The boyfriend joins me for this one. It’s been awhile since he’s been on! Leave comments and call the voicemail line: 202-709-3029, Twitter: @RadioArcherr Instagram: @radioarcherr
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You know where I stand on religion, I’m pretty much the same as you. But here’s a tidbit of info you haven’t brought up. Where do you think the word holiday comes from? “Holy Day”… yet we all use it in our daily language…but we use it to talk about anything, we call our birthdays a holiday. Are you going to stop using the word holiday now? I think you have to draw the line somewhere. (=
I believe that boycotting a winery because the family displays its coat of arms and that coat of arms just happens to have three crosses on it is narrow-minded. Unless the family wrote down the symbolism of the elements on the coat of arms when they designed it, any speculation as to the meaning of any elements is just that: speculation. Three crosses may well represent the Holy Trinity, but they may also represent three sons who served in the Crusades (http://www.heraldry.ws/).
I would argue that putting a “fish” symbol on the wine bottle would be a more outright declaration of the Christian faith of the business owners, but even then, who cares, really? Buy or refuse to buy the wine on its own merits (or the lack thereof), not because of somebody’s religious affiliation. Otherwise, you are just as closed-minded as you have accused Christians of being.
Well, I agreed with both of you, but mostly Archerr. Here’s my reservation: Do you know the history of this family crest? If they designed it to be a display of their particular religiosity, that’s quite different from one that’s been in the family for generations and which has a story, real or made up, that they tell people.
For me, the family crest by itself means nothing—it’s just a logo. If they made it up, I might raise an eyebrow, but wouldn’t necessarily refuse to buy their wine. However, if it turned out they were giving some of their profits to rightwing causes (by which I mean, any conservative issues I don’t agree with or which are directly against me and my rights), I wouldn’t do business with them.
I guess what I’m saying is that context matters. Religion is everywhere, and so are the religious, and it’s pointless to try and avoid them. However, any business that works against me and my rights, whether religious or not, cannot expect one cent from me.
Archerr, I understand and share your discomfort at ostentatious religious display, but you go too far. Would you refuse to buy something from a store if one of the clerks wore a little cross or star of David around her neck? A mezuzah on the doorpost? If it were a local office of a publicly-owned corp. I would object, but with a family business I’d only back out if the display was really in-your-face. If I went in to buy a sweater I don’t want to feel like I’m attending a religious service.
If a wine were made by monks would refuse to drink it? (for the sake of argument assume it’s good)
I think religion is a dangerous form of insanity and will may well destroy the world, but I’d buy a bottle of that wine.
Archerr – I have to agree with you on this one. There are lots of places to spend my money and I don’t support Mormons or anyone else who makes a religion out of being anti-gay and I don’t support businesses that wear their religion on their sleeves. There are lots of people producing excellent wine that don’t push Christianiaty on their labels. Don’t buy it.
Oh my god (no pun intended)-I’m having my partner listen to this one! The religion conversation is SO me and Ron, with me playing the Archer role.