First the thoughtful: Ross Douthat in the New York Times.

Matthew Yglesias replies.

Jonathan Chait responds to Matthew Yglesias and Ross Douthat.

A couple of pieces on Religion Dispatches:

• Taking the “Christ” back out of Christmas
• Louis Ruprecht

And then there was the $11,000,000 Christmas tree in the hotel in Abhu Dabi. Talk about your culture wars!