Posted on 10/19/2005 12:19:56 PM PDT by linkinpunk
Starbucks stirs things up with a God quote on cups
By Cathy Lynn Grossman
Wed Oct 19, 7:25 AM ET
Coffee drinkers could get a spiritual jolt with their java in the spring when Starbucks begins putting a God-filled quote from the Rev. Rick Warren, author of the mega-selling The Purpose-Driven Life, on its cups.
It will be the first mention of God in the company's provocative quote campaign, The Way I See It. In 2005, Starbucks is printing 63 quotes from writers, scientists, musicians, athletes, politicians and cultural critics on cups for company-run and licensed locations to carry on the coffeehouse tradition of conversation and debate.
Some mention "faith in the human spirit," but none is overtly religious. Last month, Baylor University pulled Starbucks cups after objections to a quote from writer Armistead Maupin saying that "life is too damn short" to hide being gay.
Warren says the idea of a grande pitch for God as creator came to him after seeing a Starbucks quote on evolution from paleontologist Louise Leakey. Because Starbucks solicited customer contributions for 2006, Warren sent his in. On Tuesday, Starbucks spokeswoman Sanja Gould confirmed that it would be used.
The cups carry a disclaimer that the opinions "do not necessarily reflect the views of Starbucks."
But a few companies plant clues to Christianity in their wrappings, music or signs precisely because the owners are believers.
In-N-Out Burger, the California-based fast-food chain, has included tiny notations for Bible verses in some of its burger and drink packaging since Richard Snyder, son of the founders, called for it in 1987. "He told me, 'It's just something I want to do,' " company spokesman Carl Van Fleet says.
After Snyder's death in 1993, "the family felt strongly about keeping this just as he had done it" at its 196 outlets in California, Arizona and Nevada. The Bible book and verse in minuscule type "are so subtle most of our customers never notice."
One who did: Don Chang, the deeply religious founder of clothing chains Forever 21 and XXI.
Five years ago, the clothier copied In-N-Out by stamping the Bible book, chapter and verse notation John 3:16 on the bottom of his stores' shopping bags: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
It's "evidence of faith," corporate spokesman Larry Meyer says.
Other owners making a faith statement in the secular marketplace include David Green, whose craft chain Hobby Lobby plays only Christian contemporary music in its 362 stores, and S. Truett Cathy, who advertises that Chick-fil-A sandwich shops nationwide are closed on Sundays to free employees to focus on faith and family.
"Americans are more accepting of overt religiosity these days, and corporations are good at figuring out how to do it with a light touch, one that's not going to scare off unbelievers," says sociologist David Halle, director of the LeRoy Neiman Center for the Study of American Society and Culture at the University of California-Los Angeles.
Alaska Airlines has put baseball-card-size prayer cards on hot-meal trays for 30 years "just to differentiate us from the competition," spokeswoman Amanda Tobin says. "Compliments have always far outweighed complaints."
So Starbucks says they're putting these various quotes on coffee cups to stimulate conversation. Now if I go into a Starbucks and start up a conversation about God am I going to be kicked out with accusations of prostylization...or are they really open to discussion?
I seriously canot understand why any Christian would have a problem with that quote.
It is Scriptural and factual.
GR... a place i try to avoid. :) have a number of business contacts up there, but have yet to make it out there to meet any of them in person.
If you go in there for the sole purpose of talking about God, or any other subject for that matter, then perhaps they would be correct to kick you out.
If you go in as a patron and have a conversation while enjoying your purchase, well, that's a different story.
Precisely the reason not to go there!
You avoid places because of Urban Legends?
I've been to our local Starbucks exactly once since it opened. Naturally, this was the quote on my cup.
A Christian pastor with the opportunity to spread a message to Starbucks coffee drinkers comes up with a statement that could be said by any teacher of any monotheistic religion? He could have done way better.
Read the article? Heretic!
Oh you mean Self righteous and proud and always ready to say the Hypocritic Prayer of the Frozen Chosen: "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men"? Luke 18:11.
That's all we need in the church is a bunch of those "other men", huh?
Thanks for the information. I have heard this claim many times, including from some of the solidiers my husband and I support in Iraq and Afghanistan who indicated they had emailed Starbucks requesting coffee and were told NO.
Seems to be a favorite of the Troops and something they always request. We have been buying and sending to the Troops, simply because that's what they want. Glad to learn I was wrong.
Think I'll contact them and ask how I can get some "free". I asked at the Starbucks store for a Military Discount and they said no. We do get a Military Discount from many stores, which really helps. WalMart always gives a discount and even gives us some "free stuff" every once in a while.
OK.
Do better yourself.
Your criticising his quote does no good.
Again, the quote is 100% factual and 100% scriptual. All Gospel messages do not have to have the word "repent" in them to be a Christian message.
LOL!!! Thank you, best laugh I've had all day!
Is that the "new and improved, 28% less offensive" cross behind Rick in the picture?
Wonder if he did a survey to find out what it should look like.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16
Can't get more factual and scriptural than this.
Uh huh.
And the chances that Starbucks would put that on their cups are ........... ?
Yep. You're absolutely right. A tool of Satan if I ever saw one.
What was I thinking? :0)
I'm surprised to hear a Christian owns Forever 21 - hoochie central.
5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."
6 And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly.
7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."
8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much."
9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.
10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
I hope I am never one who complains about who the Lord chooses to associate with. I would hate to have my name associated with those who claim to love Jesus the Christ with words and yet they hate their fellow man with their actions and attitudes.
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