>>>I understand Tamar's point about public funds being used to put up religious content in public schools - though I still say a Christmas tree with lights is harmless. I have three small ones in my office - for the simple reason that I think they're cool to look at.
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>I'd agree there's no need to establish new overtly religious official behaviors in 2013. But a street festival during which the Madonna is carried between 2 churches that has happened every year since 1907, a school song first sung in 1886... once everything else is sorted out, I guess it's OK to homogenize this sort of history. Biggest problem is that once you get rid of these things you never can get them back and often they're replaced by something short-term and crass. Or nothing. In which case the Judgment of Solomon should apply.

I'd shudder to think of a replacement for a Christmas Tree - yes, I'll bet it would be crass.

For someone who has never believed in God, I sometimes get rather traditionalist. I find references to God on money and courtroom oaths to be harmless (unless someone would claim that my sworn testimony is meaningless because I don't believe)

Last night I spent some time reading about the history of Christmas trees, something I'd never done before. Are they part of pagan rituals or a symbol of religion? Really hard to say. I guess everyone sees what they see based partly on their history. I've always loved Christmas, but in non-religious terms. To me, a tree with lights is like an Easter basket at Easter, a Turkey at Thanksgiving, and Fireworks on the 4th of July. It seems 100% secular. If there's religious promotion in a Christmas tree, I don't see it.

Granted, my view is probably influenced by the fact that I know non-Christians who love Christmas. Then again, I've never received hateful reactions (the way Tamar described). If I had dealt with the kind of garbage she experienced, maybe my perspective would be very different.