text: There is quite a difference between a society shaped by a certain heritage, and having experienced some other influences as well. We can make a long list of multiple cultural influences over time, but you are contradicting yourself when you decry the fact our traditions and institutions still reflect a Christian heritage on the one hand, then claim we are equally "shaped by" Islam, Buddhism, Shintoism or Confucianism, etc. And I made the point earlier  to someone else that our holiday traditions are based on a merger of Christianity and existing pagan traditions.
  
  I'm not claiming we have uniquely Christian origins, I'm saying the fact we still have traditions based on religious origins does not mean we are not secular, that is a very narrow definition of "secular". It doesn't mean extirpating everything that might reflect religious origins. One can be secular and respect one's cultural heritage, and others'. I have no objection to celebrating people's cultural heritages in schools.