The Original Purpose of Thanksgiving

Here's part of the original text proclaiming Thanksgiving a federal holiday:

IT being the indispensable duty of all Nations, not only to offer up their supplications to ALMIGHTY GOD, the giver of all good, for his gracious assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner to give him praise for his goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of his providence in their behalf: Therefore the United States in Congress assembled…Do hereby recommend to the inhabitants of these States…the observation of THURSDAY the twenty-eight day of NOVEMBER next, as a day of solemn THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify to their gratitude to GOD for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience of his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.

I think the most striking part of the document is that the government is asking people not just to pray for the end of the war or any political fortune, but also to thank God for his general goodness. This is a surprising statement, not only because it came from the government, but also because of how much churches today put emphasis on praying for blessings. Many treat God as the giver of health and wealth, not recognizing his eternal goodness that is apart from our current conditions.

I also think it is interesting that true religion is said to be the great foundation of national happiness. In the current recession, it would seem that money is the source of national happiness and that religion is a consolation prize for people without. The idea of religion being the foundation of public prosperity is currently a novel concept in 2008.