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Philosophy is buyer's market, it either rings a bell with you or not.... I happen to like traditions that reconnect us with our history or each other, share a moment of fellowship or for a moment make us feel closer to God and others who I share something in common.

Traditions and rituals are just that. Things in common that connect us to something larger than ourselves... Many enjoy and find comfort and strength and affirmation in them.

There is a big difference between that and claiming that failing to uphold them will condemn you to hell, or that failing to uphold them means you must show disdain for them. I find the small rituals of societies to be interesting and valuable for seeing into the hearts of a people.

All I know about you is that you don't seem to find very many of the ideas I find interesting valuable, and that you have a tradition of posting little blue apples. Others might find your apples silly, I think it is interesting.

I use traditional symbols in the same way you do and find them as satisfying in relating to other folks. I'm just the type of person that has to reevaluate a tradition that from time to time gets my attention. Every time I see "G-d" it makes me want to think a phrase I avoid in favor of a tradition I do hold with, the commandments. There, God doesn't seem to leave any guesswork.

Yes, if Go- or -Od were used, I'd not care one way or the other.

I've used the apple a couple years now, for identification, so I guess you could say it's a tradition since putting it there is just reflex now.