Sending religious Christmas cards to the non-religious

[design_mom]

I think a lot of it depends on how well you know the recipient.

In general, I do not have many non-Christians (or at least, non-Christmas celebrators) on my Christmas card list. If I know you don't celebrate at all, then I probably wouldn't send you a Christmas card... and if I didn't know you well enough to know whether you'd be offended to receive my Christmas card, then you're probably not on my Christmas card list either. But if you *are* on my list, you'll probably be getting the card I picked out for this year whether you are uber-religious or non-religious in your celebrations. (We tend to stick with the "peace and joy" themes rather than nativity/bible verse, but they are definitely Christmas cards, not generic holiday cards.)

However, I do have one Jewish friend on my Christmas list. She sends me either a Hanukkah card or a New Year card (varies by year). I send her one of my Christmas cards and I usually write something like "Hope you had a nice Hanukkah" on it to acknowledge that I know what she actually celebrates. I am not offended when I receive her card and I know she's not offended when she receives mine (it was her idea to exchange in the first place). It's a nice way to keep in touch at the holidays... whichever holiday you celebrate.

 

[ilovemk76]

I send religious cards to people who I know would like them and non- religious to all the rest.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

If someone is Jewish, why would you even send them a Christmas card to begin with? I would send a Happy Hanukkah card.
Same goes for Kwanzaa....although I've never seen any cards for that in the store. Maybe I just wasn't looking.

If a friend didn't believe in the religious aspect of the holiday, I certainly wouldn't send a card with bible quotes. To me, it shows that the sender didn't take the time to really think about what the holidays meant to the recipient. I buy bulk cards, but they are funny or cute. It could be considered a one-size-fits-all type of card.

*I don't know if I would go so far as saying it is "rude" to send it out. I just think more along the lines of awkward or rushed.

 

[akhenaten]

I send out the same card to everyone on my list... this year my neice (who is jewish ) will also get the same "christmas card" because it is a photo card...

The only time I was offended was when my holier than thou Sis in law added bible tracts to her cards....
i don't think regular cards , even with religious pics are aiming to convert anyone .. but adding a bible tract is... (the exception would be if someone went out and got an individual religious card , i was writing about the boxed cards)

 

[metalis4ever]

I personally would be offended as I would hope that a friend would know and respect me enough to send a secular Holiday Card to me. Just as I send/give Christmas cards to my Christian friends and secular ones to my non-Christian Friends.

I personally feel that the thought that counts is respecting the other person by not sending a card that you know has no meaning for them.

 

[MrsDuck]

I buy two sets of cards each year: religious cards and non-religious cards.

I try to send the non-religious people in my life the non-religious cards but I don't hesitate to send a religious card if it's all I have left. If they don't like it, whatever. I'm not trying to convert anyone.

 

[snapppyd]

I always buy more than one type of card. If I'm not sure about someone's beliefs I send the "Happy Holidays" card; people I know get the Merry Christmas cards.

eta: I once got points for just saying the "r" word - warning someone not to talk about it here. I guess the rules have relaxed?

 

[LukenDC]

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.

I'm not religious and this is how I feel. People should graciously receive good tidings that are heartfelt and given in a spirit of friendship or love.

 

[Momvic5]

We send the same card to everyone. It is always a photo card. I have never been offended by a Christmas card - secular or of a particular religion. I guess I feel the card should represent the sender and is a simple gesture acknowledging the season itself and not about catering to how I celebrate the season. I enjoy seeing the diversity, and I truly don't mind receiving whatever greeting or celebration that may be expressed in the card if it is done out of friendship and/or love.

 

[Hoodie]

Really? People get offended by Christmas cards?

I think there are an awful lot of things that cause people "offense" that is self-inflicted. Yes there are truly offensive things in this world. Having someone wish you a Happy/Merry anything, even with Bible verses included, is NOT one of those things.

If you get offended by that, it's your own issue, not mine. Get over yourself.

For the record we send out fairly non-religious cards (I think I included a quote from Charlie Brown's Christmas once. That's as close as we got).

 

[skater]

One of the best parts of "Christmas Season" is tormenting the self-righteous, small-minded blowhards who parrot the "WAR ON CHRISTMAS" nonsense they lap up from their patron radio and television saints.

"Happy Holidays" is what you get from me! If you don't like it, that says more about you, doesn't it?

Its obvious that "self-righteous" can be seen on both sides .

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I send "Christmas" cards to people who are religious Christians, non-religious Christians, Jewish, atheist, deist, agnostic, and pagan. I make it my duty to be certain that the cards I choose are indicative either of the secular aspects of the Christmas holiday, or otherwise celebrate the "holiday season". Although I wouldn't personally mind if someone else sent me a religiously oriented card (knowing that I am 100% not religious) I cannot assume that everyone is as accepting as I am. So I make the effort.

 

[skater]

I personally would be offended as I would hope that a friend would know and respect me enough to send a secular Holiday Card to me. Just as I send/give Christmas cards to my Christian friends and secular ones to my non-Christian Friends.

I personally feel that the thought that counts is respecting the other person by not sending a card that you know has no meaning for them.

Metalis - I'm a little surprised. Are you saying you send religious cards to your Christian friends? I'm very spiritual and I sure don't care what kind of cards I get. I love them all - even my sisters endless cat cards . I would expect a secular card from you and wouldn't mind at all. Likewise I would be surprised that you would be offended by my religious card. Its an interesting discussion.

 

[ead79]

We send photo cards each year, so I only have one kind printed. They say Merry Christmas on them. We do have one Jewish family on our card recipient list, so I purchase a Hannukah card to send to them. The non-religious folks we're friends with don't seem to mind getting or sending out Merry Christmas cards. While we celebrate Jesus' birth, they celebrate the secular aspects of the Christmas holiday.

 

[Alyssa88]

I am an atheist but I receive religious cards by certain people. It doesn't bother me.

I give very generic "happy holidays" or "seasons greetings" cards in order to cover all bases. I know some of my religious family members have complained about those words, but never in relation to my cards. If they don't like it they can trash them.

 

[metalis4ever]

Metalis - I'm a little surprised. Are you saying you send religious cards to your Christian friends? I'm very spiritual and I sure don't care what kind of cards I get. I love them all - even my sisters endless cat cards . I would expect a secular card from you and wouldn't mind at all. Likewise I would be surprised that you would be offended by my religious card. Its an interesting discussion.

I would only be offended if a close Friend sent me one, not if say a family member or acquaintance that doesn't know me well were to send me one. I would be more offended by the act of a close friend not respecting me than the card itself, the card is just paper but the thought behind it isn't.

I send out the same secular card to my close friends who are non-Religious, Family members and acquaintances, but I have a small set of close friends who are very Religious so I pick out specific cards for them because I am sending it to them from my heart to theirs so out of respect for them I send them Religious cards. Trust me they appreciate the thought put into it, especially since they know that I am non-Religious.

 

[Coconut36]

I think if it is someone you know well and you know they are atheist or a totally different faith the polite and courteous thing to do is send them either a secular card or one specific to their faith. My parents for example send a Happy Hanukkah card to my ILs (they are Jewish) not a Christmas one because they know them and know that is not their faith or belief. My IL send them a Merry Christmas card not a Happy Hanukkah one as they know what they celebrate.

If it is very casual sending of cards to people you don't communicate with or know much beyond the cards then whatever is likely fine...it borders on rude to me when it is sent to someone you know well enough to know they don't share those beliefs. DH is Jewish..people that know it generally recognize that and send him a card for Hanukkah but some people don't know or don't remember and send a Christmas card. It is not offensive as it is the thought that counts not the holiday..it's just bothersome to me if you know for sure someone has a certain belief system and you send something overly religious to them anyways. As the friend argued..one would be offended by "this is a lies" being sent to them so why wouldn't the reverse be true?

Most people I know with beliefs other than Christianity keep a set of cards they send people of their faith and a set for their Christian friends (or those that celebrate it secularly as they are often just "Merry Christmas" not religious in nature).

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I think it's a little insensitive to send an overly religious card to someone you know is not religious. I have a few happy holidays or Christmas cards that are not religious at all for those people. While I celebrate it as a religious holiday, I know some don't.

The card is for the receiver, it's not about the sender.

 

[skater]

I would only be offended if a close Friend sent me one, not if say a family member or acquaintance that doesn't know me well were to send me one. I would be more offended by the act of a close friend not respecting me than the card itself, the card is just paper but the thought behind it isn't.

I send out the same secular card to my close friends who are non-Religious, Family members and acquaintances, but I have a small set of close friends who are very Religious so I pick out specific cards for them because I am sending it to them from my heart to theirs so out of respect for them I send them Religious cards. Trust me they appreciate the thought put into it, especially since they know that I am non-Religious.

I'm impressed metalis .

 

[scrapquitler]

I don't mind getting cards that have Christian sayings in them or that wish me Happy Hannukah or whatever. To me it's the thought that counts and life is too short to get mad about things like this.

If you want to send me a card, I'll be happy to hear from you. I don't care if it is a religious card or now (and I'm not big into the religion thing). Most of the time I choose a card that is more secular than religious, but sometimes I do choose a more religious one depending on my mood and how cute the card is. If you are Jewish, atheist or something else, you might get Santa, you might see an angel. I hope you won't be offended and realize that I'm sending you well wishes regardless of the picture on the card. If you are offended, then throw the card out.


Life is too short to worry and feel offended or put out by such small things.