Christian Business Groups Questioned
* I am writing about the article which appeared June 12 entitled “Banking on Faith.”
I found the statement, “I’ve never had a bounced check from a Christian” to be nothing less than shocking in its implication. Assuming the best about this quote (that it only reflects ignorance), I would point out that one’s religious beliefs do not have any impact on the quality of the checkbook math. Assuming the worse intentions about this quote (that it is both ignorant and hateful), it smacks of bigotry, suggesting that anybody who does not believe in Christ is going to be something less than honest in their business dealings.
Christian business people (or members of any other faith community) getting together in order to strengthen their community ties is a praiseworthy venture. But when the purpose of those groups evolves into, or even inadvertently promotes, stereotypes and results in exclusionary philosophy (“ . . . he would rather remove tree stumps for those who worship God”--i.e. Christians), then the cause of bigotry is strengthened--and that is wrong!
RABBI ALAN GREENBAUM
Thousand Oaks
Alan Greenbaum is the rabbi of Temple Adat Elohim in Thousand Oaks.
* I find it rather amusing that people in “Banking on Faith,” June 12, believe the only people who advertise in their directories are “Christian.” I know several business owners who advertise in all the special interest directories, even though they do not belong to the particular community targeted. They have found it very profitable. Unless, of course, The Marketplace does a background check or require you to quote passages from the Bible before they will accept your advertisement and money. And if that is the case, isn’t that discrimination?
I have looked up the word Christian in the dictionary and found the following definition: having the qualities demonstrated and taught by Jesus Christ, as love, kindness, humility, humane, decent etc. Then I looked up the word humane, which read as follows: having what are considered the best qualities of mankind; kind, tender, merciful, sympathetic, etc. Then I thought to myself: what’s wrong with this picture?
GREG SMART
* Re: “Banking on Faith,” June 12.
I find it remarkable that conservative Christians, who so vehemently oppose affirmative action in any form, practice it so blatantly among their own kind.
LINDA JORDAN-O’CONNOR
Simi Valley
