I'm not attempting to degrade anybodies beliefs...

The notion around the solstice was that that is the origin of the all of the current religious celebrations (of whatever faith) and it is something that is agnostic both BETWEEN different kinds of religions AND with respect to either theism or atheism. Thus... If the statutary holidays were based around the solstice it would be an agnostic position with respect to WHICH religion and WHETHER it was religious or not.

It is controversial whether the US has freedom OF religion or whether freedom FROM religion is part of that as well. It is actually very controversial indeed.

There are also three different readings of what 'seperation of church and state' could mean.

One is that the state should butt out of religions. Thus the state shouldn't PRESCRIBE statutary holidays on the basis of religion and the state shouldn't fund religious activities either (e.g., the state shouldn't fund welfare via churches)

Another is that religions should butt out of the state. Thus religions shouldn't dictate laws (such as around abortion and sex ed in schoold etc).

Another is... Can't remember... I think there is a wiki article on seperation of church and state though.

Sky...

Please can you give me the benefit of the doubt sweetie? I don't know how many times I have to ask this... But if you find my threads offensive how about just leaving them alone and leaving others to take benefit from them?

Just because the majority of people in a society might be of one faith... I fail to see how that justifies the society prescribing the holidays of the majority as the statutory holidays for all...

I'm not saying that christians shouldn't be allowed to celebrate. And I'm not saying that everybody should be forced to celebrate some pagan version of the solstice.

What I am saying is... Are people who aren't christian allowed to continue trading? Are they forced to send their children to school (by law) on their religious holidays? If so... Then that sounds like the state prescribing holidays on the basis of religious faith to me... The US isn't alone in doing that... In the southern hemisphere our stat days are based around christmas and easter too... Even though our rates of atheism / agnosticism are higher.