All religious/non-religious people?

Couldn't' you have just said 'all people'?

Atheist

Wouldn't' find it offensive.

No

Most likely. Things like that would only make the religious feel persecuted and more defensive.

Overall opinion, someone had too much time on their hands and decided to take out not getting any gifts as a child out on the mall.

EDIT- a wizard? Isn't Harry Potter a touchy subject for fundamentalists? Seriously whoever started that just likes a fight.

My religion: None.

I don't find Santa to be offensive.

It's possible, but I don't expect it to happen.

Yeah... religion is a touchy subject. Christians may consider this persecution for some reason.

Overall opinion: I think it's kind of a waste of time. Doing things like saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" is something I think is a good idea. Taking Santa out of the mall... maybe a little more than needed. I think the best thing would be just to have representations of winter holidays celebrated by other religions. Keep Santa and a Christmas tree, but add a Menorah, etc. I think it's the better course of action.

I am an athiest.

Christmas is important to people of all ages and whatever religion you are or aren't you are celebrating a similar thing: the birth of Jesus Christ.

I believe this offensive for as one grows older you learn that Christmas is not only about giving and receiving but about celebrating a historical event in time. This is something all can celebrate whatever religion you are. I believe, therefore, that Christmas is still about adults and religion. As well, children learn to give and receive.

Being Athiest, we respect many religions regardless of what event may attempt to form a blockage between us. Therefore, I would say this would not increase the amount of hatred between religions.

I'm an Atheist; no religious affiliation.

Although I don't celebrate Christmas in any way, I don't have a problem with Santa. He's not a symbol of Christianity as much as he's a symbol of generosity and kindness...two things that I would consider appropriate all year long. He has very little to do with the religious holiday. Ditto with the Easter Bunny.

Part of this has to do with property. As you're referring to a mall, I would expect that the owner (or trustees) should make the decision whether or not to include these scenes. It's private property, and they can display any scene from any religion they desire.

If you were talking about a public space, like a park, I wouldn't mind a Santa stand. I would mind a nativity scene. My tax dollars are used for supporting any scene in a community. I support Santa as a symbol of cheer. I do not support Christianity. Ditto if the community was to erect and light a public menora.

But, is this the slippery slope to less religious freedom? In either case, no. Religious freedom is something that applies to individual human beings on their own property. Mall owners own their property and may do as they wish. I fully support the right of people to put giant nativity scenes on their lawn in plain sight (there was a particularly impressive one near my job this past winter).

I would not see this as problem for religious hatred, whether on public or private property. I mean, taking away a nonreligious display of Santa is NOT persecution. People who would use this as as symbol of such are already mad through other sources. That level of "victim mentality" wouldn't be the result of individual events, but is instead a systematic way of thinking.

Overall, if the mall is on private property, the council is overstepping its bounds. If it's on public property, and the display is nonreligious, then I think it's a little silly. If it's on public property and it is religious, then I would work with them to remove the religious elements, but still give kids a place to sit on an old man's lap and talk about their wishes.

I would only have it removed if it's on public property, it's religious in nature, and they are unwilling to modify it.

Agnostic/ Atheist

I don't find Santa at all offensive, as Santa has nothing to do with religion. If the display was a nativity scene, however, then I'm glad it was removed.

Alternately, the council could have made an appropriate display for Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Shinto, etc... at each appropriate time; but overall, I prefer not to have any religious display on public space.

Wiccan. I find it offensive that they'd remove ole St. Nick from the town square at all, especially in the name of "political correctness". Santa has nothing to do with religion at all.

Using politically correct decisions regarding anything will only deepen any chasms that already exist between religions, and start fights between people. Why can't people just grin and bear it? what harm has Santa (or Baby Jesus, or whatever the symbol may be) ever done to anyone?

If you really are angry with God, to me that entails being religious. You seem to have been successfully sold the idea that to be religious means you have to condemn homosexually expressed love. This is not so. Biblical literalism and to a lesser extent the King James only approach might convince you the Bible is homophobic but the problem with that view is that it means you'd have to believe God doesn't love people and that the way of Christ is condemnation, not loving kindness. This is clearly false. There are in fact a number of Christian denominations, and individuals and groups within those, which support gay marriage and are opposed to homophobia in all its forms. These include the Quakers, Unitarian Universalists and the Metropolitan Community Church. Concerning gay marriage, the issue is slightly different. The New Testament actually expresses mild disapproval for any kind of marriage, and therefore there should be neither heterosexual nor gay marriage. Legally, the issues raised by marriage per se are next of kin, custody of dependents and probate. These can mainly be addressed by purely civil contracts and weddings can become ceremonies without legal force. That way, gay and heterosexual marriages can exist without any problem. What needs to happen is for the institution of marriage to be abolished as a legal entity, not for gay marriage to remain legal. Heterosexual marriage needs to be banned.

I think being "polictically correct" has gotten way out of control. I'm not really religious per se and I see NO problems with having Santa and his grotto...it actually puts me in the Christmas spirit. Obviously not everyone who celebrates Christmas really does it for the religious reasons...some it's just tradition, fun, etc.

Sheesh, why can't some people just enjoy the holiday no matter what people believe?

I couldn't care less if people want to teach their children the lie about Santa Claus and ply them with more material possessions to appease them, that's their deal.

If they don't, that's fine too.

Overall, I think the council ought to butt out. I take it this "council" is some kind of political group? It wouldn't surprise me one bit. Politicos think they know what's "right" for everyone. Except themselves.

edit- I have no "religion". I choose to follow wise advice from long-dead people and find my own way. Both Christ and Buddha were wise in my opinion.

Well first off Santa Claus and decorations, etc are actually Pagan. Anyway even if it did represent the Christian religion we should be allowed to have decorations, etc and not worry about offending people because we were given the right to have our own religion. People should be respectful of others beliefs.

God bless

oh and I'm Catholic