I have no idea why question marks are all over this post. I swear I didn’t do this.

“It is not usual for me to be asked if I am married, if I have children and what church I go to.”

Did you mean “unusual” here? In a very religious or conservative community, it can be tempting to use symbols to promote a business, but I think it’s a mistake. I notice relatively few religious symbols used to promote businesses in Salt Lake, and I think that’s a good thing.

“Would Jesus care if He was used to promote the neighborhood lawn care service?”

I think he does care. It shows poor taste and a lack of understanding about Christ himself to engage in actively promoting a business through religious symbols or literature. And it can also backfire and turn people off, as well as being seen as misrepresentative.

I think the scriptures in the nightstand are a different thing, however. I don’t see that as actively promoting the business. I don’t know what the eqivalent of that would be for a non-hotel business, but tracts in the bathroom is probably not it.

#3 Yep. I did mean unusual. I am going to get better at editing before posting.

Maybe it depends on what part of the country you are in. I never noticed this growing up in the west. I think it happens more often in the Bible belt.

I pretty much agree with you. However, I have a seen a large ear clinic that had a display of the Bible and a quote that said, “He who has ears let him hear.” I liked that.

I don’t see the religious symbols in business here in southern Utah, although you will read in for rent ads “LDS standards” which means “no smokers, no partiers”–isn’t that illegal? I don’t mind the Bibles in motel rooms, either, because I think people at the edge might need them.

There is a billboard along I-15 in Utah County for something along the lines of LDS Realtors.net

I relative traveling visiting from out of the country mentioned just the other day how revolting the sign was. Of course most billboards are revolting, but this one was both revolting and worthy of mention.

From “Johns Hopkins’ Seal and Jesus’ Words”:
“Of more particular interest to Latter-day Saints, even more than Yale’s Urim and Thummim, would be the statue in the Johns Hopkins Hospital’s original lobby. Benefactor W.W. Spence paid 20,000 Danish crowns to have a replica of Thorvaldsen’s statue of Christ carved by Theobald Stein, director of the Royal Academy of Arts in Copenhagen. Christus Consolator was unveiled by Spence’s four-year-old great-granddaughter on October 14, 1896, and stands there today, a spot unusually quiet for how focal it is in an institution that is bustling everywhere else. The inscription on its base reads ‘Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.’”

“Generally speaking my experience in business is that the more folks openly talk about how “Christian” they are the more likely they are to be shady.”

And, especially for people in the Mormon Corridor, folks that talk about how “LDS” they are.

I think the scriptures in the nightstand are a different thing, however. I don’t see that as actively promoting the business

I have to agree. Scriptures in the nightstand, aside from the comedy aspect they provided in an episode of Cheers, provide comfort, are ubiquitous and are not in your face.

There is a difference between “Jesus as marketing” and “Jesus as comfort.”

They stole our work without paying for it — what did they steal? I’m curious. Wondering if there is a way to follow-up.

If I need a doctor, I want the best. If I need a lawyer, I want the best. Same with most other professionals. If the best happens to be LDS, great. If not, I’m fine with that. I’ve seen too many people hurt because they, for example, chose a realtor solely because that realtor was LDS, or a financial advisor solely because that person was LDS. So on the basis of competence alone, making religious affiliation the most important criterion is foolish. Beyond that, using Jesus as a marketing tool is distasteful. What’s next, unbuttoning your shirt to show someone you’re wearing garments?

@#4 Tim.
I think you have identified the exception to what (the other) Ron said in #19. I’m ok with a Daycare or a private school advertising that they are LDS or LDS oriented. LDS ness doesn’t really have any bearing on how my doctor will treat me or how my Attorney will pursue my case, but it does have a bearing on what/how someone will teach my kids.

#22 – Your reasoning is much more valiant than mine. I think I’m gonna adopt it.

Stephen M (Ethesis) #17,

I don’t want to go into details, but we were asked to provide a proposal for services. After producing a standard proposal, we were then asked to provide a much more detailed proposal, so that the project could be evaluated higher up. This was an unusual step, but we were given promises that we’d get the work if it was approved. So we gave them a massive document that outlined the whole system in great detail. Then they kept asking for more, “So we can get it approved!” All the while with promised that we’d get the implementation work. It got to the point that they asked for and received a functioning proof of concept which they did not pay for. So we did a proposal and proof of concept which was so detailed that they used it to do the work themselves, all the while denying that they were doing that.

arj, you should sue. Not for money, but for right.

re #13- I’ve seen the Christus at Johns Hopkins- it’s huge and breathtakingly beautiful.

Fish symbols on business cards…ick.

If you’re truly a follower of Christ, it will be shown in your deeds and words and people will spread the word.