This is my first christmas living in my own place, and part of me keeps thinking I should put a tree and decorations up. But another, more grumpy part of me says that would be hypocritical: if religion is just a form of social control, wouldn’t decorating my new place just be  submitting to that unearned authority? On the one hand, the place looks  sparse and unfestive; on the other, I don’t  see the point of celebrating an ancient Pagan fertility festival commandeered by christianity and used to authorise, among other things, sexism, homophobia and racism. If I really  believe we should be outgrowing religion why should I decorate? And isn’t the feeling of melancholy  I get at that thought   not exactly what the clergy would want me to feel?