Why do Xians become aggitated when people use X for Christ?

Question

It is a long standing, commonly accepted abbreviation that originated with the Church many centuries ago.

If you know so little about your own Church history and the customs of your religion, what else are you mistaken about?

Answer 1

- The words "xians" and "X" are nowhere to be found in the bible..
- I think people that cant type "christians" or "Christ" are both lazy and ignorant of the bible..

Answer 2

I am well aware of the history behind the letter "X" standing for "Christ", but many are not, and most of them are unbelievers! This abbreviation ("X" in ancient Greek was the alphabetical form of "Ch") has at best limited use.

In American culture and language, "X" does NOT stand for either "ch" or "Christ". The letter "X" is either a mark of location (X marks the spot) or a sign that something has been removed ("X"ing out, or crossing something out). The terms "Xtian" and "Xmas", therefore, comes across as an insult--"Christ has been "removed" from the faith--you worship nothing", etc.

Personally, I feel that this form of "christ" ("X") should only be used as a form of shorthand amongst people learned enough to handle it. In everyday use, there is nothing wrong with using the "long" forms, Christian and Christmas, to talk about the faith and the holiday. Why be lazy about it?

Answer 3

It's true - the symbol X in Greek is Chi which was an early representation of Christ... meaning Jesus.

I don't get aggitated about people using it, but I find it to be sloppy. I'll write "Xmas" if I'm scribbling out a quick list, but not in a letter or email or anything. When I was in grad school and taking notes, I would use the symbol of a P with an X through the stem for "Jesus" or "Christ."

(Chi rho! Thank you - I couldn't think of the name of it!)

Answer 4

We're not mistaken about Christ, and that's what matters. X = Christo, Greek for the anointed one, the Christ, the Messiah. Some Christians may not know that. But some non-believers have used it to dilute the name of Christ. We don't serve an X, and since we esteem Him highly, we just don't refer to Him as X, either. We are not offended by His name, or ashamed to say it.

Answer 5

I think Christians are, for the most part, well aware of the symbolism of X for Christ.

However, its not used in this way by our contemporary culture. Its used by many as an abbreviation to shorten Christmas. When you do that, you are taking the "Christ" out of Christmas.

That's just one of the many ways that Jesus is taken out of the holiday season.

We hold that Jesus is holy and so wonderful. His very name, as with Yhwh, is holy. If his name is replaced for commercial reasons or anything of the like, it agitates me. Its no different to me than when local KISS FM stations replace Merry Christmas with Merry Kissmas...oooh, that's iritating!

But of course, if its mean simply as another form of Christmas, I wouldn't be irritated by it.

Thanks for the topic!

Answer 6

XP or Chi Rho stands for Christs name.

Answer 7

Only for xmas because it hides the meaning of the word and the link between christ and christmas.

Answer 8

I think they feel it is removing "Christ" from the words. If we used XPians and XPmas, it would be interesting to watch...

(XP - Chi rho, not windows. A rho looks like P)

Answer 9

A lof of Christians believe a book of morality tales from 2,000 years ago represents a literal reality. You can't exactly call these people sane.

They get agitated whenever anyone points out reality to them. Like a small child being told something he doesn't want to hear. They throw adult tantrums.

Don't even waste your time. They're all nuts.

Answer 10

Merry Xmas.

In g-d some trust.