Is the abbreviation "Xians" offensive?

Question

I thought it was like Xmas...and abbreviation. But my last question two people got mad!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070423163659AAHnGSq&r=w

Why is it so offensive? Is Xmas offensive? LDS offensive?

Answer 1

There are 3 reasons that "Xians" could appear offensive to some. 1 - shorthand derogatory spelling 2 - the text message equivalent, shorthand typed version 3 - the lack of understanding of the meaning of "X" in historical context.

"Europeans in the 16th century started using X in place of Christ's name as shorthand for writing Christ. The Christian monks and scholars were knowledgeable of the Greek letter X, - Chi or Khi - which is the first letter in the Greek word "Christos" or "Kristos" (Greek: CristoV) The Greek and Hebrew word "Christos" comes out "Messiah" and mean the same thing: "The anointed One." For many years the X was understood by Christian clergy and as time passed, many Christians, educated and not, were not aware of the meaning. Over time the meaning became lost and was later of perceived as a sign disrespect."

Again, to some, "Xians" has a negative connotation when in fact it still has a true meaning, if not a deeper meaning of Christ-ian.

Answer 2

It's a word that I don't think I will ever get used to. But that's just me. I guess it sort of depends on where you come from. I heard the f-word used a lot when I was a kid (by other kids), in a very negative and hateful way. So I think it's sort of engrained in me that it's a very offensive thing to say.

Answer 3

It's not offensive to me but here is one explanation that might shed some light on it

Some people believe that the term is part of an effort to "take Christ out of Christmas" or to literally "cross out Christ";[2] it is also seen as evidence of the secularization of Christmas, as a symptom of the commercialization of the holiday (as the abbreviation has long been used by retailers). It may also be used as a vehicle to be more inclusive.

Answer 4

The X is actually the first letter of Jesus' name in Greek...Christos.

"The use of "X", derived from Chi, the Greek alphabet initial, as an abbreviation for Christ (most commonly in the abbreviation "Xmas") is often misinterpreted as a modern secularization of the term. Thus understood, the centuries-old English word Xmas, is actually a shortened form of CHmas, which is, itself, a shortened form for Christmas. In fact, the use of "X" to represent the full word goes back to the earliest days of Greek Christianity".

In times of persecution, especially, it could have been used as a "code" word for Christians since non-Christians would not understand it.

Answer 5

LDS is not offensive. That's simply an abbreviation

'Xians' I had to look at your question to understand. It's not any sort of accepted abbreviation I'm aware of, which makes it bad english. It doesn't much offend me, except in the sense that it seems like it was designed to get a rise out of Christians, which seems like it could be insulting. It certainly doesn't sound productive to getting intelligent discourse.

Would 8theist or Hatetheist be insulting to atheists? I feel certain the second one there would, but maybe not the first. Either way it seems poor grammar and poor manners.

Answer 6

It's usually used to intentionally try and be offensive to Christians--because it takes the word Christ out. Some use it just as an abbreviation though. It doesn't offend me if it's used in a sincere question, but I find it rude and ignorant when used in "troll-like" questions.

Answer 7

I'm not Christian, yet I have always found Xmas and Xians to be offensive.
What's so hard about typing out a few extra letters? Neither of those are abbreviations.
LDS is an abbreviation, I don't think it is offensive, but then I don't know anyone from the Church of the Latter Day Saints.

Answer 8

It isn't offensive, but to me, it's an irritant. If someone knows enough about the keyboard that person ought to spell the word correctly.

Incidentally, the abbreviation LDS is not offensive to the Latter-day Saint.

Answer 9

It is and it isn't. It depends on who you ask. The whole debate stems from the Greek letters X (chi) and R (rho) which melded together make the word Christos or Christ. In the 19th Century the XR was used together to denote the Christmas season. it then was shortened again to just Xmas and people forgot the meaning of the word. Technically -- technically, mind you -- Christ has never really been out of Christmas nor of Xians but again; it's all who you ask. I would always go for spelling out the word unless you knew the group. Blessings, my child.

Answer 10

Like ramjet, I find it moderately offensive but I accept it here.
Yes, I know all about the origins and such as stated here:
http://www.crivoice.org/symbols/xmasorigin.html
but I, personally, feel a negative connotation.
I don't think the extra five keystrokes are overwhelming.