There seems to be a tendency to think that Christians are a different breed to those who have not adopted Jesus. We are all sensitive people who share the same world and live very similar lives. The greatest difference between people in the western world is their choice of work.
There are both bigoted Christians and athiests. There there are also kind and generous Christians and athiests. Some Christians have 'loose morals' while while some athiests live very rule driven lives. Our theological perspective need not be a barrier between us and others. I have Christian friends myself and was once befriended by a Hindu family. I spent my early years working for a small company that was almost entirely Mormon and they too befriended me. Nice people but they have yet to wake up and smell the coffee. (not allowed)
I do not consider myself an atheist. Just someone who having given back my Jehovah t-shirt, has not found a suitable replacement that I can be sure exists. I am not devoid of a spiritual life, its just that it doesn't at present involve a deity. (Now I am waiting for someone to tell me that's what an atheist is)
The anger I once felt at the way religion affected my life and cost me my family has burnt itself out. Life is too short to carry grudges. If people are nice to me then I don't much care who they pray to, or which Holy book they keep by their bed. As I have said before, I have my own illusions.
Some people feel a need to adopt a creature that they can direct their love towards. This is why people have pets. Now that the inquisitions are over and the Catholic church has closed its torture chambers, adopting Jesus as a target for love and hope is not a threat to the world.
If people want to pick out from the bible the nice things the man from Galilee said, and it helps them to be kinder and more considerate of others, so be it. I would like to adopt him myself, but alas, my line of work would cause a conflict of interest.