Zealots At The Register

[wabi-sabi]

Sometimes I hate myself for supporting 'fundamentalist' owned thrift stores...the other day at the "God's Way Thrift" in Milford DE as I was purchasing an innocuous yoga video the cashier went into a rant about
how "Yoga is a cult" and that meditating equals " summoning demons"!
  I wish I had had a snappy retort expressing how appalled I was at his ignorance and closed mind but I just purchased the tape and left.  
  Why should my money go to  "charities" that are  dedicated to spreading
zenophobia and intolerance.  I need to do more research into the mission
of each thrift store chain before I continue innocently funding them
with my hard earned cash.  But that's  one thrift store I'll never shop in again...

[Good Buddy]

Agreed, If a thrift store that supports a charity wants to put a flyer about the charity in my bag after a sale, that's fine. If I ask about the chairty that's fine too. When anyone tries to force their ideas and way of thinking on you without you wanting the info, that's bad.
I once had a lady stop me on the street and insist I listen to her about how I'm going to burn if I don't do everything she says. I told her to go away and she proceeded to start screaming at me, "Sinnner! You are are going to burn!!".
She stood in front of my friends house and continued to scream at me, I mean really yelling.
We called to police as she would not leave until they made her go.
Even while the police were there she was still totally focused on me, still screaming about me going to hell etc.
Extremism towards most anything can sometimes be scary.

[Black Cat]

I agree with you.  I am a fundamentalist; but I don't want to be preached to either.  I volunteer in a church run shop; and we will answer questions about the church; but we let the customer bring it up.  If they thought that the video was bad; they should have pitched it.  We are trying to decide about selling certain artiecles.  So far, we only got rid of one thing that we considered not to be Christian; and that was only by a group concensus.  

I did have a lady in a Catholic shop recently ask if I were Catholic; as she wanted to give me a prayer card.  But, she was not offensive.  She was asking because she did not want to offend me.  I said no, but I am a Christian and took her card.

[kitschicat]

Black Cat, I wish more Fundamentalists would choose to take the route that you do. Different strokes for different folks is a concept that doesn't seem to permeate that culture generally, and it's nice to see someone who can hold their own ideas and respect those of others within the Fundamentalist community. Thank you.

[Black Cat]

Trase,

Well, I happen to think that courtesy and consideration should be foremost in all religions.  If I happened to go to a Buddhist shop; I would not like it if they started preaching Buddhism to me.  In fact, I would not return to the shop; as I would find it offensive.  

I do not even go to the Church that runs the thrift I volunteer in; but they only answer questions that the customers ask regarding the church and it's beliefs.  I think that is best for all concerned.

We also have not purged the books; as we don't think it is our place.  I mean I sometimes read some racey books.  That does not mean that I am an immoral person; just that I like a good story.

The only thing we disposed of was a Hindu statue.  It did not seem appropriate in  a Christian store.

Take care
Black Cat

[kitschicat]

Trase,

Well, I happen to think that courtesy and consideration should be foremost in all religions.  If I happened to go to a Buddhist shop; I would not like it if they started preaching Buddhism to me.  In fact, I would not return to the shop; as I would find it offensive.  

If only more people had the same attitude. It's really refreshing to hear!

Cheers and happy thrifting!
Trase

[Marion]

What about thrift stores that pipe in (sometimes also televise) whatever religion or other belief they're trying to sell?  I confess that I just try to shut my ears, b/c they have some absolutely great stuff in there...

But in general I agree with all of you that "political correct-ness", or just plain human decency, is a must for any store that I'll go into.