As a Christian I am tolerant because that's actually a part of Christianity. These particular atheists' (not all) are intolerant. Not good.

Stirring the pot is very, VERY important.  If you don't stir, then the brew becomes stagnant.  By stirring, you create many flavors and blends that make for much more interesting living.  If I don't do something to spur my own beliefs and incite discussion (even heated discussion), then we all get bored.  Without proverbial pot-stirring, life is boring, fewer ideas and theories are shared, and everyone just happily continues to go about their life, living in their own little world.  

I also find it remarkably hypocritical that in the eyes of the theists on this site, questioning religion is wrong, as is being offended by what they consider 'pushy religious sentimentalities', yet it's okay to claim atheists are all manner of amoral scum while being subtly indignant at every turn.  it's okay for Religious people to be horribly offended by atheism and even other religious people, resulting in unneeded lawsuits and needless finger-pointing, but when atheists get offended by religious symbology, that's somehow a matter of repression and religious intolerance?  

I cannot be the only one here who finds this laughably and hilariously hypocritical.  

lol the first post of that thread had more anti-religious sentiment then all but one post in this entire thread has of anti-atheist sentiment. If you read the responses in this thread a lot of the responders are atheists themselves. The responses aren't anti-atheist they are anti-extremist it just so happens the extremists in this case are atheists.

As for your comment about stirring the pot. Yes its good to incite discussion and talk about topics. Its also good to stand up for your beliefs when they come under fire. However to go out and attack other peoples beliefs inciting hatred and unprovokingly attacking users who believe differently is not.

You don't have to stir the pot so to speak in order to incite good discussion. Note that very few atheist users are offended by this thread. I bet it hasn't even been reported yet and if it was not by many users.

Why can't we just get along, do you have to always insult our beliefs to stir your pot. Isn't their a way you can express your beliefs without purposely insulting people? I don't go around creating insulting threads for the sake of stirring the pot and I still have plenty of intellectual discussions.

christmas is a christian holiday, is it not? or does some other religion celebrate birth of christ?

The article is mistaken. Christmas doesn't have 'christian roots'.

And I hope Dane Cook and yourself end up 'God Is Not Great' signs.

Christmas is a secular holiday, is it not? or does some religion celegbrate the giving of gifts by Santa?

The Christians are responsible for renaming the holiday christmas, making it last 12 days (ie the 12 days of Christmas), and pretending that Jesus was born on this day. Everything else about it was borrowed from earlier cultures/religions, including the date, and all the customs associated with the holiday are taken from earlier Roman and Pagan festivals. Christians are no more the inventors of Christmas than those who just love Santa.

Jesus was actually born in the summer (August, I believe), and most biblical scholars agree with this POV. What you today call Christmas was a pagan holiday which christians hijacked because people didn't wanna give up celebrating it. Christmas is part of christianity's 'pagan heritage'. Lot's of people today associate it more with Santa Clause and giving and recieving presents rather than with the birth of Jesus.

As a fellow New Yorker, I simply don't care.

I'm spiritual, but as a child I celebrated christmas with my parents with a christmas tree and everything, even as an adult today. I celebrate every holiday lol. Main point, you don't have to be christian to celebrate christmas.

True and not true. Christians were being persecuted in around 200AD and wanted to celebrate Christs birth. So they decided to celebrate it at the same time as the pagan holiday. Though I must admit it wasn't a Christian holiday to begin with. Also Santa Clause is Christian, he was Saint Nicholus.

Everything we celebrate about at Christmas is because of Christianity. Also the twelve days thing, I think that was just a song. hanukkah is the holiday that lasts multiple days at Christmas time. Also the giving and recieving of presents was also a symbolic jesture and practice started by Christian's in celebrating Christmas.

Do you honestly believe we would still be celebrating the holiday of lights today if it weren't for Christian's? Its Christmas thats what it is. The reason it is celebrated is entirely based on the Christian faith.

That being said their is nothing wrong with everyone else celebrating it. As long as they don't try to impose their changes on its heritage and on those who still celebrate what it stands for. Also people should be educated as to why we have Santa and why Christmas is celebrated. Whether the real date of Jesus birth or not it still is symbolic of his birth!