You! Get into the closet! Quick!

[Eilonnwy]

I think it's the name and their branding. When we see a church it tends to use key words like "Holy, Jesus, Sacred, Saint, Assembly, God" etc... These buzzwords let us immediately know it's a church, plus any imagery tends to be religious in nature. (i.e. cross, dove, steeple). Also their slogan is "Doing the most good." Once again, not evoking religion.

Salvation Army doesn't sound "churchy" and they don't use iconic religious imagery, just a shield. To the passerby who doesn't know much about it, it seems like a plain ol' charity.

In someway I really wish they weren't so discriminatory. I would love to see a church invoking charity by getting out there and not being religious but making it about the charity work itself. They got 1 part right, but the rest, as Fr0d0 stated, is a mess.

[theVOID]

I think it's the name and their branding. When we see a church it tends to use key words like "Holy, Jesus, Sacred, Saint, Assembly, God" etc... These buzzwords let us immediately know it's a church, plus any imagery tends to be religious in nature. (i.e. cross, dove, steeple). Also their slogan is "Doing the most good." Once again, not evoking religion.

Salvation Army doesn't sound "churchy" and they don't use iconic religious imagery, just a shield. To the passerby who doesn't know much about it, it seems like a plain ol' charity.

In someway I really wish they weren't so discriminatory. I would love to see a church invoking charity by getting out there and not being religious but making it about the charity work itself. They got 1 part right, but the rest, as Fr0d0 stated, is a mess.

It's the prosthelytizing too Eil, ulterior motives such as that displayed by many church groups are an insult to the nature of charity.

[Eilonnwy]

It's the prosthelytizing too Eil, ulterior motives such as that displayed by many church groups are an insult to the nature of charity.

Yeah I agree. If the Salvation Army was a church and didn't promote their church status and then did their charity without their discrimination and requirement for attending their services, and 100% of their money went to the giving to charity, then I'd be all to happy to donate to the SA. Sadly, that's not the case.

[fr0d0]

I think it's deceit too. I think the justification is very weak. I think 'salvation' in the title sorta gives it away. The insignia is all religious symbolism.. crosses, snakes.. plus they have their own unique inventions like colours of the flag representing basic beliefs, and the shield shape for instance... yeah not super obviously Christian but Christian all the same. The intention is never to decieve.

About charity work.. the donations of the members goes towards the administration so any donations made by non members actually goes more towards the need than most other charities which fund their administration with a percentage of the gift.

That said some local corps in the UK I know have collected for band funds at Christmas without advertising that fact. Corruption again. No one is immune.

The SA in the UK has also been a fair employer employing non religious as well as religious in it's stores in London for example.

And I don't think the website could be accused of being non committal on it's statement of belief.

[Eilonnwy]

I think it's deceit too. I think the justification is very weak. I think 'salvation' in the title sorta gives it away. The insignia is all religious symbolism.. crosses, snakes.. plus they have their own unique inventions like colours of the flag representing basic beliefs, and the shield shape for instance... yeah not super obviously Christian but Christian all the same. The intention is never to decieve.

About charity work.. the donations of the members goes towards the administration so any donations made by non members actually goes more towards the need than most other charities which fund their administration with a percentage of the gift.

That said some local corps in the UK I know have collected for band funds at Christmas without advertising that fact. Corruption again. No one is immune.

I did not mean to state they deceive or try to hide their church status, simply that their branding isn't what is typical of a church, at least here in the US. When you see the local guy at the store ringing the bell, there's nothing overtly Christian about it. Yes a shield is a lesser known Christian symbol, it's easily explained by "Army" in the title. I used to think, when I was a child that the Salvation Army was the US Army doing charity.

Their church status is easily seen on their website, it's just the passerby on the street doesn't necessarily know because their branding isn't typical of what we usually see of a church and the bell ringer does not proselytize to the giver.

[fr0d0]

Church bells in general don't easily translate into religious symbolism. The SA can be extremely lilly livered in their prostelisation. You can't win... if you give without invoking your inspiration you're criticised for not declaring it... if you state you're belief your pushing it down people's throats.

[Eilonnwy]

Church bells in general don't easily translate into religious symbolism. The SA can be extremely lilly livered in their prostelisation. You can't win... if you give without invoking your inspiration you're criticised for not declaring it... if you state you're belief your pushing it down people's throats.

I'm not sure what you're trying to say. o.o?

I don't not give because God is mentioned. I gave to a homeless person the other day who said "God bless" and I didn't feel the need to say anything. He asked in a kind way so I gave him my change. The SA on the other hand forces people to go to services before they give. That's not a no-win situation, that's strings attached and therefore I don't consider it charity.

[fr0d0]

I'm trying to say the SA does present as pretty anonymous at times... sometimes it's good.

It was an old tactic of the SA that before you got your bowl of soup you had to attend a service, yes. Some soup kitchens still do this. It's a condition the people giving you something. Better no condition we'd say but if this is what these ppl wanna do then it's their time and their choice I'd say.

I know of plenty of Christian work that is completely non conditional. It's the sort that actually is most effective from all angles IMO. To advertise your motivation is to spend any gain you might've gotten from it.

[Dotard]

What an udderly ridiculous avatar Eilo.

(sorry, couldn't resist)

[Eilonnwy]

What an udderly ridiculous avatar Eilo.

(sorry, couldn't resist)

Adrian put that there.