Why so in Christianity?

Question

I am a Hindu, living in India. Names of Gods and Goddesses are freely used in everyday life. For naming, houses, shops, schools, establishments, anything. This practice is encouraged too.
Whereas, in Christianity the unwarranted use of the name is Christ is considered blasphemy. Why is it so?

By the way, I ask this question simply out of curiousity.
Comparison or fault-finding or putting down is not my motive.
I am not here to decide whether one is right or the other is wrong.
I just wondered how these opposites evolved.

Answer 1

One important reason is the radical difference in the meaning of divine names in panentheistic religions (like Hinduism, which is a panentheistic religion with polytheistic characteristics as well) and in monotheistic religions (like Christianity, which is a monotheistic religion with polytheistic characteristics as well).

In panentheism (or henotheism), the Supreme Identity of Divinity is viewed as beyond all, even the most sacred, names. Few Hindus believe that Shiva or Vishnu, even, are the Supreme Godhead; even these sacred beings are only maya, and the true source of Life remains hidden. So no name "captures" (and thereby threatens to blaspheme) the Divine, which is That Which Cannot Be Named.

By contrast, in monotheism, the True Name of the Divinity is viewed as the absolute, final, incontrovertible summation of Divine being. Thus in true monotheistic religions such as Judaism and Islam, the "name" of God is unutterable, and in modified monotheistic religions such as Christianity, the true "name" of God is too sacred to be uttered lightly or in "vanity" to use the Christian term.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

The only thing right off the top of my head is The Church of Christ of the Latter Day Saints. Other than that here in America Atheists would have a kitten. They would be on an automatic war path that their rights are being destroyed. So basically this is why.

Answer 3

Naming a house after a Hindu god in India is not analogous to using Christ's name in a vulgar way.

Sorry, but you're comparing two uses of deity's names that are not comparable at all.

In Christianity, Christ's name is used for churches, hospitals, and the like. It is not blasphemous to do so.

Answer 4

Because Jesus Christ is so high of an authority (He in fact, is THE authority and Lord incarnate) that it would be blasphemous to name something after Him, because it would suggest that the person, house, school, etc., would live up to the will and nature of Jesus Christ, which is impossible, as He was the only perfect and sinless human to ever live.

Answer 5

The problem does not lie with Christianity, it is with America. It is not considered blasphemous, but more inconsiderate of people who might be "offended" by a God they don't believe in.

The line should be drawn when it becomes taking the Lord's name with no reverence, or saying it without meaning to. God's name is powerful, and should be kept sacred.

Answer 6

No it's not considered blaspheme. I think its really just because it doesnt make for a nice sounding first name. We name children other Biblical names, Spanish use the name Jesus a lot. Joshua is a variant of Jesus, Immanuel also and we use those names. I just think that the name "Christ" for a child doesnt sound good.

Answer 7

Hi Sridhar,
The Christian god is a sensitive god. He takes great offense at any mention of his name that isn't done in reverence. In fact, you can spend all of eternity in hell just for using his name "in vain." He also demands that his followers sing to him and praise him, and only him because he is a "jealous god." Indeed he has been known to kill whole peoples, including children and livestock, who have offended him by recognizing some other god. (On one occasion he only killed the children.)

So ... what kind of establishment would you name after him?

Answer 8

It's a custom from the Bible --
Exodus 20:7
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

--
Christ is part of the Holy Trinity, so Christians deem that "Christ" should also not be taken in vain.

Answer 9

In our culture it is considered irreverent to name every-day things after God. We are to worship God, but only use His name to refer to Him. This is a show of respect and it is part of our culture. You said yourself that the use is "unwarranted".

Answer 10

The second of the Ten Commandments very clearly states, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."