On "mere ceremonial deism"

Wendy Kaminer argues that while atheists have a right to be up in arms about the World Trade Center cross,
in other cases they'd do well to pick their battles:

This
is the challenge for the Freedom from Religion Foundation and other irreligious
advocates of secular government: accept or resign yourself to a little
ceremonial deism, partly for the sake of focusing on the important distinction
between it and ceremonial sectarianism. And when challenging arguable, official
sectarianism, like the Trade Center cross, accept or resign yourself to the
increasing foolishness and futility of "offended observer" claims.

While Kaminer's strategic point may be right, I don't buy her
distinction between harmful "offical sectarianism" and "mere ceremonial deism,
like the vapid, non-sectarian references to God that decorate our currency and
pepper presidential speeches." The word she wants for the latter category is
"theism," not "deism." More importantly, I don't think it's benign.