In Plano, Texas, Charlie Whittington's automotive service station "Kwik Kar" is providing customers with a steep discount on oil changes -- but only if they recite a profession of Christian faith. Well, the advertisement for the discount only mentions quoting a verse from the Bible. The verse in question, though, is John 3:16 which is the most fundamental and basic profession of Christian faith that exists in Christianity. It's the foundation or starting point of all the Christian creeds that have ever been created.
So for all intents and purposes, the discount is limited to people willing to profess Christianity, whether sincerely or insincerely. Is that legal? Apparently it is in Texas. I guess that's just another reason to avoid Texas like the plague.
"Why should I be compelled to quote something I do not feel comfortable to quote?" [Marshall Wei] asked.
After a short discussion with a store manager about the verse, he declined to recite it, and ended up paying more than $46 for the service, more than twice what he expected.
"I'm paying you," Wei said. "Why can't you treat me like others?"
Store owner Charlie Whittington is standing by what he asking customers to do for a deal. "If I'm standing for what I believe, so be it," he said. "Bring it on."
Source: CBS
For those who might have forgotten, here's the profession of faith in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." This isn't any different than giving a discount to people willing to say "There is one God and Muhammad is his Prophet". Can you imagine the outcry from Christians if any business tried that?
Whittington said he did it as a conversation starter in an effort to talk to people about what he believes.
"It's one thing about America," he said. "You can go and do what you want. I'm not making you do anything and I'm tired of people making me do something."
It seems quite clear that Charlie Whittington is looking to show favoritism towards Christianity and Christians. It seems equally clear that Charlie Whittington wouldn't want to treat any other profession of faith -- or secular belief -- equally. The discount exists only and entirely for those willing to profess Christianity, not for anyone making an analogous profession of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or some secular philosophy.
That should be illegal. It's a violation of nondiscrimination laws to treat customers differently based on religion. It would be illegal to only serve whites or Christians. It would be illegal to charge blacks more than whites. It would be illegal to give a discount to only those people willing to recite an oath to the KKK or the Nazi Party.
So why is Texas letting a business give discounts to people willing to recite a profession of religious faith -- something that only members of one religion can do so easily and sincerely? Oh, right, because it's Texas and if you're not a Christian, you just don't matter. What's their state motto again... "Texas: we're not Pakistan yet, but we're trying."
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