It is also false that the Pilgrims – a wide-eyed sect of Puritans – came to these shores seeking religious freedom. They traveled to the New World precisely to be able to exclude anyone but their own from society. Poisoned by Calvinistic Predestination, they considered themselves the only ones to be saved and clearly stated on more than one occasion that Catholics and Native Americans were damned and therefore had no rights. There should be no Christian pardon for heresies like that.

How then do we get to the “good” Thanksgiving Day of 2007 with its public display of religious warmth towards family values. I admire the Herculean travel exploits to sit together as a family around a common table – a modern version of the pilgrim’s journey. I welcome interfaith prayer services, sincere if sometimes sentimental public prayers, and more secular rejoicing in parades, football games and commercial sales. Unlike their ancestors’ of past Calvinistic excess, today’s genteel Presbyterians are highly likely to be the leading neighborhood force in holding an ecumenical service, followed by largesse to the poor and turkey dinners for the homeless. What has so radically changed an event whose origins were clouded by violence, exploitation and bigotry?

The answer, I think, is that the anniversary of the vengeful European and Pilgrim abuse of Native Americans has become identified with Earth Religion. It is a common practice in most of the religions around the world to celebrate the final harvest and the last meal with cold-weather “fresh” food – meaning pumpkins and cranberries in Massachusetts – before being confined to eating only preserves during the winter. Christianity, particularly in its Catholic incarnation, proved astute in syncretizing its beliefs to the rhythms of Earth Religions. The original Calvinistic Thanksgiving Day of 1621 has become today’s relevant religious festival, I think, because it was syncretized with the Native American and other Earth Religion celebrations for the coming of winter. Thus, there is more to celebrate here than a turkey dinner or even the restoration of the extended family in American experience. Rather let us give thanks for the porosity of Christianity to Earth Religion. The meaning of the day no longer rests upon the dominance of one religion, such as that of the Pilgrims, which conquered the other one belonging to the Native Americans. While that power equation defined the original Thanksgiving, today equality and tolerance is celebrated instead. What joins us now is recognition of how Mother Earth is the necessary material connection to what is spiritual.