Ungodly Brew

Via Slashfood, I read this story about a woman named Michelle Incano who was offended by this quote on a Starbucks coffee cup:

"Why in moments of crisis do we ask God for strength and help? As cognitive beings, why would we ask something that may well be a figment of our imaginations for guidance? Why not search inside ourselves for the power to overcome? After all, we are strong enough to cause most of the catastrophes we need to endure."

Lady, it's the coffee that's hot and burning your fingers, not the words. You can boycott anything you want, but if everyone boycotted everything that offends them, we might as well live in the boonies and dump civilization entirely.

Really, should questions/statements meant to challenge people about their longheld dogmatic beliefs be considered offensive? Many consider their religion hallowed ground that other people shouldn't dare enter, but if the religious are becoming more active in the social square by challenging the (non)beliefs of others, then they should be open to being challenged themselves.

I see that quote as a challenge to think, not a condemnation. Why be afraid of a challenge to think? If your faith is strong, what's the harm of a little blurb on a coffee cup?

Starbucks has a clear disclaimer on those The Way I See It quotes. They're neither endorsing nor condemning them. They're meant to be conversation starters, which is a cool idea. After all, what pairs better with a cup coffee than interesting conversation?

Besides, Starbucks also printed this from Pastor Rick Warren:

"You are not an accident. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He wanted you alive and created you for a purpose. Focusing on yourself will never reveal your real purpose. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. Only in God do we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance and our destiny."

People who dislike either quote should just get a grip and cover it with their cup sleeve. Even better, they should probably ingest The Way I See It #226 with their coffee:

How would you rather spend your time: by tirelessly working to curtail our freedoms, or by joyfully celebrating our differences?

--Anthony Rapp, actor

Label(s): Thoughts
Tags: starbucks, coffee, the way i see it, michelle incano, rick warren, anthony rapp, religion, dogma, beliefs, atheism

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