RALEIGH, N.C., March 30, 2015 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Faith Driven Consumer™ -- the consumer advocacy organization representing 41 million Christian consumers who spend $2 trillion annually, has issued a statement by founder Chris Stone regarding the controversy surrounding legislation in the State of Indiana:
"We are disappointed by the misleading and inflammatory nature of many people's comments in reaction to recent events surrounding Indiana's religious freedom law. Such language presents an obstacle to the important issue of achieving universal equality in our culture and in the marketplace. Our multicultural and pluralistic society highly values diversity, and extols respect and tolerance, even for those who hold differing viewpoints. As a nation, we must progress toward a solution that works for everyone.
"As Faith Driven Consumers, God calls on us to love everyone. He does not call us to embrace all beliefs or actions, especially those in conflict with our deeply held religious beliefs. And as Christians, we cannot deny God's biblical truths, but we support solutions that protect the LGBT community and people of faith equally. We love our fellow citizens without reservation, all while declining to participate in the celebration of beliefs that violate our deeply held religious beliefs and conscience--legally without fear of prosecution and persecution. Likewise, others can opt out of the celebration of our faith under the same parameters.
"Our goal is not exclusion, but rather inclusion. We seek to build a culture where everyone is afforded a safe place in the marketplace. Corporate America has led the charge demanding equality for our LGBT citizens--expanding the definition of diversity to many groups in recent years. We now call upon them, alongside our elected leaders, to seize this incredible opportunity to advocate for a new paradigm of equality. By pursuing equal protections for everyone--respecting that those with differing viewpoints can coexist while retaining the right to exercise and express their convictions--we can create an environment where the needs of all consumers are met. Everyone deserves to be treated with fairness and dignity, including people of faith.
"In the coming days and weeks, we will work with corporate leaders and others to ensure that all are welcomed and included in our marketplace's rich rainbow of diversity."
About Faith Driven Consumer
Faith Driven Consumer is a movement connecting Christian consumers with companies that are relatively more compatible with a biblical worldview. By educating and engaging Christian consumers, Faith Driven Consumer provides a community forum offering resources for making more faith-conscious decisions, encourages companies to meet the unique needs of Faith Driven Consumers, and offers a national voice for this rapidly emerging, economically powerful market segment. Visit www.faithdrivenconsumer.com for more information.
