Catholic=Christian. My bookstore experience

[ThatOrthodoxGuy]

Are we not Christians also? This bookstore is misleading people into thinking they are an All Christian store when in fact they are not and are in it for the profits, plain and simple. Am I entitled to anything, no. Im just speaking my mind.

Well said:thumbsup: you hit the nail on the head!

 

[KendraDZ1902]

Are we not Christians also? This bookstore is misleading people into thinking they are an All Christian store when in fact they are not and are in it for the profits, plain and simple. Am I entitled to anything, no. Im just speaking my mind.

I agree. The bookstore shouldn’t say Christian if they don’t cater to every group. It should say Baptist, Methodist, etc. The Catholic bookstore down the street let’s you know that it is a Catholic bookstore.

 

[SteveVH]

Am I the only one here who thinks this Protestant bookstore is right? If the shoe were on the other foot, I’d be pretty put out if I found a KJV in a Catholic bookstore.

Yeah, I’m with you. I’m not sure why I would ever go to a Protestant books store to begin with. From what I’ve seen they are very lacking compared to most Catholic book stores. But I cerainly don’t begrudge them for selling items in line with their particular faith tradition.

I live fairly close to Santa Fe, New mexico. There is a chapel with the “miraculous staircase” that was owned and run by Catholic nuns until fairly recently. It is a spiral staircase built without nails and no central beam on which to support it. Engineers cannot figure out how it even stands. It was built by a mysterious man who came to the chapel, several hundred years ago, built it and then disappeared never to be seen again.

The nuns could not support it and it ended up being sold. It is now in the hands of Protestants and as soon as the deal was made a sign went up in front of the chapel which read “As seen on Unsolved Mysteries”. You cannot find a Catholic bible in the attached gift store, nor any Catholic items except for crucifixes which are a big seller in Santa Fe. Still makes me sick to my stomach.

 

[Grace2013]

I guess I just gotta take my lone position against the crowd here. I don’t think I would’ve been as upset in this situation, and I certainly wouldn’t consider this an act of persecution. The clerk informed the patron that members of a specific denomination own the establishment and do not allow particularly Catholic material to be on display, yet would be happy to go through the trouble of ordering it on your behalf. Refusing to display paraphernalia of a particular denomination doesn’t necessarily equate to excluding said denomination from being included under the “Christian” umbrella, anymore than the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults not providing for, say, Anglican Confirmation implies that the Catholic Church does not consider Protestants in general (or Anglicans specifically) as Christians. Furthermore, I have been in “Christian” bookstores which upon entry were obviously gift-shops operated by the local Catholic parish. Surprise, surprise! No Protestant books anywhere to be found. Personally, I think the OP is being just a wee bit too touchy.

I understand where you are coming from, but it says alot about the store not even acknowledging the 1611 KJV as I mentioned in my post earlier (has 73 books) and starts the timeline with the 1900 KJV (standard 66 books). Denying history just because it doesn’t agree with your particular Christian denomination is misleading those that don’t know for themselves- but something that anti-Catholic denominations tend to do.

Specifically Catholic Bookstores wouldn’t normally hold non-Catholic items but to have a Eucemenical (sp?) Christian title like “LifeWay” in my opinion obliges one to carry at least something on most Christian denominations. If not, then they should have kept their title as “Baptist.”

 

[maryjk]

I agree. The bookstore shouldn’t say Christian if they don’t cater to every group. It should say Baptist, Methodist, etc. The Catholic bookstore down the street let’s you know that it is a Catholic bookstore.

RIght, otherwise the store I run could be called

*Name of City Christian Bookstore
*
even though I don’t carry anything that isn’t Catholic.

I mean, Catholics are Christians, right. So my store is a Christian store.

 

[johnnyc176]

Yeah, I’m with you. I’m not sure why I would ever go to a Protestant books store to begin with. From what I’ve seen they are very lacking compared to most Catholic book stores. But I cerainly don’t begrudge them for selling items in line with their particular faith tradition.

I think the point is that the store is a Christian book store which apparently does not carry Catholic items. Maybe implying that Catholics are not Christian.

 

[mlz]

Sorry you had that experience.

May God change the hearts of men so that we build each others faith as brothers.

Amen

mlz

 

[KendraDZ1902]

Yeah, I’m with you. I’m not sure why I would ever go to a Protestant books store to begin with. From what I’ve seen they are very lacking compared to most Catholic book stores. But I cerainly don’t begrudge them for selling items in line with their particular faith tradition.

The OP’s religion says “soon to be Catholic” so I am assuming they are in RCIA, as am I. I can tell you that there are A LOT of things that I have noticed on this journey that I didn’t realize while growing up Protestant. I didn’t realize that “Chrisitan Bookstore” means “Protestant Bookstore” it is shocking for us newbies sometimes.

 

[Bran_Stark]

I think the point is that the store is a Christian book store which apparently does not carry Catholic items. Maybe implying that Catholics are not Christian.

I don’t think the Christianness or lack thereof of Catholics is really relevant. I think it’s perfectly reasonable that a Protestant bookseller with theological objections to Catholic teachings (and who may or may not consider these objections strong enough to deny Catholics the title “Christian”) would chose not to carry Catholic materials.

 

[hockeyfan]

I don’t think the Christianness or lack thereof of Catholics is really relevant. I think it’s perfectly reasonable that a Protestant bookseller with theological objections to Catholic teachings (and who may or may not consider these objections strong enough to deny Catholics the title “Christian”) would chose not to carry Catholic materials.

You see, that is not the objection. The problem is the uncharitably in calling yourself a Christian store when your intention is not to cater to all Christians. Even though some may not consider Catholics to be Christian, they must know that the market exists. I like how at the Family Christian Store in my area (the only Christian store nearby) there is a Catholic section. Not a very well stocked section but it is there. Then they leave the option of ordering stuff.

One more point, when my church did have a store it was Called the St. Clare’s Gift Shop, not the St. Clare’s Christian Shop. If the store were not to have a KJV Bible, it would be totally different because we do not falsely advertise. When a store calls itself a Christian store and does not stock Catholic items, it is falsely advertising.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

So now that I’ve calmed a wee bit, I will explain my experience yesterday at a local “CHRISTIAN” book store.

I was looking for some index tabs for my new bible, given to me by the Church. I’m in RCIA. I was also looking for a card for a couple whom recently had a new baby. I entered the store, and picked out the card.

I found lots of index cards, but noticed there were none that had ALL the books of the bible included, but I had previously found some online, so I know they are out there.
I concluded they didn’t have any, so I proceeded to the checkout. When the sales clerk asked if I had found everything ok, I then asked about the index tabs for the Catholic Bible. He looked it up, and said he could order them for me, but they were not allowed to have any CATHOLIC material in the store, as it is supported by the Baptist Association.
I was floored, but as usual, I am totally speechless in confrontational situations.
My response was, “OK”, but instead of paying for the card, I said “thank you”, and just left. I could not quite bring myself to spend any money there, let along ordering the index tabs.

Of course, on the way out of the store, I looked up at sign again, that said “??? CHRISTIAN book store”. I have also noticed that these bookstores are all across the USA.

The fact that they didn’t sell Catholic Bible tabs, didn’t bother me. What bothered me most was the fact that they are not allowed to sell anything Catholic in this store and told me about this fact. Christian = Catholic. I so wish I’d have told him that Catholics ARE Christians.

Ok I feel better now. thanks for letting me vent.

In fairness to the Protestant bookstores, you’ll probably find a fairly restricted range of Protestant books in Catholic bookstores. There may be some eg. CS Lewis, Phillip Yancey, Dietrich Bonhoeffer come to mind, but generally they’ll be a small minority.

I buy some books from a local Protestant bookstore, mainly because the only decent Catholic bookstore within cooee is in the city, and I just don’t go there. If I had a job in the city, then it would be different.

But I don’t go into the Protestant bookstore looking for “Catholic Books”, not even Catholic Bibles.

 

[GaryTaylor]

You see, that is not the objection. The problem is the uncharitably in calling yourself a Christian store when your intention is not to cater to all Christians. Even though some may not consider Catholics to be Christian, .

 

[TexanKnight]

Am I the only one here who thinks this Protestant bookstore is right? If the shoe were on the other foot, I’d be pretty put out if I found a KJV in a Catholic bookstore.

To call yourself a “Christian” Bookstore and exclude Catholic materials is screaming to the world “Catholics are not Christians”. THAT is what is offensive.

 

[Porknpie]

Interesting thread…my thoughts:

• Horrific business decision. In excluding Catholic material, they exclude a potential market of 1.4B people including Orthodox. I add 200M Orthodox, my sense is that you are being discriminated here too.
• Not Christian…they do not follow Christ’s example. Taking their mindset, Jesus would not have sat and had dinner with the tax collectors (sinners). I would think their mindset would be to evangelize Catholics by being warm & receptive by carrying some Catholic material.

We have a Christian bookstore in our town and they do have a 6’ wall of Catholic material in the back of the bookstore. Nice people and the selection is not too bad. However, I always feel like I’m being watched (I know it’s not true) as I walk to the back of the store…like people are thinking “hey a Catholic is in here”. Funny how we think.

The bookstore business is tough and it’s nice to support Catholic bookstores including CAF. Ordering on-line or picking up the phone is easy and who can’t wait a few days. It’s actually nice to get a package in the mail. Something about opening something that always make me feel good even when I know what it is. Don’t know why I feel this way.

Pie and I talk once in a while about opening a Catholic bookstore in our town…it would include books, art and coffee. So far it’s only talk…but it’s something that we’d really like to do. The sign on the door would say “Catholic” in someway so as to not confuse anyone. Maybe we should have a Baptist section too…just to see what happens. If I build it, will they come? :coffeeread:

 

[Reuben_J]

Am I the only one here who thinks this Protestant bookstore is right? If the shoe were on the other foot, I’d be pretty put out if I found a KJV in a Catholic bookstore.

No, you are not. I think the bookstore in question was quite reasonable and the clerk did mention that it was supported by a Baptist Association. I sympathize with the OP but from experience I would just know what Protestant bookstore have to offer. Probably we would like to live in an ideal world where if a bookstore named itself as Christian, it will include all Christians product for sale. But it is seldom that way, and there are wide varities of Christainity for sure.

So it comes to reason a bookstore run with a specific purpose would sell specific products only. I am from a Catholic Community and we run a bookstore that sell only Catholic products. Though profit is welcome, part of our aim is to serve and encourage Catholics to read and be interested in Catholic Sacremental materials. And yes, profit was usually not very good but we manage to get along by.

Perhaps it takes a while to realize that Protestant bookstore do not actually serve Catholics and sell Catholic materials. I mean that is not usually their aim. As for me, if I am looking for Catholic materials, I would look for a Catholic bookstore out of a simple fact that there are more to choose from there. If I enter a Protestant bookstore, I would know what to expect there and my interest would probably to look up for some interesting pictures or Biblical verses. Certainly I would not look for Bibles there. For that I would go and look for a Catholic bookstore.

It is tough but I think it is the way it is. I used to be ticked off before when encountered such treatment and finding very few Catholic materials in Protestant bookstores but they have a right to sell what they want. That’s why in our neighborhood we set up a Catholic bookstore realizing that it coudl be of help to Catholics who may need it and to encourage them to make use of the service available perhaps with a view for subtle evangelization.

 

[zaffiroborant]

Don’t play bate and switch. You said the OP was “a lot nicer” than you would have been.

The OP was pretty rude, walking out without any explanation, so I can only infer your response would have been “a lot” more rude.

Why in the world should the OP explain her/himself to a cashier, the simple “ok thanks” was all that was required to satisfy etiquette.

 

[Zekariya]

Just wanted to say that the Family Christian store in my city has a small Catholic section, as does the Berean Christian store. We don’t have LifeWay so I can’t comment on it.

The Family Christian Bookstore (run by Zondervan) is not against selling Catholic stuff. LifeWay is run by the Southern Baptist Convention which has typically been against anything Catholic. I have never been to a Berean Christian store.

 

[SteveVH]

I think the point is that the store is a Christian book store which apparently does not carry Catholic items. Maybe implying that Catholics are not Christian.

So what else is new? The entire idea that a Protestant would dare say that Catholics are not Christians is absolutely absurd. But, as someone else said on another thread, why assume malice when ignorance and error will suffice?

Sometimes I think the relationship between Catholics and Protestants is just like a divorce. The actions of the other party are always viewed with a suspicious eye. I found it interesting that the fact that the clerk in the bookstore offered to order the bible tabs was taken as an act of greed (they just couldn’t pass up the 98 cents in profit they stood to make). That he or she may have just been trying to be a good Christian and help the OP out was not even considered.

 

[cajunhillbilly]

The Family Christian Bookstore (run by Zondervan) is not against selling Catholic stuff. LifeWay is run by the Southern Baptist Convention which has typically been against anything Catholic. I have never been to a Berean Christian store.

They probably wouldn’t have anything Anglican, Lutheran or Presbyterian either.

 

[grasscutter]

Maybe I’m just a troublemaker or way too easily amused, but I enjoy going into Christian Book/Gift stores and inquiring sweetly whether they have any statues of the Virgin Mary.