Protagoras,
I'm sorry if I insulted you. I guess I can see now how you interpreted my first post as meaning that "I" myself go to church every Sunday. I did use the word "we" at the beginning of the post, but I meant that in a general sense.
Here it is again: "Technically, I'm an atheist, and I know other atheists, too. We all celebrate Christmas complete with trees, lights, gifts, and so on, and maybe even mass (though we're there more as tourists than anything else). Many are married to believers and sit in church with their wives or husbands every Sunday (though they probably wish they didn't have to)."
I'm not one of those "many". I have intended to bring my children to church, but haven't gotten around to it, yet. That's why I said: Don't worry - we haven't used up your pew space yet. However, when I do get around to it, we'll be there as "tourists" just like you might go to a Synagogue as a "tourist". That is, you would be there respectfully (I'm assuming) appreciating the faith of other people. I'm not trying to insult you or anyone with that term "tourist".
And that's all I can say. If you still want to be offended, there's nothing more that I can add.
I would never go to any worship service as a tourist.
And you should never teach your children that Christmas is a secular holiday, because you would be lying to them. Of course, as an atheist, I guess that's not a problem.
Anyway, have fun on Santy Claus day, and remember, if you try to secularize Christmas and pretend it's something it is not, you are a hypocrite.
I don't have a problem with atheists, it's not their fault, but don't try to horn in on someone else's holiday because you think it's fun. You can have it both ways only if you are a hypocrite.
Christmas is not a secular holiday.