Values vs. Religion

I think that this might be the time to separate values from religion. I am going to share my personal beliefs very briefly here so that there will be no confusion among readers. I am a Christian but also respect the beliefs of others. I feel no more comfortable with my wallet in a business deal after someone has prayed before we eat than when we don’t. I have seen crooks wearing every religious sign you can imagine. While I believe that religion can result in a shift in values, I also believe that values can be learned without religion, and often are.

This is important to understand as one observes the Chick-fil-A model. While practicing Christian beliefs in their personal lives, the principals of Chick-fil-A are not attempting to proselytize through their business, nor do they “preach” as they work. Rather, they put values at the forefront of their business activity for anyone to see and to make their personal decisions on their own. Emphasis is on value and spirit rather than on religion. Dignity rather than doctrine. It may be true that the spiritually void sometimes have a difficult time with the Chick-fil-A culture, but it may be just as true that the culture is responsible for the difference between Chick-fil-A and other fast-food chains.