Most people who spend any kind of time emailing maintain certain lists that they use regularly. One might be called "humor." This would be the list they'd send all those dumb jokes to. Another one might be called "family," and would be comprised, as you'd expect, of family members.
Some people get really specific with their lists. They might break "humor" down into multiple categories. "Clean" and "Dirty," for example. "Family" might be subdivided into "Siblings," "Cousins," "Immediate," and "All."
On the other end of the spectrum are those people who don't differentiate at all. They have one email list, containing virtually everyone they know on it. And these folks receive everything. All the dumb jokes. All the incorrect "Did You Know" files floating around in cyberspace.
And all the smarmy religious stories.
Yep. Some people never stop to think that not everyone would care to receive their Christ-laden emails. Even if they know that some in their list might not be Christian!
These are the same folks, probably, who send holiday cards with Jesus in the manger to their friends who are Jewish.
Now, in all fairness, I know that some people just "forget" that they have non-believers in their circle of family and/or friends. And their "slip" in sending the religious crap to the family atheist is simply an honest mistake. But in many cases, it's not an accident so much as a complete lack of consideration. They assume that everyone will want to read that "uplifting" religious story that practically reduced them to tears! Why wouldn't they?
Sometimes, it's just another example of theists not using their brains.
Whatever the cause, don't be afraid to remind them to engage their minds before clicking "send," if you happen to be on the receiving end of inappropriate material.
