Christmas in America: Is Jesus Still Legal?

Christmastime in America. The image evokes the warm glow of candle-lit windows, snow-laden trees, stockings and candy canes, twinkling lights, and soft angelic music. But if Christmas is truly "the most wonderful time of the year," then why does a manger scene at city hall stir up such tremendous conflict? And why does a third grader's wish to give out red and green pencils with a Christian message create such a firestorm between parents and public school administrators?
The reason is simple: Jesus Christ, the most controversial person in history.

Activists and attorneys argue that any inclusion of Jesus Christ in the public square violates the so-called "Separation of Church and State" doctrine. Nowhere is this debate more clearly visible than during the holidays. But is this really true? Does the Constitution demand a government blackout of all things religious in our public institutions during this time of year?

Some of the compelling questions addressed within the pages of this book include:

• Can public schools allow Christmas carols that mention Jesus or the Savior during a holiday concert?
• Can children give religious gifts to their public school teachers and classmates during holiday parties?
• Can public school teachers explain the religious origins of Christmas to their students?
• Can a private citizen set up a manger scene on government property that has been set aside for public displays?
• Is a city or town permitted to include a manger scene or Star of David in its own holiday display?

Attorney David Gibbs III, founder and president of the National Center for Life and Liberty, and Attorney Barbara J. Weller answer these thought-provoking questions in a comprehensive yet down-to-earth way. Their decades of legal experience combine within these pages to examine why "the holidays" is replacing "Christmas" and to equip parents, teachers, pastors, students, and others to understand whether, in fact, Jesus is still "legal."