I Worked at Hobby Lobby and Saw the Troubling World of Corporate Christianity

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/economy/i-worked-hobby-lobby-and-saw-troubling-world-corporate-christianity


A Hobby Lobby store is seen on June 30, 2014 in Plantation, Florida

It was the most difficult job I've ever had. I've been a history professor for years, toiled as a graduate assistant before that, and even did a stint as an IT technician. But the three months I worked at Hobby Lobby stocking googly eyes and framing baseball cards takes the cake. I wanted a break from academia but it ended up not being a break at all. I found myself deconstructing and analyzing all aspects of my job -- from the Bible in the break room to the prayers before employee meetings and the strange refusal of the company to use bar codes in its stores. (The rumor amongst employees was that bar codes were the Mark of the Beast, but that rumor remains unsubstantiated.)

Three months was enough to convince me that there is something larger at work and the SCOTUS decision only confirms my belief that corporate Christianity (and Christianity that is corporate) has made it difficult for Americans to discern religion from consumption.

As a scholar of religious history, I observe the way that faith intersects with culture. I study and publish on megachurches and my interpretation of this week's events is informed not only by my experiences as an employee at Hobby Lobby but also my knowledge of recent religious trends. My biggest question after hearing the decision was not about the particular opinions or practical repercussions (which are significant and have far-reaching and dangerous consequences). Instead, my first thought was: "What is it about our cultural fabric that enables us to attribute religious rights to a corporate entity?" In the United States we have increasingly associated Christianity with capitalism and the consequences affect both corporations and churches. It's a comfortable relationship and seemingly natural since so much of our history is built on those two forces. But it's also scary.

Hobby Lobby is a for-profit craft chain, not a church. I'm stating the obvious just in case there was any confusion because -- let's face it -- it's confusing. It's as confusing as those googly eyes (do you really need three different sizes, Hobby Lobby, really?). Today, we see giant churches that operate like corporations and now corporations have some of the same rights as churches. Many megachurches adopt "seeker-sensitive" approaches to attract members, relying on entertainment and conspicuous consumption to promote their services. After a while, the spiritual and secular lines start to blur and the Christian and corporate blend. Ed Young, Jr.'s Fellowship Church, for instance, started a "90-Day Challenge" for members. The church asks congregants to pledge 10 percent of their income and promises "that if you tithe for 90 days and God doesn't hold true to his promise of blessings, we will refund 100 percent of your tithe."

[Trillo]

1. Really shoving their beliefs down employees' throats. NT

[Kablooie]

2. They want to drag us back to the world of Arthur Dimmesdale an Hester Prinn.

Is Hobby Lobby selling any scarlet letter "A"s yet?

[xchrom]

3. shhh! don't give them any ideas. nt

[jmowreader]

4. Why, yes they do!

[pamela]

11. "B" is the new scarlet letter.

For all the immoral women who use birth control.

[myrna minx]

5. K&r

[RainDog]

6. prosperity gosgel is blasphemy

it's nothing but snake oil bullshit that takes advantage of people already in difficult situations. It's shameful that people who promote this are't vilified every day in the press for lying.

Jesus' entire message was that the things of this world don't matter - the material things.

American capitalist christianity shits on that message every day.

(nota bene - I use one of the preferred verbs of Martin Luther, who talked about another church back in the day, who also told people to shit on the devil...not that I'm advocating anyone literally engage in any such practices.)

[littlemissmartypants]

7. Rain Dog you're so smart. That's sexy.

Interesting post and thread. Thank you.
Love, Peace and Shelter. Lmsp

[RainDog]

9. LOL

well, coming from someone who calls herself littlemisssmartypants, I'll take that as gospel!

[littlemissmartypants]

10. ..

[ReRe]

8. K&R

[UTUSN]

12. R#38 & k n/t

[progressoid]

13. Bibles in the breakroom?

Oy Vey.

[Phentex]

14. kick

kick

[CanSocDem]

15. Back when I was looking....

....for 'spiritual enlightenment' in the dumpster of western culture, I realized that the values and principles of modern religion too closely resembled the values and principles of corporatism.

Salvation being the ultimate commodity. The culture was one of competition and appearance and not of what I learned outside the culture which was the value of self-worth and personal growth.

When family connections and circumstance put me in contact with the Mormon Church I began to believe that they would one day, initiate the final separation between church and Corporatism with their unabashed support and promotion of corporate values. They told me that God favours the successful businessman.

And, while on occasion working for a Mormon I felt no particular spiritual growth I did come to realize that the church, with it's $$$, was attracting some very un-Christian members.

What should go first...???

The church or the economic system?? As they are today, you can't have both.


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