A business sent us a Judeo-Christian Thanksgiving card. But we're atheists.

A few days ago my wife and I got a Thanksgiving card from a business that we use regularly. This is the front of the card.

The back said, "We are awed by the blessings God has poured out on us this past year. Thank you for your trust in and support of our business. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!"

OK. Nice sentiments. Aside from the God parts. That didn't go over well with us, since we're atheists. 

We realize that Judeo-Christianity is the dominant faith in the United States. So we're used to being exposed to all kinds of Biblical messages. It just felt different to have a business assume that we'd enjoy receiving a Psalm verse that we heartily disagree with.

For while we're as thankful as anyone this time of year, we definitely don't give thanks because God is near. If anything, we're thankful that there's no demonstrable evidence of God being either near or far, because there's no convincing evidence God exists.

Further, we live in a pluralistic society. I doubt that the people who sent us the card would enjoy getting a message from us that said "We give thanks for our atheism." And I also doubt that any Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, or followers of other religions who got this card resonated with the Psalm.

It struck me as strange to get a Judeo-Christian Thanksgiving card. I realize that Christmas is about Christ, since the holiday has Christ's name. But when did giving thanks become Judeo-Christian? Guess I missed the memo, since I don't go to a church or synagogue.

And how the heck does any believer in God, know that God poured blessings on them this past year? Not only do I deeply doubt that this is true, I have no idea how good things that come from God can be distinguished from good things that come from natural rather than supernatural causes.

My wife and I wondered about the motivation of the business owners who sent us the card. We don't know them, so have no way of knowing what their politics are. However, these days politics is hard to ignore when it comes to religiosity, given how religious nationalism is being pushed by the far-right.

Anyway, we're happy with the services we get from this business. The card doesn't doesn't change that in the slightest.

We did sent them an email saying that they might want to rethink the wisdom of sending out a Judeo-Christian Thanksgiving card to their customers, given how many different faiths, including no faith, those customers likely embrace. 

A Wikipedia article about "Irreligion in the United States" says:

The percentage of Americans without religious affiliation, often labeled as "Nones", is around 20-29% – with people who identify as "nothing in particular" accounting for the growing majority of this demographic, and both atheists and agnostics accounting for the relatively unchanged minority of this demographic.

Comments

[Walker]

Good book by NYT columnist Kate Cohen, “We of Little Faith” — she’s a really good writer and has a lot of insightful thoughts about raising kids without lying to them Highly recommended.

[Sant64]

Years ago I copied most of this essay and posted it to a WSJ message board, titled "how west coast liberal view the holidays" or something like that. Many believed it was a spoof, but I assured them it wasn't. Anyway, quite a few WSJ readers found it entertaining.