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Client wrote a book on the bible. Should I incude this in copy?

by Nathan Lewis
14 replies
So my client has written two books. One was directly related to his niche (personal finance) and one was on the bible. I'm trying to figure out if it would be a good idea to mention the book on the bible in a presentation he's going to give to prospects in a webinar.

So what do you guys think? Is there any significant danger in mentioning the book on the bible? Would it turn off atheists? If it did turn off atheists, would this be compensated for by impressing Christians? Would there be a net benefit to mentioning the bible book?
#bible #book #client #copy #incude #wrote
  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    All depends on who is his target market and does he use biblical
    principles in his personal finance book. I don't think that just
    because something is biblically sourced an atheist will throw
    it out--if so, that's a lot to throw out. I mean, I doubt atheist
    have any argument with the commandment that says, "Thou
    shall not kill."

    Have you seen this product?

    https://w3.ewsmax.com/LP/Finance/ULT/UWR-Biblical

    -Ray Edwards
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    • Profile picture of the author thegotoguy
      I personally would steer clear of mentioning anything about religion to possible clients. Some people take religion way too serious and I think it could backfire!
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    • Profile picture of the author thegotoguy
      Originally Posted by Raydal View Post

      All depends on who is his target market and does he use biblical
      principles in his personal finance book. I don't think that just
      because something is biblically sourced an atheist will throw
      it out--if so, that's a lot to throw out. I mean, I doubt atheist
      have any argument with the commandment that says, "Thou
      shall not kill."

      Have you seen this product?

      https://w3.ewsmax.com/LP/Finance/ULT/UWR-Biblical

      -Ray Edwards
      I agree! I'm an atheist and I personally don't care who anyone else believes or doesn't believe in, however I do think that a lot of people take it so seriously that I don't think its a good idea to mention religion in a business setting.
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      • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
        Originally Posted by thegotoguy View Post

        I agree! I'm an atheist and I personally don't care who anyone else believes or doesn't believe in, however I do think that a lot of people take it so seriously that I don't think its a good idea to mention religion in a business setting.
        One size fits all does not a good marketer make.

        Dave Ramsey discusses faith and tithing openly and has a MASSIVE organization.

        Do atheists use his system? Possibly yes, possibly no. Depends on the level of offense they take to faith. Some people conveniently ignore advice that doesn't apply to them if they know, like, and trust the advisor.
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        • Profile picture of the author thegotoguy
          Originally Posted by angiecolee View Post

          One size fits all does not a good marketer make.

          Dave Ramsey discusses faith and tithing openly and has a MASSIVE organization.

          Do atheists use his system? Possibly yes, possibly no. Depends on the level of offense they take to faith. Some people conveniently ignore advice that doesn't apply to them if they know, like, and trust the advisor.
          Yeah your right. But that isn't really comparable because everyone who listens to his show knows about his religious standpoint. Your talking about something completely different than the original question Nathan asked. If I was looking for information on google about personal finance, I'd be turned off by some religious twist on it. I'm looking for personal finance information, not religion. I'd personally prefer not to do business with people who try to push religion and business at me at the same time. Too many agendas.
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          • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
            Originally Posted by thegotoguy View Post

            Yeah your right. But that isn't really comparable because everyone who listens to his show knows about his religious standpoint. Your talking about something completely different than the original question Nathan asked. If I was looking for information on google about personal finance, I'd be turned off by some religious twist on it. I'm looking for personal finance information, not religion. I'd personally prefer not to do business with people who try to push religion and business at me at the same time. Too many agendas.
            I'm not really sure how that's different.

            Polarization is a time-tested technique for generating a feverishly loyal fan base that WILL defend you and talk about you whenever your topic of expertise comes up.

            It's great that you know what you like as a customer. That doesn't mean all other customers (or all other atheists for that matter) will behave the same way or want the same things.

            To answer the original question, since it appears I have not done so, I agree with Ray. It depends on the audience.

            Ray's a great example of this too - a man of faith, a standup guy. He has things he will and will not write for. He talks about the Bible in his advertisements for himself.

            Does that dissuade some people from working with him? Probably. But those are most likely to be people RAY didn't want to work with either. I call that a win-win.

            So to reiterate - it depends on the audience and on the client. If the client wants this as part of his identity (I'm suspecting he does as he's written a book to the effect, and no one goes through all the work of writing a book only to never have it be read), then it could be a selling point.

            Speculating on any of the rest of it without more concrete facts and direct knowledge is just plain irresponsible.
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        • Profile picture of the author Raydal
          Originally Posted by angiecolee View Post

          Dave Ramsey discusses faith and tithing openly and has a MASSIVE organization.
          About every wealth creation book I have read contains the PRINCIPLE of
          tithing--that you should give away a certain portion of your wealth. Again,
          they do not necessarily mention tithing, but the principle is the same.

          I was also surprised by how open another marketer, Sandi Krakowski, was
          about her faith in her emails. And she also has a huge following.

          I also hold the principle that I don't mix my faith / religion with my business
          as well. So I don't promote my religious beliefs in my marketing, except
          I'm marketing something religious. But it has nothing to do with "not
          offending anyone" but more to do with context. My religious principles
          are still going to inform HOW I conduct my business--my ethics.

          Even the Off Topic forum bans any religious or political topics. The
          irony there is that no religion is also a religion. Everybody believes
          something.

          -Ray Edwards
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          • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
            Originally Posted by Raydal View Post

            The
            irony there is that no religion is also a religion. Everybody believes
            something.

            -Ray Edwards
            Truer words were never spoken.

            Also, didn't mean to imply that you heavily advertised your religious beliefs I know you don't. You also don't shy away from that, and to me that's a pretty kickass strength.

            Takes pretty strong character not to feel pressured into silence on a divisive issue.
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            • Profile picture of the author Raydal
              Originally Posted by angiecolee View Post

              Also, didn't mean to imply that you heavily advertised your religious beliefs I know you don't. You also don't shy away from that, and to me that's a pretty kickass strength.
              My post wasn't a response to yours (immediately before mines). I think we were
              writing at the same time. But I get our point.

              -Ray Edwards
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          • Profile picture of the author sethczerepak
            Originally Posted by Raydal View Post

            The
            irony there is that no religion is also a religion. Everybody believes
            something.
            Well put Ray
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  • Profile picture of the author pewpewpewmonkeys
    Dave Ramsey discusses faith and tithing openly and has a MASSIVE organization.
    Ramsey has a following that is almost....religious like. (I didn't say cult-like). (But it was insinuated.) Sometimes I've wondered if he mixed in a little bit of his Christian beliefs just to draw in the people who have personalities that are prone to be...hmmm, how to put it,... fervent believers.

    So what do you guys think?
    I think there's always going to be at least 1 person in the room who is going to take something too seriously, regardless of the topic and regardless of the extent or severity of the topic. But people love "real people" who come off as natural and human, and that means including character traits and personal beliefs and such. If the topic is included in a clever way then it will simply add to the overall humanity of the individual.

    PS: Everyone in this thread is racist, now get upset.
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  • Profile picture of the author jwkeever
    To the original poster (Nathan) - it's been a couple of months since your question. So what did you decide to do?


    Personally, I see no problem with the mention - and believe it would probably add to his credibility more so than take away ... unless he's handling snakes on the cover.


    John
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  • Profile picture of the author AmericanMuscleTA
    Think Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A.


    Those are HUGE Corporations who openly express their faith. Also, I heard Hobby Lobby has everyone pray in their morning meetings.


    I also have quotes from the Bible on my site. The way I look at it is, if someone gets offended by it then they aren't someone I want to work with.


    Nathan, your client has to figure out if he's ok with losing some prospects over mentioning the Bible. But, in turn, I bet he'll reap the rewards.


    No matter what you do, someone isn't going to like it and they'll certainly let you know it. Wipe the dust off your feet and move on.
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  • Profile picture of the author Cali16
    Originally Posted by Nathan Lewis View Post

    Would it turn off atheists? If it did turn off atheists, would this be compensated for by impressing Christians? Would there be a net benefit to mentioning the bible book?
    You do realize that there is a large group of individuals who are neither atheists nor Christians, right? And a lot of religious individuals who don't believe in the Bible...

    Some may respect him more, and others will likely be put off. Is it worth the risk? Who knows?

    Personally, I'd keep the focus on personal finance and leave mention of the Bible-related book out of it. Unless, of course, he wants to be "known" as the personal finance guy who bases his approach on Biblical principles - that would be the perfect tie-in for mention of the other book. So, it's really up to him to decide this ultimately.
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