Are Christmas trees still a religious symbol?

[Mark]

Are Christmas trees still a religious symbol?

Christmastime can be more than a battle for parking spaces at the local malls.  It can also be a battle over how much space the icons of Christmas should be allocated in buildings, parks and streets.  Where should a Nativity scene be allowed (outside of a Christian church)?  You won't find one in most courthouses.  But is a public park an acceptable setting?  The city of Santa Monica knows this debate well.  Atheist groups asked for -- and received -- space in the city's Palisades Park overlooking the ocean.  A Jewish group also was allocated space for a menorah.  But the organizers of the park's traditional -- and extensive -- Nativity scene are angry that they ended up with a fraction of the space they are allocated most years.  The decision on space was done by a random lottery overseen by the Santa Monica city attorney.  Multiple atheist groups applied for spaces and ended up being earliest in the drawing.   

Although civic buildings tend to veto religious expressions of the holidays, Los Angeles City Hall has put on display a Christmas tree and a menorah. Is that equal time for religious expression?

Some people -- and some courts -- believe that Christmas trees are now a secular expression of holiday festivities.  There are some who also argue that menorahs can be interpreted as a nondemoninational symbol of light and hope.   Some of our editorial board members begged to differ.   There may be many people of non-Christian religions enjoying -- and even installing in their homes -- Christmas trees these days, but there's no question that the ornamented trees, whatever their pagan origins, were long ago adopted by Christians as a ritual display during Christmas.

What do you think? Are Christmas trees and menorahs now secular symbols of cheer and hope during the holiday season?  Or are they still religious symbols?

but there's no question that the ornamented trees, whatever their pagan origins, were long ago adopted by Christians as a ritual display during Christmas.

Pagans and Catholics, not Christians, but its good to see that some people recognize this.

[Psalm 51:17]

What are the 2 days of the year when churches's pews are guaranteed Standing Room Only? The answer is...Xmas and Ishtar...can't say why, but probably b/c those are the only 2 days of the year when the unbelieving world either feels alot of guilt for not being in a church building and/or to get together as a family during those rare times when they have very hectic schedules.

Pt being that the last thing these church buildings want to do is to forsake these pagan holidays...b/c they need to maintain their offering plates coming in!

But yeah, isn't it amazing how the unbelieving world tends to have more discernment than today's Churchianity?

[Kilika]

What are the 2 days of the year when churches's pews are guaranteed Standing Room Only?

It's because of the secular world's recognized paid holidays. They make a big deal out of it, and most are off work, family comes to town, etc., and churchianity takes advantage of all those people at home so they pound them with pleas of charity during the holidays. And it's all fueled by the "love of money..."

[Mark]

Treebanks' Crop Up, Allowing Poor People Access to Christmas Trees

 A woman in England has started a trend of donating old Christmas trees to people who cannot afford them.
 
Hayley Dolbear was inspired to start collecting used trees after a personal experience with poverty at Christmastime.
 
"Some years ago I had to make a decision about whether to get gifts for my two children, or a tree,” Dolbear said.
 
Then a neighbor gave her a tree that was unneeded. "I just burst into tears," she said.
 
So-called “treebanks” are now cropping up across England. Dolbear says many people upgrade their trees and donating them is “better than sending them to landfill.”
 
Some treebanks have also received donations from charity shops that have overstock after Christmas.
 
St. John’s church is housing a treebank organized by Dolbear.
 
Rev Clifford Stocking said, “I wasn't expecting 150 of them, but I think it's a brilliant idea.”
 
Dolbear said, "The response has been crazy. It has been a bit emotional. I can't believe people's generosity. I have piles and piles of decorations, lights, ornaments, boxes of brand new wooden decorations. You name it I've got it. What started as a little idea last year has grown into this massive thing."

http://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/treebanks-crop-up-allowing-poor-people-access-to-christmas-trees.html