10 Food And Drink Purveyors Who Serve Up Their Beliefs

Politics has brought religion onto the front page a lot lately. Candidates lead prayer meetings when they're not distancing themselves from crackpot churches; their prominent supporters diss Mormonism and denounce our president as a crypto-Muslim; religious leaders issue fiats on controversial issues.

One issue that hasn't arisen is the place of religion in the world of food. Briefly put: Do you believe in separation of church and restaurant?

10 Food and Drink Purveyors Who Serve up Their Beliefs Slideshow (Slideshow)

You've heard rumors for years about soup kitchens that only serve victuals after patrons have sung the hymns and listened to the sermons. But what if you're paying your own way? Does it bother you to find scriptural references on your soft drink cup, or to realize that the money you're laying down for a fast-food sandwich might be going to, say, folks who think marriage should be exclusively a man-woman thing?

We're not suggesting that it should. We're just asking. Here, in any case, are 10 American food and drink purveyors who've put religion on the menu. Who are we talking about? Some national favorites: Chick-fil-A, In-N-Out, Café Gratitude, among others.

Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy endowed the WinShape Foundation, whose activities include outdoor camps that "impact young people and families through experiences which enhance their Christian faith, character, and relationships" and host "marriage-enrichment retreats, along with business and church-related conferences." In-N-Out has made the religious thing literal, printing biblical citations and quotations on its packaging, like John 3:16, the message on the bottom of the chain's soft drink cups. Practicing what it calls "Sacred Commerce," Café Gratitude asks customers a "Question of the Day" every day, such as "What is blessed about your life?" and "What are you thankful for in this moment?"

Keep reading to learn more about these religious food and drink companies.

Additional reporting by Haley Willard, Assistant Editor at The Daily Meal.