Serious question here, so please, only serious answers.
No, I'm not offended by it. Chi (x) and chi-rho (xp) have long been abbreviations for the Greek word we translate as Christ. In fact, it was Christians who first started using the abbreviation xmas. So, I was just wondering why the abbreviation xian seems popular.
2007-10-02 14:49:49 · 14 answers · asked by The SuburbanCat 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, it seems that atheists are the ones who are doing this. So, I'd say that their anger toward other people believing crazy things (according to them) has led them to express it by abbreviating the reason why there are Christians - Jesus Christ. It is either that, or their laziness. They do this because of what you mentioned before: Christmas can be abbreviated to Xmas by some; therefore, Christians is abbreviated Xtians. Christ is only a variable to some people.
2007-10-02 14:59:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
In ancient Greek, the X was the letter used to represent the name of Christ. Today, some people use the X instead of writing Christ, thinking that the X represents the word Christ. But, most people do not know this, and for them it is just a shortcut to use. In this way, they are taking Christ out of Christmas.
I've never seen "Xian" written instead of Christian. This must be something new. Or, it could be something regional. I know it's not used on the east coast, where I live.
2007-10-02 15:04:41 · answer #2 · answered by nymormon 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's just a Short cut. x = Christ. It's not meant to offend. It's just an abbreviation.
2007-10-02 14:54:42 · answer #3 · answered by punch 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people do this because they think it offends Christians. Some Christians are offended by it. Some do not know that X is the Greek symbol for "ch".
2007-10-02 14:55:24 · answer #4 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Language structures evolve.
Xtian requires fewer phonomes to speak ('eh kz t ya n') versus christian ('ch r i st ya n'). It requires fewer letters to write/type. As such, in evolutionary linguistics, Xtian would be predicted to have an increasing usage over Christian.
2007-10-02 14:54:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because it irks Christians. Serously. Most have NO idea that x was used BY Christians. It's greek. So now they get all irked and people just do it more.
And it's shorter to type.
2007-10-02 14:54:34 · answer #6 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They replace christ with an x (a cross). Easier to type.
2007-10-02 15:01:06 · answer #7 · answered by CC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Capitalized it is not actually offensive,but atheists use it without caps to offend,and also as a kind of shorthand.
2007-10-02 14:57:12 · answer #8 · answered by Galahad 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Trying to offend us, like Christmas..xmas
The name of Christ offends them so they want to do away with Him..
2007-10-02 14:54:54 · answer #9 · answered by † PRAY † 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Dont know, to me it seems that they dont want to write out the name of Christ.
2007-10-02 14:55:37 · answer #10 · answered by plowmscat 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋