That was my first thought. I think in our house skiing nuns would go with the non-religious cards rather than the Christian ones. Churches and choirboys were generally the borderline cases and quite where they ended up often more reflected the general distribution of cards that year. I suspect I need to explain that Christian cards -- which generally means things depicting an aspect on the Christmas story -- went in the living room and the non-religious ones elsewhere. The layout has varied slightly with the houses we've lived in and how we were using the rooms and these days the split is less marked as all the cards are in one large room albeit one that used to be two rooms and the division of cards matches the old rooms.
I haven't decided what I'm going to do in my flat this year. So far I only have two cards (a robin and the Holy Family) so I haven't had to make the decision.
Well, what is a "secular Christmas card" in the above question?
I mean, I know what Secular-Christmas (also known as Giftmas) is, it's the holiday celebrated by non-Christians on 12/25.
Now, I recognize four sorts of end-of-year cards:
A. The cards sent by observant Christians to other observant Christians. B. The cards sent by observant Christians to non-Christians. C. The cards sent by non-Christians to observant Christians. D. The cards sent by non-Christians to non-Christians.
Obviously, A. would be "a Christian Christmas card" no matter how you twist it; D. would be "a secular Christmas card" or a "winter holiday card" or a "New Year card" or an "Asimov's Birthday card" or however one wanted to put it.
However, as a Christian with a fair number of non-Christian friends, I'm very sensitive to the difference between B and C, some would say oversensitive. I would probably not send it in case C (if I were a non-Christian sending it to a Christian) because that might come across as poking fun at someone's faith during their holiday, but I would probably send it in case B.
I think it's a religious card, but an irreverently religious one, if that helps? Pictures of nuns aren't always religious, but on a Christmas card, yes.
Very much could be either. I think I'd have to see it, and it would depend on whether the nuns were drawn positively/sympathetically (which doesn't preclude it being a funny card) and enjoying themselves, or drawn in a way that implied the concept of nuns was inherently worthy of ridicule.
On a related note, I am finding it really difficult this year to find "subtly Christian" Christmas cards. As a Christian with many non-Christian friends and relatives, I like to send cards which are primarily cute and secondarily Christian, e.g. little cartoony shepherds and angels. But this year all I've seen in the shops are cards on the theme of parties and drinking and stuff, or cards which look like icons, with pious haloed Mary and Jesus on. Nothing in between.
IMO any Christmas card design could be used equally religiously or secularly. I mean, an atheist can't complain that there's a nativity scene on his Christmas card, and if he does then he shouldn't be joining in the festivities! And Christians should lighten up and accept that religious parody makes for amusing cards :)
I mean, an atheist can't complain that there's a nativity scene on his Christmas card,
Oh yes, totally. Though I observe some do complain. (The traditional etiquette problem being as people have encapsulated above. You might send a card to someone who doesn't want it, and is offended by it. I think most people I know don't have a problem, even if they're unsure most people appreciate the thought whatever happens.
Thus, a card doesn't have to be strictly one or the other, but generally you can see which it falls into. Probably the most archetypical compromise is stained-glass architecture :)
Personally, I'm always flattered to receive Christmas cards, though am always slightly surprised by the ones that have a religious message in. Not that I mind, especially if it's some form of "thinking of you", but it's what I naturally feel.)
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Date: 2007-12-13 02:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-13 05:29 pm (UTC)I haven't decided what I'm going to do in my flat this year. So far I only have two cards (a robin and the Holy Family) so I haven't had to make the decision.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-13 02:43 pm (UTC)I mean, I know what Secular-Christmas (also known as Giftmas) is, it's the holiday celebrated by non-Christians on 12/25.
Now, I recognize four sorts of end-of-year cards:
A. The cards sent by observant Christians to other observant Christians.
B. The cards sent by observant Christians to non-Christians.
C. The cards sent by non-Christians to observant Christians.
D. The cards sent by non-Christians to non-Christians.
Obviously, A. would be "a Christian Christmas card" no matter how you twist it; D. would be "a secular Christmas card" or a "winter holiday card" or a "New Year card" or an "Asimov's Birthday card" or however one wanted to put it.
However, as a Christian with a fair number of non-Christian friends, I'm very sensitive to the difference between B and C, some would say oversensitive. I would probably not send it in case C (if I were a non-Christian sending it to a Christian) because that might come across as poking fun at someone's faith during their holiday, but I would probably send it in case B.
I think it's a religious card, but an irreverently religious one, if that helps? Pictures of nuns aren't always religious, but on a Christmas card, yes.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-13 03:18 pm (UTC)On a related note, I am finding it really difficult this year to find "subtly Christian" Christmas cards. As a Christian with many non-Christian friends and relatives, I like to send cards which are primarily cute and secondarily Christian, e.g. little cartoony shepherds and angels. But this year all I've seen in the shops are cards on the theme of parties and drinking and stuff, or cards which look like icons, with pious haloed Mary and Jesus on. Nothing in between.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-13 06:09 pm (UTC)IMO any Christmas card design could be used equally religiously or secularly. I mean, an atheist can't complain that there's a nativity scene on his Christmas card, and if he does then he shouldn't be joining in the festivities! And Christians should lighten up and accept that religious parody makes for amusing cards :)
no subject
Date: 2007-12-13 06:17 pm (UTC)Oh yes, totally. Though I observe some do complain. (The traditional etiquette problem being as people have encapsulated above. You might send a card to someone who doesn't want it, and is offended by it. I think most people I know don't have a problem, even if they're unsure most people appreciate the thought whatever happens.
Thus, a card doesn't have to be strictly one or the other, but generally you can see which it falls into. Probably the most archetypical compromise is stained-glass architecture :)
Personally, I'm always flattered to receive Christmas cards, though am always slightly surprised by the ones that have a religious message in. Not that I mind, especially if it's some form of "thinking of you", but it's what I naturally feel.)