need some advice - particularly from the religious people

cameragirl21 wrote: ok, so i have plans to start another business that has two prongs--one that caters to children and one that caters to women. i don't want to get into what this business is about because i'm superstitious about talking about things i'm planning that haven't happened yet but here is my dilemma--i really wanted to name this business "Garden of Eden" because i'm very into flowers and gardens--those of you who've seen my website know that i'm constantly photographing children in gardens or holding flowers, etc...my own garden has been compared to the garden of eden many times, i take this as the compliment of a lifetime. so for me, when someone says garden of eden, i think of a garden that is so amazing that it's not of this earth.
BUT
my friend Alison, who's a pagan but was raised Christian was telling me last night that she thinks this may offend or turn off certain people because the G of E was really the downfall of woman and represents original sin. obviously i don't see it that way but how i see it is not nearly as important as how it will be perceived by others. Alison feels that some people may be reluctant to purchase thngs for their children or that some women may be reluctant to purchase things for themselves from a company called G of E because of the whole downfall of woman/original sin aspect of it.
how do you guys feel about this? how would you feel about a company that's called G of E? if i use the name i do intend to use a bitten apple as some part of my logo and will probably have at least one pic of a little girl holding an apple on the company's website...i don't plan to have her biting it or holding it sensually or anything like that, just holding an apple or perhaps posing with a basket of apples.
i don't mean for any of this to be sexual or sensual or offensive to anyone but i realize that since i'm not especially religious it's possible i may not fully understand this G of E concept.
what do you guys think? especially those of you who do consider yourselves to be religious?
TIA....

C&K*s Mommie replied: You cannot please everyone all the time, so as long as you are within the limits of the law and morality- do as you please with the name of your business.

I would not be offended. The bitten apple may be a bit too much, but that is simply your choice.

If you want to please others or not be offensive then why not just avoid that name?

grapfruit replied: Myself, I would not take offense. In fact my first thought was like what you were describing. A place of paradise. And I would concider myself religious, but open minded.

If you're worried, maybe change to something w/Utiopia instead of G of E. Same concept just different name. A rose by any other name...

cameragirl21 replied:
you have a point, Nic, but i really like the name and am reluctant to give it up unless i can justify doing so...Alison, being a pagan also may not really understand and i think as a pagan she's just offended by the whole idea of woman being responsible for the downfall because remember, she worships a goddess not God so i'm not sure she really understands either.
i thought this board would be a good place to ask because there are a lot of religious people here who are likely to understand better than Alison or myself.

amymom replied: The Garden of Eden evokes only good emotions within me. I can understand your friends point of view though. However when you said:

It gave me bad emotions. So I would say if you leave the whole original sin aspect out of it it should be ok.

AND as Nicole said, if you are concerened about the controversary, why not head it off and use another name alltogether. Like.... Jennifer's Garden. Jen's beautiful Garden. The Garden of Jennifer. etc..... (I am not very creative lol!!)

grapfruit replied:
I don't know. I think "religious people", women in general, are resigned to the fact that Eve ate the forbidden apple. It's talked about a fair bit, I think they're used to it and wouldn't be resigned. I'd say just put the emphasis on the GARDEN part. KWIM? Don't push the "fruit" part of it as much

boyohboyohboy replied: I think the idea sounds very nice. I dont know about having one of the girls hold the bitten apple, maybe using it in your logo or somewhere in a letter head, but its totally up to you. I think that there are people in this world that will find fault with something all the time, you can please everyone, but this name only evokes pleasant thoughts for me, and I think for a person who takes pics, it also send the measage of peacefulness, beauty, and innocence, which is something that I would want to get out of my kids pics..
I say go with your gut.

cameragirl21 replied:
thank you, that is what i needed to hear. just for clarification, the girl was not going to be holding a BITTEN apple, it's going to be a whole, untouched apple...does that make it better or not necessarily? i'm willing to give up the idea of the girl holding the apple if that is a big problem for people.
i'm glad to hear that most of you seem to associate the G of E with something good.
just fyi, i wouldn't pose a child with a bitten apple, i'm SO sensitive (and afraid) to the idea of pedophiles, etc looking at the pics i take of kids that i'd never even entertain that idea. plus i realize that a child holding a bitten apple will potentially evoke negative connotations. just wanted everyone to know that.

C&K*s Mommie replied: I understand. This is a great place to ask for opinions, so keep asking away.

I still keep my opinion about using the Garden of Eden, however I like those suggested by Anne Marie too.

TheOaf66 replied: the name itself is not really an issue, most people when they think G of E they think of the perfect paradise that God provided etc. IMHO putting a apple with a bite out of it in the logo or anywhere is where the offensiveness would come in, you are taking attention away from paradise and focusing on what happened to be banned from paradise and the birth of sin. I don't know what the business is but unless it has something to do with evil or sin you would probably be better off leaving that out

grapfruit replied:
I agree, keep the original sin out of the focus.

cameragirl21 replied:
ok, that makes perfect sense but i have to ask--is the bittten apple the issue or is ANY apple the issue? is it ok to use whole apples or would that upset people also?
and no, the biz has nothing to do with evil or sin.

TheOaf66 replied: i think to be on the safeside I would leave that out altogether. If you're looking for imagery you can put animals and trees with other fruits on there and blue skies w/ sunshine etc...focus on the positive aspects of the Garden

Cece00 replied: I'm not religious and I wouldnt be turned off by that name. Personally, any person who is going to be offended by that name probably has too much time on their hands if they are getting offended over every little thing.

But I'd leave out the apple.

mom2my2cuties replied: I agree with every one else. The name is fine, but the apple shouldn't be a part of it. (Even though it isn't even "fact" that Eve ate an apple - it's just what the majority believes )

I think you will be fine. The apple is where the feelings of original sin will come into play. There are lots of places that take references from religion and religious history that thrive.

A&A'smommy replied: I would not see it that way!

kristy-n-chad replied: Did you know, that nowhere in the Bible does it say Eve ate an apple, at all? She ate of the forbidden FRUIT. I would not be offended, as a woman or a Christian. Yes, Eve sinned originally, but then so did Adam...they both sinned and were exiled. This, to me is a story of God's love and mercy, bc He had told them if they ate the forbidden fruit they would die. And, instead in His mercy, he spared them.

CantWait replied:
ITA agree with this.

Maybe instead use flowers.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I love the name.

I think there's something pure and sweet about an untouched apple in a child's hand, versus a bitten apple in a woman's hand.

Think of Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter Apple, and the reasoning behind her being named Apple...

I like it. I think it's a good idea.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I would definitely be drawn to the Garden of Eden business name. I admit that would catch my attention. However, once I saw a logo or letterhead with a bitten apple (or any fruit), I would be turned off b/c I would think that person was focusing on the act of sin. I would also find it strange to see a child holding an apple/fruit (bitten or not) to go along with this business name

That's just me. I'm really not one to give these things much thought, just seeing them in passing...business names, logos, etc. And if I were to pass your business or see a business card with this name and logo it would turn me off. No, I wouldn't make a big deal over it or try to put you out of business, but if I got a weird vibe, I wouldn't do business with you.

No, you can't please everyone but when you are going into business for yourself you try to attract as many people as you can and appeal to the masses.

I think it's great that you asked.

TheOaf66 replied:
yes and this is where it began, hubby doing whatever possible to keep wifey happy and the pants switched and she became the boss...he does what she says

cameragirl21 replied:
thank you, Rocky, that's how i see it too.
but if it's that offensive to people then i may have to reconsider. as long as i get to use the name though, i've ALWAYS wanted to own a business called G of E, i'm just so drawn to the idea.

TheOaf66 replied: there is a Christian bookstore at our church called the Garden of Readin and I think that name is nice so no problems with the name.

mom2my2cuties replied: I meant to say in my earlier post when I am in Spokane, there is this resturant there called the Garden of Eden it's a vegetarian resturant and I love it - and it is done up really nicely like you would be walking into the garden. It's cute, they even have the "forbidden fruit" area, where the "meat eaters" sit

Crystalina replied: I would have to agree with Rocky. I don't see anything wrong with it at all. It wouldn't bother me if the child was holding an apple (even with a bite out of it). My thing would be what your business has to offer. If you had a service or product that I wanted I would walk in and look around and purchase what I wanted no matter what your logo was.

Now if it was obviously an aggressive logo (something with blood or satan or upside down crosses) then I would keep on walking. BTW, I have no idea if upside down crosses are evil. Some say no but it popped into my head so please dont take offense anyone.

What I'm trying to say is that your Garden of Eden concept seems very nice and I think if you wanted to use an apple or a basket of apples or a whole freakin' apple tree it wouldn't matter to me. Heck, I shop at Wal-Mart. Some say that place is evil.

Boo&BugsMom replied: Just my two cents...
-A bitten apple may be a little over the top, but that's just me, but it doesn't mean I would be offended. Actually, It may leave me intrigued.
-Using apples or fruit in general would not turn me off
-I think the name is catchy
-When I am looking for places of business, I usually look for a catchy name and don't usually analyze it that much
-However, if the name was GofE and bitten apples or any bitten fruit were in the logo, it would only make me think of the original sin that came from the GofE, BUT it would not nec. mean I wouldn't use that business. If they did great business, I would still use them.
-Keep in mind, there will always be someone offended by something these days.

Hope that helps a bit.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: Garden of Eden as a name would not offend me...there are several businesses here with the name (a catering company, a florist, and a hair place ) BUT the fruit bitten or otherwise-especially connected with a child (I understand that the fruit in the child's hand would be whole) would for sure make me do business elsewhere. It envokes feelings of sin/temptation in connection with a child NOT a good business combo! Besides the whole fruit,tree,snake thing has been done by Desperate Housewives to the max IMO!