Beware the exploitation of religion

The growing influence of evangelicals seems to have sprouted a new product claim. Some marketers are designating their products as "Christian" or faith-friendly. I have no problem with companies that conduct their business relationships and treat their employees with deep-seated values of fairness and integrity––who ask themselves whether they are obeying the Ten Commandments in every decision that they make. But there are some marketers who are jumping on the opportunity to exploit religion in what seems to me a most unseemly way.

Just as there are huge discussions about what should or should not be allowed to be called "organic," perhaps we need similar discussions about what should be offered as "Christian." I don't know the answer, but I truly hope that marketers will back away from these claims, rather than embracing them. Fortunately, most consumers are not as naive as some people believe and adopting a "faith-friendly" stance that is simply a way to exploit customers' belief in God is more likely to send them scuttling in the opposite direction, rather than bringing them into the fold.