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February 4th, 2011
05:09 PM ET
Chick-fil-A controversy shines light on restaurant's Christian DNABy Dan Gilgoff, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor The ongoing Chick-fil-A flap - which has gay rights groups blasting the restaurant chain for donating food to an anti-gay marriage group - may be a fleeting controversy for a privately held company that is more accustomed to fiercely loyal patrons and generally positive press coverage. But Lake Lambert, author of the book Spirituality Inc., says the flap may be a sign of more turbulence ahead for Chick-fil-A as it attempts to hold onto its conservative Christian business culture while expanding its chain beyond the Bible Belt. “If you have a faith-based corporate identity and you want to function in the national marketplace, you’re going to continue to encounter resistance to those values because not everybody is going to share them,” says Lambert. “The only other option is some sort of secular identity and that’s not where Chick-fil-A is going.” Lambert says Chick-fil-A is the most visible example of an American corporation trying to foster a specifically Christian identity. The company is privately held and family-run, making that task somewhat easier. Lambert says Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy signed what Cathy describes as a “covenant” with his children when they took over the company, to help preserve its Christian DNA. The current controversy erupted when some college campus and gay rights groups blasted the restaurant chain for donating free food to a Pennsylvania organization opposed to gay marriage. The Human Rights Campaign, a major gay rights group, launched a letter writing campaign to the company, while the Indiana University South Bend went so far as to temporarily suspend Chick-fil-A service in its campus dining facilities. The fallout provoked Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy to defend his company in a Facebook video and in a written statement. “In recent weeks, we have been accused of being anti-gay,” Cathy said in a written statement last Saturday. “We have no agenda against anyone.” “While my family and I believe in the Biblical definition of marriage,” the statement continued, “we love and respect anyone who disagrees.” The gestures have not mollified many of the chain’s critics, some of whom are airing their grievances on Chick-fil-A’s Facebook page. The Human Rights Campaign is calling on the restaurant to begin participating in the Corporate Equality Index, which rates companies’ treatment of gays. Christian culture pervades many aspects of Chick-fil-A’s operations, from its corporate purpose – which includes “to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us” – to its policy of closing restaurants on Sundays to praying at restaurant openings. According to a recent case study of the restaurant chain by the Yale School of Management, employees are encouraged to attend prayer services. Chick-fil-A has over 1,500 locations and began moving beyond the Deep South in the last decade or so. Recently the company has expanded its number of restaurants in the Northeast, creating a more serious presence there. According to its website, there is only one Chick-fil-A store in New York State, at New York University in downtown Manhattan. Considering Chick-fil-A’s conservative Christian mission, perhaps the most striking feature of the recent controversy is how unusual it is for the company. As the chain continues to grow, they may find it more difficult to avoid the culture war. soundoff (3,197 Responses)1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Being a good, Born-Again Pagan, I've never had a problem with Chik-fil-A's overt Christianity as a company (except on some Sundays). Indeed, if they have a genuine corporate belief, more power to them. Beats all the companies that say they are your friend, your neighbor, but only love you for your money.
You hit the nail on the head. Especially about being closed on Sundays! If only more people thought this way. I'm a "good born-again Christian" and we can agree on this, why can't people just look past ridiculous accusations and support the fact that they are exercising the right to do what they want?
@Thorrsman
All companies love their customers because customers = money, which as you may or may not know is extremely important to helping a company survive. So any company loves money as it is what keeps them being a company.
They are a national chain but they are privately held so they do have a right to say and do the things they feel are in their moral compass. McD's, Taco Bell and Burger King are public held companies and therefore have restrictions on what they can say or do. I don't think it's right but that's they way our liberal government has structured our lives. Too bad people can't leave each other along and not push their social agenda on everyone else.
@ chewie. Good point about the distinction between publicly traded and privately held companies. I personally support gay marriage, but do not consider Chick-Fil-A's donation of food to a group which does not support gay marriage to be inappropriate or offensive in any way. The bottom line for me is that I will continue to go to Chick-Fil-A because every time I go, I get good food, fast, no mistakes in my order and the people with whom I deal are friendly and courteous almost to a fault! That is what keeps me coming back time and time again.
I have not eaten at a Chic-fill-A since my kids were little. It looks like I will start eating there again to support their beliefs. Besides, their food was always good. They should be able to "think" like they want to.
Why did you originally stop eating there?
No one is saying they can't "believe" what they want. It is when they use their corporate dollars or donations to work against a segment of the population – that population has a right to cry FOUL – or FOWL in this case.
I won't eat there.
They can donate their money to who ever they want! It's the USA PEOPLE! NOT THE USSR!
If they are engaged in business with the general public, they do NOT have the right to discriminate against GLBT people OR support those who do.
yes momma, they can donate their dollars to whatever they want, but i am under no obligation to give them those dollars to donate to organizations that actively campaign to deny me equal rights. has nothing to do with the government, has nothing to do with trying to stop them from spending THEIR money , just people making choices not to contribute to the coffers of those seeking to do them harm. -as those complaining about 'the gays' would do if a company made large contributions to organizations actively campaigning to pass laws denying christians the right to get married, adopt children, or strip away protections for christians in the workplace and housing, all while claiming they wouldn't mind people who made the choice to be christians, so long as they didn't practice their faith. it is a choice, you know
anti gay marriage people need to eat too.
Hear hear!! haha. Well put.
Yes, the sane people need to eat.
While I respect Chick-Fil-A's Christian "DNA", a NATIONAL CHAIN does not have the right to use its company as a platform for their beliefs.
I do NOT believe they have an agenda.
I DO believe that they have tasty food.
I DO believe that, as a business, they should SELL said tastiness and STFU about politics and religion.
Because of the BUSINESS PROMOTING A POLITICAL/RELIGIOUS AGENDA, I choose to take my business to Taco Bell because McD's and Burger King suck. Yay freedom of choice! It's not like they're holding a gun to your head and saying EAT HERE daggonit!
Again, because people are going to misread EVERYTHING about the above statement, I am NOT protesting Chicky's right to the belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. I am protesting the wisdom on airing it PUBLICLY. If they were a local Mom and Pop chain, I'd be like "Eh, tasty, still eating there". Since it is a NATIONAL chain, they do not have the right, like McD's does not have the right, to air its religious beliefs or political stance.
By the way, I am pro FAMILY, as in family is from those who love you, not those who birthed you. (Family does NOT have to be a man and a woman and children– my nana was raised by her father after her mother died in childbirth and two of my cousins are raised by my lovely lesbian aunties)
Please read the article again. It isn't the restaurant chain that is making this an issue...it's the pro-gay activists who are upset.
Chic fil a did not make this public....they donate to many groups and functions....all you have to do is ask. The gay rights group brought this to the forefront....no where does it say they were turned down for asking for a donation.
Did you read the article at all? The restaurant who donated was a local restaurant in Pennsylvania. They said nothing about gay marriage, just that they were donating chicken sandwiches and brownies to a group who gives seminars supporting traditional marriage. So all this is just a bunch of bull, manufactured by the media to torment Chick-fil-A. Still falls in the heading of NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS who Chick-fil-A donates to.
In response to this, Chick-fil-A makes its stance on Christianity public with its mission statement, being closed on Sunday and so forth. Chick-fil-A is really only doing what all Christians are supposed to do, they are telling the world who they are. It seems only when Christians are willing to come out and be public about their faith: THIS is when the rest of the world gets all upset and freaks out. Kind of sad. In America we are given the right to believe the way we choose to believe, and to live our lives the way we choose to believe. And yet, when a company, an amazingly successful company, continues to support its moral values, the world gets upset. Sounds Biblical to me. Persecution will come to those who are open about their beliefs. Inasmuch, there are millions of Christians in America who WHOLEHEARTEDLY support Chick-fil-A and will continue to do so as long as the company stands upon the Christian foundation upon which it was created to begin with.
You said:
"While I respect Chick-Fil-A's Christian "DNA", a NATIONAL CHAIN does not have the right to use its company as a platform for their beliefs."
As others have pointed out in their response, they are simply responding to a challenge. Be that as it may, I'm pretty sure however that the First Amendment does in fact give them the RIGHT to use their private company to espouse their beliefs.
As the article says, they are a privately held company, they surely have the right to profess whatever beliefs they like.
You're not smart. You can write, yet not read. How odd.
WOW I mean WOW, what a hater MF. People like you made the issue not Chik-fil-a. As I responded to earlier posts, if they donated food to a GAY organization, we would not be here chatting. You might want to go talk to someone about the hate that you spout here. I will add you to our prayer list.
Is "Chick-Fil-A" really a real name. for Christian store it has a strange name....
Evolved. You are kidding right?
Anglican... yes..
Just checkin.
Anglican. checkin where.. ha ha.. man the English language can be strange and i am English..
well, there christian, they dont have that many brain cells, too many have been prayed away. faith, the most addictive distructive drug on earth.
Mickey you're an angry soul.
mickey1313
well, there christian, they dont have that many brain cells, too many have been prayed away. faith, the most addictive distructive drug on earth.
-------------------
Logic and reason FAIL! That is unless you actually looked at the brains of deceased Christians under a microscope and counted brain cells! If not, sounds like unsubstantiated opinion and opinion ONLY!! Which is it?
Mickey, it's they're, not there, and it's destructive, not distructive. Looks like this christian has more brain cells than you.
@w247
Well lets see the right to marry? And no, i could care less who chick-fil-a decide to support, just trying to show you "lol's" point of view.
I will eat at the Colonel's.
Dave. Is Popeye's chicken in your location?
David,
Google is a wonderful thing:
Harlen Sanders (KFC) had a Christian background.
Sam Walton- Christian
Dave Thomas (Wendys) Christian
James Cash Penney (JCPenney) Christian
Run David, but you can't hide! Christian founded businesses, hospitals and schools are still going strong! Others like Harvard went liberal yet had a Christian history!
Unfortunately, people are espousing that Christian beliefs are synonymous with prejudice, and the discrimination and oppression of a specific group. This is not the case. And, it seems those who call themselves Christians are the most guilty of this conveying this misunderstanding. There are many Christians who believe in equality for all, loving and respecting thy neighbor, etc. I am pretty sure this was Jesus' message. It's not about Christianity! It is about contributing to the oppression of a specific group because you think it is Christian. It's not!!
Hi David.
“While my family and I believe in the Biblical definition of marriage,” the statement continued, “we love and respect anyone who disagrees.”
The problem is that marriage in the United States is secular. You don’t have to be religious to get married, and you don’t have to go to a church to get married. So excluding gay couples from “secular” marriage is 100% discriminatory.
David in Houston has it 100% correct! Marriage is secular – no religion has a legitimate claim to the word. Marriage should be available to all, and the various believer cults can come up with some other word. A quick prayer to their imaginary sky daddy should provide them with a word for yet another unnecessary ritual.
Oh Boy!!! How deep
David,
The issue is theological. It may be secularized today as you stated. But remember the union is a picture of Christ and the church. The fact that the world doesn't understand that doesn't mean we throw our hands up and say "okay then go ahead!" We must as the church shining in a dark world teach sound theology.
i agree. i am a lesbian and a christian. i believe in civil unions.. yet i am against 'gay marriage'... the idea of 'gay marriage' is very silly to me and many of my friends. yet, regarding the legal side of things .. civil unions done at a court house should be legalized by the government. To protect property, children and respect the couple if one should die. But marriage in the chapel... silly (for a gay couple that is).
So not letting 2 guys or girls marry is 100% discriminatory. What about son and mother? Daughter and Dad? Siblings? Cousins? Man & 20 women? Old man & a 7 year old girl? They're all humans, where do YOU draw the line? Open the flood gates and let anyone marry if they're human or it's discrimination? I wish I could say no one would want that. What a slippery slope. I would like to leave it at 1 man & 1 woman (of a decent moral age that's been decided and put into law by civilized countries.) Nice & simple.
Wondering, I'm just wondering if you've ever heard of informed consent.
Prejudice & bigotry = morals? I don't think so!
Tony, please stop confusing aesthetics with morality.
Don: I really don't think you know what the word aesthetics means. I think you just enjoy using it your posts because it makes you sound intellectual. Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy concerned with the appreciate of beauty.
Please, please stop misusing this word.
No sorry, I wasn't clear enough. I was merley stating they contributed to a group supporting a certain cause. That being, denying a certain right for a group of people. I was not suggesting the goverment should regulate how we spend our money.
If Chick-fil-A is a christian company, so be it. They have a right to donate to whom ever they please. If you do not like they stance, eat somewhere else. It is getting a little ridiculous when a group dictates how a person, company or whatever should be because they do not believe in that group's way of life. I have no issue with the gay movement and I feel they should be treated just the same as everyone else, but because someone doesn't see that way, they should not be beaten down.
If they were a local mom and pop, I'd agree with you.
Unfortunately, they are a national chain and since the US is not %100 Christian and many people do NOT practice Christianity, they should NOT be using their company as a political/religious base for whatever stance they choose. They can DONATE to whomever they choose, but they cannot voice WHY in wherever or whatever speech they have.
"“In recent weeks, we have been accused of being anti-gay,” Cathy said in a written statement last Saturday. “We have no agenda against anyone.”
“While my family and I believe in the Biblical definition of marriage,” the statement continued, “we love and respect anyone who disagrees.”" This is not an appropriate response. Anyone who is intelligent enough to research can go back and search and find that Chick-Fil-A is a Christian company. A better response would have been:
"“In recent weeks, we have been accused of being anti-gay,” Cathy said in a written statement last Saturday. “We have no agenda against anyone from any background or association.”
"While Chick-Fil-A is a Christian based organization, we like to focus on the customers. As they come from a VERY diverse background, we appreciate each and every one for their continued support."
@MandatoryFun Do you really think other corporations aren't doing the same thing as Chick-fil-a? Or perhaps even doing more? There are plenty of companies who donate to causes of all sorts in an attempt to convince everyone to their point of view, whether it be Christian, Muslim, conservative, liberal, or whatever. This story should be non-news because EVERY national chain does something similar. It's only a "story" because Chick-fil-a donated to a group that opposes a popular opinion. So what?
Chick-fil-A has the right to support any group they want. Plus, I have this feeling that they didn't pick to donate to that one group stickily and exclusively because they were "anti-g a y". I mean, I would not ask a starving man (or woman or child) what they views were on g a y s , before offering them food.
@Slush-man: all the more reason to support local businesses.
LOCAL businesses, like the Calvary Cars up the street from my house are allowed (for lack of better terms) to blatantly advertise their Christian ownership on the cars and the dealership. It annoys me because I don't think that business and religion should mix (this being the result), but I don't do business there, so I've no right to complain.
I support the 1st amendment ("Congress shall make no law establishing a state religion...") but I also support the separation of church and state. Religion has no place in business, especially in a national as secular as the US.
Mandatoryfun you are so off base you were "out" before you swung. Chick-fil-a could be a publically traded company and still have the same beliefs if that is in the Business Plan. You are one of the people that foment hate against a company, or any one else, that does not have your Worldview. It is time to get over the fact everyone's Worldview is not yours and I can say I will not support gays. You can pick Chick-fil-a apart to support your Worldview, but it is time for you to understand, your view is different than the majority of America. It is too bad that the left leaning press make sure the squeeky, gay, wheel gets the grease.
So by your logic if Chick-fil-a supported the KKK you'd have no problem with that.
No? Why not, its the same thing. both the groups that the company supports and the klan want to remove rights from specific groups. You're saying that it is OK.
So tell me what is wrong with this picture?
@MandatoryFun "They can DONATE to whomever they choose, but they cannot voice WHY in wherever or whatever speech they have."
Lat time I checked we were still in America and the First Amendment was still in place. Did it change in your reality?
Just go to an In-N-Out burger on the west coast and look at the bottom of the drink cups. Chick-fil-A is not alone.
Won't be making it out west anytime soon...can you fill us mid westerners in?
John 3:16. Nahum 1:7 is on their burger wraps.
ONE MORE TIME for the hard-of-thinking: the issue IS NOT the Christian orientation of the company. It is the company supporting groups that discriminate against others, some of whom are their own customers. READ THE ARTICLE.
Wow, after reading this article, I think I will eat at Chick-fil-A even more frequently. Fantastic food & morals. If you don't agree with their policy or who they donate food to, eat somewhere else. If McDonald's donated to the KKK, well that is their business, I just would stop eating there. Gays are turning into a bunch of whining sissys.
Tell me, how is hating others being "moral"?
Dawn: you, like Tony, are confusing aesthetics with morality.
Just because people are against gay marriage does not mean they hate gays. Stop throwing that word "hate" around so much. It is getting old.
Don, you are confusing aesthetics with ethics.
Freedom of religion is protected by the Bill of Rights as is freedom of speech. Chic fil A exercised both of theirs. Disagreeing on a gay rights issue is not the same as hate, it is disagreement. Gay Rights have made many great strides over the past few decades exercising the same rights. It is arrogant to state that anyone who believes differently than you is racist/ bigoted/ or violating anyone's rights. The response by Chic fil A boss on facebook was by no means an apology, but it was respectful disagreement. The only way to continue forwarding social tolerance is to respect the rights of others with the rigor with which you demand others respect yours. And if you are offended by their actions, go eat somewhere else. Believe me, all other fast food companies will gladly take your money, because that is the ONLY thing they believe in.
i hope the god you believe so hardly in uses his favorite method of dueing harm, pleague, (as seen in dozens of examples in the bible), and lays you to waste for spewing hate.
No Michelle, I'm not confusing the two. Ethics is the science of morality, and morality solely deals with respecting or violating the rights of others.
Don....Aesthetic – noun, a pleasing appearance or effect. Not sure how anyone is getting that confused with morality?
Encino you are right on the money. Plus this is a private company, they can do what they want and if one does not like it one can choose to go elsewhere.
Well Grover, aesthetics is really your preferences–what is pleasing to you. That "hate" is not pleasing to some is their aesthetic preference. It is not a moral preference.
And Christians quick screwing children behind the alter.
Encino you hit the nail on the head, but I do not think making a great post will change people's minds. If you get in a rut, it is hard to get out of it. Thank you for your incite!
W247
read the article, they are donating to ant-gay marriage group. Seems pretty straight forward.
So what? They made their money, they can give it to whoever they want to? Are you suggesting that the government should step in and regulate how we spend our money now?
again I will ask, how is Chick-Fil-a limiting any ones rights? If you don't like it, don't eat there!
how are they limiting human rights? Surely you cannot be that naive. On the presumption that your are rather than being deliberately obtuse, its simple, they are limiting rights by providing material support to groups that do want to take away or limit the right of some people based on biology.
They are a business. They are not LIMITING rights to anyone by donating to their choice of group.
Unless they are passing the legislation that limits marriage to a man and woman, they are not violating anyone's rights.
What they ARE doing is making a poor business choice, then an even poorer choice of words in the speech that "justified" it.
They donate to a lot of good causes. Some we agree with some not. Give it a rest
And Home Depot supports pro-gay anti family causes...are you going to picket them and spew your hate when it's on the other side?
Not everyone is required to have a problem with that. Thats part of being a democracy. You know, for such a "persecuted" minority, they sure do have a need to control everyone and everything around them, to have the advantage. They just can't handle the word "no."
How do they square the butchering, processing, and reformulating chicken meat into inedible fluff with Christian values? Oh, it's all about the money! I get it now.
An "anti gay marriage organization?" Anyone that's donated food to Obama could be the subject of this article.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/11/obama-on-mtv-i.html
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Obama+defends+choice+anti+marriage+pastor/1092526/story.html
I am sure all of you posting things like I you don't like it don't eat there. Also believe in, If you don't want an abortion don't have one. Because it's your choice. And then you are all talking about rights and freedoms of the company to do what it wants. Do you feel this way about individuals rights too? Don't think so.
Do you think Chik-fil-a would be news if they donated to gay group. Probably not because the Christian people would judge it as a gift not a slam against their beliefs.
@pray
I think its a little hard to come together when one group is trying to limit the rights of another.
How is Chick Fil A limiting any ones rights??????
That is so true, but not all Christians limit groups to their house. I am a Christian and welcome all to worship the one true God. He is calls all people his even if they are lost. He loves as all the same whether we are gay, straight, white, black, brown, high yellow, He does not have a favorite. We are all equal in His eyes. He loves you too! 🙂
A Muslim employee who refused to participate in a Christian prayer was fired. BTW, several violations of workplace EEOE codes at Chik-fil-a.
Agree. The gay and lesbians are limiting the rights of many to object or even think!
WHAT???
Chic-fil-A has the right to give its food away to whomever it wants. And gay rights groups have the right to publicize and protest Chic-fil-A's actions. Neither group's legal *rights* are in question (and suggesting that they are is simply stupid). This issue is about corporate behavior and ethics in a diverse and ever-changing society. Get past the "rights" red herring if you want to be taken seriously.
What is this talk of CHRISTIANS. There is no such thing as a Christian. They are an imaginary people that have never been seen or captured. Christians are like Unicorns,Bigfoot, Chupacabra ,Dragons, The Loch Ness Monster,Fairies,and HONEST Politicians. They might exist,but nobody's ever seen one. Don't tell me Christian,Show me Christian!!! I met plenty of Charlatans though. Everyone who says they are Christians are only Christians as long as it benefits them. But I don't mean to offend.
All chicken is not the same.......this chicken is so good! Gays and Christians and Motmons love it!!! The world loves C.F.!!!
Just to show support, I plan to eat at chick-fil-a even more often...
Great idea!
Me too.
Please eat all of their food you can. Soon your arteries will harden and you will drop dead the next time you think of two men kissing. One less bigot in the world.
I'm totally with you on that. I didnt know Chick-fil-A was a Christian-based company but now that I do i'm definitely gonna eat there more often. Not only do I like their chicken sandwiches but I also admire that theyre standing firm in their values in these days where ungodliness and depravity runs rampant and the wrong is set up as the right by society, like in the case of gay marriage.
I'll support all the Christians who understand that God made everybody and some of them are gay. I'll support all the Christians who follow the teachings of Jesus Christ – to love their neighbors as themselves. I'll eat somewhere else.
RBChicago–Did his comment rub you the wrong way enough to really wish that he would die? Wow, what a thoughtful post; you really added to the quality of this discussion. Let other believe as they wan't without wishing they would die. Why? Mainly because you don't know what is right or wrong for every person in this world. God Bless you RBChicago, I hope you change your views about the preciousness of life. I will pray for you as well.
Katie-
loving someone as themselves, doesn't mean having to agree with them 100%. Just because I should and I do treat others as I want to be treated, doesn't mean I have to follow what they believe. I respect others decisions, even though I might not agree, and when I have the chance to voice my opinion, I do. You clearly have a very screwed up view of "loving your neighbor".
"What year did Jesus think it was?"
Three thousand years before Christ there was Horus.
Was Jesus and Horus the same person or God? Was the similarities just a coincidence? This is what I love about mythology, and if there was ever justification for my belief that Christianity is merely a revised version of Egyptian religion, I'd say this is it:
1. Both were conceived of a virgin.
2. Both were the "only begotten son" of a god (either Osiris or Yahweh)
3. Horus's mother was Meri, Jesus's mother was Mary.
4. Horus's foster father was called Jo-Seph, and Jesus's foster father was Joseph.
5. Both foster fathers were of royal descent.
6. Both were born in a cave (although sometimes Jesus is said to have been born in a stable).
7. Both had their coming announced to their mother by an angel.
8. Horus; birth was heralded by the star Sirius (the morning star). Jesus had his birth heralded by a star in the East (the sun rises in the East).
9. Ancient Egyptians celebrated the birth of Horus on December 21 (the Winter Solstice). Modern Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25.
10. Both births were announced by angels (this si nto the same as number 7).
11. Both had shepherds witnessing the birth.
12. Horus was visited at birth by "three solar deities" and Jesus was visited by "three wise men".
13. After the birth of Horus, Herut tried to have Horus murdered. After the birth of Jesus, Herod tried to have Jesus murdered.
14. To hide from Herut, the god That tells Isis, "Come, thou goddess Isis, hide thyself with thy child." To hide from Herod, an angel tells Joseph to "arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt."
15. When Horus came of age, he had a special ritual where hsi eye was restored. When Jesus (and other Jews) come of age, they have a special ritual called a Bar Mitzvah.
16. Both Horus and Jesus were 12 at this coming-of-age ritual.
17. Neither have any official recorded life histories between the ages of 12 and 30.
18. Horus was baptized in the river Eridanus. Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan.
19. Both were baptized at age 30.
20. Horus was baptized by Anup the Baptizer. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.
21. Both Anup and John were later beheaded.
22. Horus was taken from the desert of Amenta up a high mountain to be tempted by his arch-rival Set. Jesus was taken from the desert in Palestine up a high mountain to be tempted by his arch-rival Satan.
23. Both Horus and Jesus successfully resist this temptation.
24. Both have 12 disciples.
25. Both walked on water, cast out demons, healed the sick, and restored sight to the blind.
26. Horus "stilled the sea by his power." Jesus commanded the sea to be still by saying, "Peace, be still."
27. Horus raised his dead father (Osiris) from the grave. Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave. (Note the similarity in names when you say them out loud. Further, Osiris was also known as Asar, which is El-Asar in Hebrew, which is El-Asarus in Latin.)
28. Osiris was raised in the town of Anu. Lazarus was raised in Livanu (literally, "house of Anu").
29. Both gods delivered a Sermon on the Mount.
30. Both were crucified.
31. Both were crucified next to two thieves.
32. Both were buried in a tomb.
33. Horus was sent to Hell and resurrected in 3 days. Jesus was sent to Hell and came back "three days" later (although Friday night to Sunday morning is hardly three days).
34. Both had their resurrection announced by women.
35. Both are supposed to return for a 1000-year reign.
36. Horus is known as KRST, the anointed one. Jesus was known as the Christ (which means "anointed one").
37. Both Jesus and Horus have been called the good shepherd, the lamb of God, the bread of life, the son of man, the Word, the fisher, and the winnower.
38. Both are associated with the zodiac sign of Pisces (the fish).
39. Both are associated with the symbols of the fish, the beetle, the vine, and the shepherd's crook.
40. Horus was born in Anu ("the place of bread") and Jesus was born in Livlehem ("the house of bread").
41. "The infant Horus was carried out of Egypt to escape the wrath of Typhon. The infant Jesus was carried into Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. Concerning the infant Jesus, the New Testament states the following prophecy: 'Out of Egypt have I called my son.'" (See Point 13)
42. Both were transfigured on the mount.
43. The catacombs of Rome have pictures of the infant Horus being held by his mother, not unlike the modern-day images of "Madonna and Child."
44. Noted English author C. W. King says that both Isis and Mary are called "Immaculate".
45. Horus says: "Osiris, I am your son, come to glorify your soul, and to give you even more power." And Jesus says: "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once."
46. Horus was identified with the Tau (cross).
I think that's a great idea - to eat at Chik-Fil-A more often to show support. Those waffle fries are awesome. The fuirt parfait is even better, though!
right there with you baby
This is a time where we really need to come together for our brother's and sister's in Christ. Gay or business owners. It is not our job to judge, but God alone. We should be coming together in such a time as this, not picking each other apart.
Brother's and Sister's in Christ pray for this situation and let God take over it.
Yup because that has been shown to work well....
I have never had a prayer not answered. Have you tried?
Pray,
"I have never had a prayer not answered. Have you tried?"
The answer was, 'Yes', 'No' or 'Wait', right?
I prayed for many, many years... good things happened, bad things happened and mediocre things happened. I have not prayed for the past 20 years... guess what?... good, bad and mediocre things continue to happen just the same. There is no difference.
Praying just gives one the feeling of power and control over things.
Nothing fails like prayer.
he "love all"? are you crazy, have your read your big book of hate? old and new testements say that if you do my give your unwavering devotion to god, then your are damned to eternal suffering. Why woulf an all knowing all powerful and all loving god, demand to be worshiped. all those to are devout are hurting all of humanity, cast off the yolk of oppression forced on by the church, think for your self.
To Evloved DNA......just be glad if your name is NOT Abraham!
mickey1313–Are you caught up in your arrogance yet? You obviously have everything figured out about everyone else on the planet. And just so you know...God never demanded that you worship Him...that is why you have the freedom to blaspheme just about every religion they way you are. Ever thought about why God didn't put into place automatic servitude? It's called the will...and God doesn't want nor can he accept fake love; just a part of His Nature. You definitely have a choice which you are so boldly indicating in your obviously well thought out posts. Way to go kid...insulting everyone else to get your point across. All I can say is that I will definitely put a prayer to God in for you...because I love you as God does, (in other words, I would sacrifice my life for you as well) and hope that you begin to make better "choices" in your short life. God Bless.
"Pray" ~ does it ever occur to you how exclusive, and so therefore dismissive just the comment "brothers and sisters in Christ" actually is? As it then stands to reason that the rest of us outside of the "in Christ" category are not worth your consideration. How sad for you.
Thank you. I think the God of Judeo/Christian faith wants us to be kind to one another, no beat each other over the head with their words.
@Norm
What kind of choice is it when the only two choices are believe in God or suffer eternal torture? Think about it with real life examples. A slave had choice, do work or be beaten. What kind of freedom is that? I guess you must employ doublethink here to get it. Freedom is slavery, war is peace, ignorance is strength. If you can understand these three truths you can love Big Br-, I mean God.
I'VE NEVER MET A CHRISTIAN. I DON'T THINK THEY EXIST. I BELIEVE CHRISTIANS ARE LIKE UNICORNS,THEY MIGHT EXIST,I'VE JUST NEVER FOUND ONE. I'VE MET PLENTY OF CHARLATANS. WOW! IT WOULD BE AWESOME TO MEET A CHRISTIAN SOMEDAY. MAYBE I COULD CATCH ONE IN A LIVE TRAP ! ANYBODY KNOW WHAT THEY EAT ? CHICK-FIL-A ? I MUST HAVE BEEN AT THE WRONG ONES.
@pray...I tried praying. It doesn't work for me. I prayed you'd be gone, but you're still here.
All this talk about not judging. Yes, we all know Matthew 7:1 says, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Everybody knows that. But we are to discriminate between what is right and what is wrong and avoid what is wrong. That doesn't mean what is right or wrong in our own eyes, but in God's. And he's pretty clear about things such as marriage and relationships.
@Miro–Miro, thank you for your truthful feelings/thoughts. Not a bad example; however, to use your train of thinking–you have a choice to eat or starve, put clothes on or freeze/get UV burns, study school material or fail a test, etc. Does that make you a slave to eating or wearing clothes or studying? In your terms, yes it does...in each case a choice was made and the wrong choice has very real and harsh consequences. Many around the world believe that to believe in God or not to is a simple extension of these very real earthly choices. Furthermore, to not believe, just like not eating or wearing clothes or studying will have very permanent and dire ramifications. One final point of distinction is that your example and all of my examples are states and choices made in the flesh for the flesh–to believe in God is a Spiritual choice for the benefit of the Spirit. Consequently, all those people that are brandished as "morons" or "hypocritical" or worse within this blog are simply trying to pass along that just as eating, wearing clothes and studying are good things; so is believing in God. What have you got to lose anyway?
To address anyone's position as either outside or inside Christ's brothers and sisters; I simply do not know. Nor does any other Christian or member of any other religion; Christians were only asked to be messengers–we were never asked to be judges. My message to you–believe in God Miro it is as simple as choosing to eat when you are hungry.
To address your doublethink concept: i.e. "Thought marked by the acceptance of gross contradictions and falsehoods, especially when used as a technique of self-indoctrination"–the key words are acceptance of gross contradictions and falsehoods. May I please humbly ask to what "gross contradictions and falsehoods" you are surmising I am trapped by?
Please understand that I am not writing this with any sarcasm or cynicism; just as your wrote your truest thoughts and beliefs, I am doing the same out of respect for you.
@Norm
I was responding to your claim that God gave us a choice of whether or not to worship him. If you read the bible you see that this choice is believe in God or suffer forever in hell. This is hardly a choice. Your exact words were "God never demanded that you worship Him...that is why you have the freedom to blaspheme just about every religion they way you are." I'm not worried because I don't think there is such thing as hell, but presumably you do. And if you do I cannot see how you can think we are any more free than slaves. As for your other examples eating ect, yes you are a slave to hunger, so what? The worst that can happen if you cant eat is that you starve to death, horrible yes, but compare that to what happens if you don't believe in something that you can never see or know if it's there for sure,(I get hungry when I don't eat food btw) infinite torture. According to the bible this is what happens to you if you don't believe before you die. So really you are a slave, this life goes by in a flash if you think you're going to live for eternity, and if you think the choice we're given if the bible is true is freedom then you and I do not agree on the meaning of the word.
This is special... Religion is the cause of many things, however just as I have the right to say the faithful are ignorant; the faithful have the right to donate to whatever they want privately. Big surprise, religious groups donate to anti-gay groups. Look up how much money the LDS church gave to oppose Prop 8. Don't like it, don't eat there simple as that. Its just a chicken sandwich anyways...
Please clarify your statement "The faithful are ignorant" and please stop using presumptive statements.
The LDS church supported prop 8. Prop 8 was to define marriage between 1 man and 1 woman. Get your facts straight.
i agree with the just dont eat it, line. i wish people always looked into what the companies they buy from do with there money. take wal-mart, and many other big box stores. If you disagree with a companies politics do not suport them.
W — Your clarification. MENSA as well as the Academy of Science have done research that has shown an inverse correlation between the level of 'belief' in any faith and a persons IQ, ability to process abstract thought concepts etc... So let me dumb this down for you. The more you belief, the dumber you are. And please don't try to give me stats on how many believers have higher degree's. Being given a Masters or PH.D. is nothing more than regurgitating and memorizing information. That does not take higher level thought.
As far as the Prop. 8 comment — Read the above statement. Defining marriage as between 1 man and 1 woman, is exactly anti-gay. You are limiting the freedoms and excluding one group. FAIL.
And the winner is.....................not you, obviously.
Show us the study. Also, MENSA is a farce. Now tell us, what degree of education do you have?
After looking at your grammar, your statement of "The more you belief, the dumber you are" displays your lack of education, regurgitated or not. Obama states he has a strong Christian faith. I'm surmising that you think he's dumb.
And a crappy sandwich at that
There is a slight negative correlation between religion and IQ, but when you factor in that there are many more religious people in countries with poor education it disappears. There is no correlation between IQ and religion on a per country basis. Given an equal chance for education religious and non-religious people are statistically the same. Add in the religous people in countries that don't have an opportunity for education and it distorts the curve.
I'll dumb it down for you "winner is", there is no correlation between IQ and religion.
"The more you belief, the dumber you are. "
LOL
To the obvious non-member of Mensa below: I am a member of Mensa, and I'd like to point out two things: (1.) It's Mensa, not MENSA. It's not an acronym and does not need to be in all caps. (2.) Mensa does not conduct research and has never claimed an inverse relationship between IQ and religious belief. In fact, Mensa holds no opinions as an organization and would not make such a statement. Make sure you know what you're talking about before you start making claims like this. It might help if you spent time reading something other than atheist propaganda.
Wow, you do go quite a ways to proving your own ignorance there winner. You go on the attack when people prove your statements incorrect, referring to the prop 8. That in itself is considered one of the biggest signs of ignorance, unwillingness to learn. Broad sweeping generalizations are what cause bigotry in the first place, and you go right to it. Good job clown.
TomUSMC
Chaz, Obama is dumb.
-----
As are you Tom.
Just because
I eat at there BECAUSE I like their company's Christian Back ground. It's about time a company stands up for what they believe in and not the bottom line. And guess what, I am gonna go buy a sandwich tomorrow the BECAUSE they supported an anti gay group.
You gays can whine all day long. People are not gonna like you....get over it. Not everyone has to agree with what your doing. You want us to tolerate you...then tolerate us for not wanting you in our face.
Chickfila does a TON or good with donations to many people. Keep it up. Gay's don't need their hand out.
@Norm: Now I can't tell if you are doublethinking or overthnking–nor do I care. Your reasoning must sound awfully convincing to yourself, though.
God is not real. Thank you.
LDS are not Christian, so why do they seem to be the banner group for Christianity?
blsseattle, have you ever though about your statement and wonder what happens if you are wrong? From what I have learned from my research attending Colorado Christian University, energy cannot be destroyed. We know what happens to our body's energy, it goes back into the earth; what do you think happens to your soul's energy.
chick-fil-a is sooooooo good =)
It tastes alright, but I get sick every time I eat there. I have stopped. It is crappy fast food, just like the rest of the chains.
With all due respect to Chik-Fil-A, I love the single-bite free sample given out to walkers-by but when I eat the whole meal, it makes me sick to my stomach. The same thing happens at many of the Chinese chicken outlets in the mall. The problem is the amount of sugar used as a flavor enhancement. A little of it and you're marveling over the taste of that free sample. A whole meal of it and you're sick to your stomach from all of the sugar. That said, my other reason for opting out of Chik-Fil-A is the plainness of so many of their chicken sandwiches, which come off a bit dry. Now that everybody is selling the same chicken patties (Wendy's, McDonald's, Burger King) there's really nothing special here, just a dry patty.
Dawn,
Seriously, get that checked out...you shouldn't be getting sick every time you eat fast food. Sounds gastrointestinal.
Bigotry and discrimination are soooooooo bad.
Loving God and God's word is bigotry? What are we...in backwards world?
Chick-fil-a is awesome. I like the Christian music in the background.. Loving Jesus Christ always comes at a cost. There has been and always be Christ haters.
It is getting dangerously like a socialistic state out there – these opinionated left wing zealots are using the same strategy that the right wing Christian groups used in the 80's and 90's. The difference today compared to Back then the PRESS displayed the Christians as bullies when they used these same tactics. Where is FREEDOM of thought and choice play in this Media today. It is the news media who make news note these days they choice the stories even if it is only 2 people that have a cause. Pretty soon these so called freedom fighters for justice will silence any opposition -very closed minded and arrogant in their own ideas. The balance of truth seems more one sided as our country slides into a second class socialist loser – to much liberal thinking has definitely left it's foot print on our national media.
Chick fill A.... soooo good ! thanks for serving indiscriminately
I like the comments blasting Chick-fil-A for this and ending in them saying how tolerant they are and respect other points of view...unless those points of view differ from theirs.
When chic-fil-a refuses service to a GLBT person I can be sympathetic. In the meantime I will now go there twice a week. I often wonder if every perceived prejudiced went away what would "activists" do for a living or fun. in the meantime may I have extra picked on my chicken sandwich please?
Robert, there aren't "Christ haters", but the Christians leave me cold. Didn't Ghandi say, "I like your Christ but I do not like your Christians....they are not like your Christ". Christians today don't know how to rely on themselves and expect forgiveness for every evil thing they do just because they "believe" and maybe go to church. Also, wearing your beliefs on your sleeve is really getting old. Your relationship with God is a personal thing, just like a lot of other personal choices people make. I wish you would keep it that way. And to the Chick Fil A people, Jesus was not about making corporate profits. So if you feel the need to spout off about your "Christianity" and make your employees do so to alleviate your feelings of guilt, go for it. I will never eat there.
cnn"s gay athiest dna shows loud and proud attacking companies for being religious this is simply an attack fluff article designed to demonize christianity and they have given it front page status for several days now
Does anyboy who complains about Chick-fil-a making them sick ever read the side of the bag or boxes. Their food is cooked in PEANUT OIL. If you have a food allergy this will irritate it. Some people can not tollerate Peanut oil. It is not the food that is bad it is the way it is cooked. If it bothers you that much just don't eat it. I can't eat it all the time but I do like it and occassionly I do frequent one of their establishments and will continue to do so regardless of this outcome.
I think Dawn has a gluten issue.
ONE MORE TIME: "Tolerance" DOES NOT mean accepting other people's hatred of you.
bigmowma, I had to comment on your post. "Also, wearing your beliefs on your sleeve is really getting old". Christians are supposed to "wear their beliefs" on their sleeves. Did Jesus stay at home and wait for believers to come to him? Did the disciples sit on a street corner waiting? Missionaries do not wait for the passer-by to stop and ask, but go and tell the passer-by what they need to learn.
I love Chick-Fil-A. If someone's getting sick there, it's probably the grease. That's in any fast food. Have your gallbladder checked.
Tim, I'm Christian and a liberal–I'll thank you for not stereotyping us in the future.
IT IS A MIRACLE! HAVE A PIECE OF CHICKEN WITH THE FACE OF JESUS ON IT. WILLING TO PART WITH IT FOR THE BARGAIN PRICE OF $1,000,000 . I HAVE MORE THAN ONE. I ACCEPT PAYPAL OR SEND YOUR CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO:
MY INVISIBLE FRIEND
777 DELUSIONAL LN
CLOUD 9, HEAVEN
OR
I'LL BELIEVE ANYTHING
RELIGIOUS ROBOT RT 1
BLOW IT OUT YOUR A$$, UT
By the way, I am a manager at a chickfila. we dont use sugar in our chicken(fried, grilled, or marinated).