Morals and aesthetics are not legitimately subject to reasoning, based as they are on unreasoned (although not unreasonable) emotion.

Indeed, France's decisions have nothing at all to do with Health or Decency. (Crackle, crackle, man of straw...)

Thanks for relinquishing "fundamentalist", however reluctantly. Unfortunately, I'm no more prepared to accept your "atheism as a state religion" claim (although I readily agree it's true of China, who have some solid historical precedents on which to fear theist insurgency). Like nakedness and sexual activity, France simply believes keeping religion a private matter is better for everyone. And frankly, the facts are with them:

http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/2005/2005-11.html