[brent13a]

We do live in these free United States, and it is everyone's right to worship however they want.
I choose to recognize that putting out a dressed-up object on a pedestal ("christmas tree"), giving that object sacrifices (spending your own money on presents), and expecting presents in return for those sacrifices is patent idolatry. It is nothing short of idolatry and an insult to the worship of Jesus' birth.
If others choose to be blind, and accept the threadbare argument that it is tradition and thereby OK, then that is your right. If you choose to believe that mans' tradition "usurps" G-d's Law then that is your right (here in the US).
But DO NOT tell me that I am un-american and an un-believer and I won't call you the same. If that's your opinion you're nothing to me.

[Petronski]

I choose to recognize that putting out a dressed-up object on a pedestal ("christmas tree"), giving that object sacrifices (spending your own money on presents), and expecting presents in return for those sacrifices is patent idolatry. It is nothing short of idolatry and an insult to the worship of Jesus' birth.

ROFLMAOAPIMPRFI

[Petronski]

Do you accept the Nicene Creed?

Do you believe in the Holy Trinity?

Do you call yourself Christian?

[americanophile]

I have no idea why I was pinged...though I must say I completely disagree that a Christmas tree is ‘patent idolatry,’ it’s manifestly absurd, since I’ve never heard of anyone worshipping their tree, or giving it offerings, or anything of the kind as you suggest.

[Vanders9]

Gosh there's some anger there.

If you were to say you chose to believe that the various Christmas traditions were idolatory, rather than recognise that they were, I might have more sympathy for your sense of injustice over being belittled by being called un-american and an un-believer (although I personally don't think thats what the author of the article is saying at all).

All societies and cultures have traditions. It's built into our psyches. Tradition is important because it reinforces group identity and provides a link to the past. It's not a question of man's tradition overiding God's law, but of whether the tradition continues to complement God's purposes. In the case of Christmas I'm most worried by the rampant commercialism of the event.

Incidentally, what's with the G-d thing?