Sending religious Christmas cards to the non-religious

[Ember]

I got into a debate the other day and was wondering what others thought. If you know someone is non-religious is it impolite to sent a obviously faith based Christmas card to them?

I argued that someone thinking of you at Christmas and sending a card was a nice gesture and that you can appreciate the sentiment even if you don't believe in the religion.

The other person was arguing that if the person sending the card knows you are not religious, then sending the card is disrespectful, akin to prothletising. He also made the point that if you sent a card saying something like, "On this day, roughly 2012 years ago... Nothing happened," to someone who was religious it would be viewed as completely disrespectful and even hurtful.

I can kind of see his point, but it still seems to be that it takes nothing to appreciate the gesture, which seems so much easier than getting offended...

*Note: I hope this thread is okay. It didn't seem to me it was breaking the rules about debating religion, but if it is then I'm very sorry and please remove it...

 

[dngnb8]

Send the card. If they dont like it, they can throw it out.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I got into a debate the other day and was wondering what others thought. If you know someone is non-religious is it impolite to sent a obviously faith based Christmas card to them?

I argued that someone thinking of you at Christmas and sending a card was a nice gesture and that you can appreciate the sentiment even if you don't believe in the religion.

The other person was arguing that if the person sending the card knows you are not religious, then sending the card is disrespectful, akin to prothletising. He also made the point that if you sent a card saying something like, "On this day, roughly 2012 years ago... Nothing happened," to someone who was religious it would be viewed as completely disrespectful and even hurtful.

I can kind of see his point, but it still seems to be that it takes nothing to appreciate the gesture, which seems so much easier than getting offended...

*Note: I hope this thread is okay. It didn't seem to me it was breaking the rules about debating religion, but if it is then I'm very sorry and please remove it...

I'm with you. I think of it as a nice gesture...that they were just thinking of us.

Now if they included a note or phone call encouraging us to come to their faith, that would be different.

Some may be offened by my "Ho to the third power" (Actually has a 3, but I don't know how to do that), because the word HO is is huge and the only word on it....But I don't care...It's my way of saying Happy Holidays.

 

[Goofyluver]

Oh my...between this thread and the "holiday tree" thread, it's going to be an interesting night.



Our friends send us cards which include religious holiday messages all of the time. You don't know us if you don't know we're atheists. But, we appreciate the thoughts and the holiday wishes. They just better not expect cards back about the baby Jesus.

 

[Ember]

Some may be offened by my "Ho to the third power" (Actually has a 3, but I don't know how to do that), because the word HO is is huge and the only word on it....But I don't care...It's my way of saying Happy Holidays.

Now, that's funny.

The debate started because I have a wide variety of friends, so an interesting collection of cards up. A friend was pursuing them and noticed a few faith based cards and started the conversation.

We sent out geek cards this year to help people "Know your elves." I figure most people won't get the references, but it made DH so very happy.

 

[cari12]

I think it is the thought and spirit that it was given that are important. Christmas cards are not soliciting for new members, they are wishing people the best of the season regardless of their religious beliefs.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

People send to send out the same card to everyone on their list at Christmas, and it typically reflects the card sender. We get "Happy Birthday Jesus" cards from people who know that (although we are religious) we do not celebrate Christmas in that way.

I think it would be rude to send a religious birthday card to someone who is not religious, but not a Christmas card.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I got into a debate the other day and was wondering what others thought. If you know someone is non-religious is it impolite to sent a obviously faith based Christmas card to them?

I argued that someone thinking of you at Christmas and sending a card was a nice gesture and that you can appreciate the sentiment even if you don't believe in the religion.

The other person was arguing that if the person sending the card knows you are not religious, then sending the card is disrespectful, akin to prothletising. He also made the point that if you sent a card saying something like, "On this day, roughly 2012 years ago... Nothing happened," to someone who was religious it would be viewed as completely disrespectful and even hurtful.

I can kind of see his point, but it still seems to be that it takes nothing to appreciate the gesture, which seems so much easier than getting offended...

*Note: I hope this thread is okay. It didn't seem to me it was breaking the rules about debating religion, but if it is then I'm very sorry and please remove it...

Life is way to short for that nonsense.

I buy one batch of cards and that is it. I get all kinds of cards and folks don't consider my beliefs when they share sentiment. It would have to be extremely egregious for me to get offended.


I used to care and try to not get anything too out there in sentiment of my beliefs. But then I wondered why I had to censor myself when my friends and acquaintances refrain from censoring themselves the rest of the year. It seems quite the double standard.

HO to the third power is funny.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I always send out religious christmas cards. I also include a picture of the ds or the family and yes, one of those dreaded yearly letters.

We live far from alot of people and its the best way to communicate. (Dh and I dont do facebook etc)

As others have said, I know the people are glad to hear from us. I dont know if they find our card offensive. We send them to everyone no mater what they believe.

I only have received one comment once from one of dh cousins. She said (and I didnt know how to take the comment), She said, "You know, yours is the only religious christmas card we received.". I just said, well I hope you enjoyed it.

Really I dont think they find it offensive, its more like we can agree to disagree etc. and since I have cancer and they all know I almost died and I really think they are all just happy to hear from us etc

 

[Chelley00]

We get a Happy Hanukkah and a Kwanzaa card every year, and we are not Jewish and don't celebrate Kwanzaa. It's what they celebrate and we love that they are thinking of us as they celebrate what's important to them.

From us, they get a Merry Christmas card. Not holiday, Christmas, because thats what we celebrate and that's when we think of our friends and how lucky we are to have them.

 

[aprilgail2]

I am not religious and I really don't care if the cards I get are religious or not- doesn't offend me at all!!

 

[Sal]

Today I mailed my Christmas card to my Jewish sister's family. I did put a Hanukka stamp on it!

This is the season where people of many different faiths reach out to let friends, neighbors and family know that they wish them the best. If someone is offended by that, they can toss the card.

 

[Magic Mom]

We get a Happy Hanukkah and a Kwanzaa card every year, and we are not Jewish and don't celebrate Kwanzaa. It's what they celebrate and we love that they are thinking of us as they celebrate what's important to them.From us, they get a Merry Christmas card. Not holiday, Christmas, because thats what we celebrate and that's when we think of our friends and how lucky we are to have them.

Exactly!

 

[Pigeon]

If you know they don't share your religion, yes, it's rude.

 

[ebtbmom]

I am an atheist but I love Christmas time. I accept the religious aspect of it and I figure if you are not religious but still choose to celebrate the holiday then you should expect to tolerate all aspects of the holiday. My relatives always send me cards with scriptures on them but I never once took offense to it. I also love live nativities and O Holy Night!

 

[NMAmy]

Nope, I'm an atheist and it doesn't bother me in the least. I'm just happy to hear from family and friends!

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I am not religious and I don't mind receiving the religious Christmas cards at all. No one sends them to me but I wouldn't mind a Hanukkah or Kwanzaa card either.

I don't care if someone says "Merry Christmas" " Happy Hanukkah" or even just "Happy Holidays." If they want to include me in their celebrations I'm all for it.

 

[LuLuO]

I'm not religious but I don't mind getting religious cards. I also enjoy listening to religious music.

 

[Saphire]

I often wonder about this as I always send out a 'religious' card at Christmas and it usually will have scripture. There are a handful of people on my list that are not Christian and I have a good friend that is Jewish. So I do get a box each year of seasonal cards and also use those for the mailman, paperboy, etc. Glad to hear it doesn't offend most of you.

 

[fairestoneofall]

I'm with the "it's the thought" side. Honestly, all of my cards are the same. This year, I included a verse (sometimes I do, sometimes I don't). I'm not going to print special cards for someone who is not religious. Just as I won't be offended if someone sends me a non-religious card.

I also wouldn't be offended by a Hanukkah or Kwanzaa card (although I've not received them).