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The Salvation Army

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Religion

The Resume

    (1865- )
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Founded as the Christian Mission by former Methodist minister William Booth and his wife Catherine
    Renamed the Salvation Army in 1878
    Claimed membership of 17,000 'officers' and over 1,000,000 'soldiers'
    Second largest charity in the United States
    Received private donations of over $2 billion (2007)

Why The Salvation Army might be annoying:

    Their actual membership is much smaller than what they claim, since inactive soldiers are rarely removed from the rolls.
    They engaged in union-busting in the early 20th century.
    Officers in the Salvation Army are only allowed to marry other officers.
    According to The Advocate, it enetered into a secret agreement with the Bush administration to lobby for Faith Based Initiatives in return for federal regulations to override local laws prohibiting discrimination against gays and lesbians.
    It threatened to close all its soup kitchens in New York when the city government proposed requiring all organizations doing business with it to provide domestic partner benefits.
    Every Christmas: bells, bells, bells!
    Can't I just do my Christmas shopping without getting a guilt trip in front of every mall?

Why The Salvation Army might not be annoying:

    It was one of the first churches to grant women the same right to preach as men.
    Founder Booth said that their approach to the poor was guided by the three S's: 'first, soup; second, soap; and finally, salvation.'
    Liquor shop owners objecting to the Salvation Army preaching temperance organized a 'Skeleton Army' to attack their meetings.
    They are usually among the first relief agencies to arrive after a disaster.
    They provide free rehabilitation for drug and alcohol abuse.
    Their Family Tracing Service reunites thousands of people each year.
    Their bell ringers inspired the Christmas song 'Silver Bells.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 26 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 35 Votes: 45.71% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 26 Votes: 30.77% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 24 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 40 Votes: 35.00% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 26 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 38 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 60 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 92 Votes: 44.57% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 76 Votes: 48.68% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 172 Votes: 58.14% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 42 Votes: 45.24% Annoying