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Is it wrong to take advantage of deeply religious people for economic gain?

That is to say, if I opened a store and sold religious props/artifacts/merchandise but was myself deeply atheist, would that be morally condemnable, provided the customers wouldn't be forced to buy anything, even though I would be deliberately targeting them for sales based on their beliefs?

Haven't been here in a while, but just thought I would ask a question which for me is currently relevant.

Happy_Killbot 7 Feb 20
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15 comments

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0

Did you possibly mean commendable? 😁

2

I shall play devil'$ advocate.

The FFRF promotes agnosticism and atheism, and we at Agnostic do too. Isn't a religious artifacts business promoting religion; thereby tending to nullify our effort to be free of religion? In fact you cannot sell to a religious clientele and be free from religion.

Necessity might drive me to do it, but I'd not like it.

This is the only problem I can potentially think of, but I suppose at the end of the day it doesn't matter that much, because if I don't take the market share someone else will, so there is nothing that is going to slow the spread of those beliefs.

It could also technically be a support for secularism, since that is about letting everyone have their beliefs and not infringing on other's beliefs.

2

It might even be easier to take advantage of them financially because of their beliefs, that you don't share, haha!

I personally wouldn't have the stomach for it, but say you are a vegan who owns a store, or restaurant or is a clerk, chef or waiter... You might choose to sell, prepare or serve animal products, even though you don't partake. It's not unethical to the consumer to be sold a meat product by someone who doesn't consume meat products... Or a diabetic might sell candy, etc.

So, think of a similar situation and see if it makes ethical sense to you. While we might all prefer to have a business that reflects our values 100%, that is not always a good business choice, and each business owner needs to balance their values with positives being provided to the community, if any. (Of course, we here would think that selling religious merchandise might not really elevate humanity, but consumers buy what makes them feel good.)

0

I personally don't want to spend my days talking to godheads about godstuff for eight hours a day.
I'm crazy enough from their goofball stuff as it is.

3

DO IT! Don't you think every church in America has answered "NO" to your first sentence?

1

If you don't someone else will

bobwjr Level 10 Feb 20, 2020
4

No you wouldn’t be taking advantage by selling religious artefacts, it would be a straightforward business transaction. You offer goods for sale and the purchaser can decide to buy or not...his decision. That is how commerce works, and you have no requirement to like or endorse the goods you sell in any way. Whether you could stomach the idea of selling them though...that’s a very different question, but not a moral one, just one of principle.

No sorry. I would say that stocking them in a shop which you owned/managed, would count as an endorsement and a promotion.

@Fernapple I totally disagree. In the case of the “gay cake” in Belfast which went all the way to the UK Supreme Court, the judgment was that the refusal to sell the cake was not illegal, on the grounds that it would have compromised the bakery’s Christian principles to do so. That is why I say it is matter of principle, not morality. The refusal to sell the cake had already been judged in the High Court to be illegal on the grounds that it was discriminatory, as the sale of said cake couldn’t be construed as an endorsement of the message on the cake by the bakery. The Supreme Court reversal was based on the opinion that no-one could be forced to manufacture and sell something which compromised their principles. If someone decides to sell willingly, with no compulsion, then surely he is merely compromising his principles by selling the goods if he doesn’t himself have a belief in their message.

@Marionville Yes but that is about someone being forced to sell something, the exact opposite of someone actively choosing to sell something. It is like the cultural appologists who say that. "I only support religious culture, and enjoy the arts, I do not believe." Without owning the fact that a religions artistic legasy, can be and often is the bait on the hook which lures people into the religion in the first place, and sometimes keeps them in it.

Ultimately, anyone who promotes a religion in any way, even at its most peripheral has some responsibility for every action of that religion, even the most extreme fundamentist excesses.

And yes I do sometimes enjoy religious art myself, but I do admit, that that makes me a tiny bit guilty.

@Fernapple Yes, of course it is the exact opposite, but if a person chooses to freely sell something he clearly disbelieves in, its neither illegal or immoral. What it is, is pragmatism, cold-eyed business sense and an ability to compromise one’s principles at the altar of profit.

0

The purpose of a company is to create and maintain a customer. Servicing a market that is needing servicing is completely reasonable. Especially, because this market will exist for at least decades, prolly centuries.

0

I wouldnt feel one bit guilty. Brilliant. Just like the telepreachers. They are just in it for a buck.

2

It would not, all sales that succeed target a demographic. It would be wrong to misrepresent your beliefs and very hard to avoid it with all the God Blesses that would fly around.

1

Only if you claimed it was magical or some mystical shit. I'm assuming everything you'd sell is clearly marked "Made in China (or wherever, but not divine in origin)". You might as well take thier money or some other charlitain will and give it to Trumps campaign.

1of5 Level 8 Feb 20, 2020
0

I see nothing wrong with it.

1

Provided you don't make any religious woo-woo claims for what you're selling, I'd say this is totally legit.

Jnei Level 8 Feb 20, 2020
1

I have no problem is taking disadvantage of religious suckers. They signed up to be suckers. Doing business would be very hard if everyone was smart. The economy will not work at large.

A few years ago, I started a few online stores to sell Catholic, Hindu gifts and sold a lot of products. made money, have no regrets.

This just makes me wonder what percentage of entrepreneurs marketing to religious people are religious themselves...

@Happy_Killbot
You are right. Many are not. In fact, business is done to make money, not to help. I have been an atheist for a long time and I have sold all kinds of things to religious people and at places.. at temples, churches.

3

I wouldn’t condemn such. Business is business.

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