforce his religious beliefs on his employees.
I am guessing HL doesn't want to provide the pill in the healthcare? Well, let's say that is true, why not use condoms or am I missing something more with this?
Hmm, let's see. Do condoms treat endometriosis, acne, hirsutism, cramping, and dysmenorrhea? Do condoms have a 1 - 5% failure rate as opposed to a 10 - 15% failure rate? Do condoms suppress menstruation? Are condoms resistant to simple tampering, such as having holes poked in them, by jealous exes? Are condoms invisible to men, thus putting a woman's biology entirely under HER control rather than her male sexual partner?
I do believe that the answers to all of those questions is "NO."
So, no. Condoms are not a substitute.
Correction: When I said endometriosis, I meant ovarian cysts.
ReplyDeleteHow many companies give full access to health coverage for women?
ReplyDeleteGosh, this can be a sticky situation for on one hand we have a company who doesn't want to give full coverage because I suppose the company may think of it as an excuse to abuse it(I see where the feminist argument comes in here btw)? Something similiar in the way that condoms would be banned because by endorsing condoms it is thought that the person/company is saying it is ok to have sex (outside of marriage). On the other hand by not allowing full coverage the company may be hampering a woman's full health that can contribute to a woman not being able to get pregnant and who wants to be a mom. I am correct in this?
In the end just as many get on their soapbox on various issues the simple thing here is if you disagree with the company practices then doing buy from them. If you feel very passionate about it then write more articles about it. I have never been in a Hobby Lobby.
If you have an orthodox Jewish CEO of a company that works with potentially flammable chemicals, does that CEO not have to provide flame-resistant suits to his workers because of the biblical prohibition on wearing mixed fabrics (most flame-resistant protective suits are weaves of several flame-resistant fibers)? When you open a can of worms like this, you never know what will come out.
ReplyDeleteI went and read a little bit into this story and here is something I found as to why the controversy with Hobby Lobby.
ReplyDelete"the group representing the Hobby Lobby's suit, the Green family has no objection to providing his employees with preventative contraception, but they object to paying for two specific "abortion-inducing" drugs, known as Plan B and Ella, or the so-called morning-after pill and the week-after pill."
http://global.christianpost.com/news/mike-huckabee-promotes-hobby-lobby-appreciation-day-jan-5-to-fight-hhs-mandate-87721/#7SjF8r3SWUJ377yg.99
The simple thing is if people don't agree with this or are offended then just don't shop there. After all, how many times do you hear someone say if you don't like a program on tv or radio then just flip the channel. Or is it really that easy?
When I was a child Christians used to call for boycotts of certain businesses whose policies they didn't like. Personally, I don't think such boycotts make a bit of difference, and as someone with Socialist sympathies, I find myself in an awkward position of disagreeing with most major corporations in the United States. I still have to live my life, and try to minimize purchasing new goods as much as possible. (This comes from a personal commitment to simplicity and a desire to minimize my carbon footprint more than anything.)
DeleteI bring this up because it puts this post into context with my personal thoughts. There is a difference between a boycott and actively telling sheeple to all support a business on a certain day to take a political/religious stance. People went searching for craft supplies, that they didn't necessarily need in order to support a coorporation and flaunt their identity within the Christian community. Whether these acts are done due to make an anti-homosexual statement or out of anger towards Obama-care are irrelevant. The end result is conflating consumerism with a Christian act.
It disgusts me not only as an atheist and a feminist but as someone who sees this as a degradation of Christian culture--which is what I was trying to convey with this post. Meatless Fridays and scapulars were identifying markers of Catholic culture and still are to some degree. Likewise evangelicals were known for carrying their Bibles to both church and school. Now, we shall know them by their spending habits. It's sad.