2007-10-09 10:46:34 · 11 answers · asked by NONAME 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Why do you CARE what we call ourselves?
2007-10-09 10:52:09 · answer #1 · answered by Eartha Q 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
First off The term Christians was a insult back in the Roman Empire. It would be like, for example calling an African-American the n-word. The name stuck with the Christian fellowship when the Roman Empire accepted Christianity as the state religion. Christ or Christos (in Greek) means the Anointed One like the Jewish word Messiah. Christians were the genital followers of Jesus while Hebrew Christian prefer to be called Nazarene
2007-10-09 18:01:45 · answer #2 · answered by Scandguard 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Especially as there were a whole load of Christs* wandering around Judea at the time.
*Christ is derived from Christos which means 'the anointed one' AKA the messiah.
There are records of several people claiming to be the messiah around the 1st century. Especially after the failed Jewish revolt and the following crack down by the Romans.
But why let things like facts get in the way of a good religion?
2007-10-09 17:57:59 · answer #3 · answered by Simon T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus was the Messiah. In his day everyone spoke Greek. The Greek word for Messiah was Christ. Therefore Jesus is Christ, and when He left Earth, the disciples started the Early Christian Church. 11 out of the original disciples became apostles (Judas committed suicide) and Paul joined them, creating the 12 Apostles. 11 out of the apostles were Jews (Paul was a Roman). The first church was in Jerusalem of Palestine in the Eastern Kingdom of Rome, ruled by Claudius then Herod, as Governor of Palestine and the Jews.
The first people of the church were Jews, then Gentiles heard the message.
OK sorry, I trailed off.
But it pays to know history, eh?
2007-10-09 17:58:57 · answer #4 · answered by ♥Reese is Blessed♥ 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The followers of Jesus were first called "Christian" as a derogatory name in Antioch. It means "Little Christ", and it just kinda stuck.
Prior to that, they were called disciples, followers, and "the Way".
2007-10-09 17:51:11 · answer #5 · answered by no1home2day 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I had really hoped that you would be able to maintain a stream of consciousness that you started earlier. The one about the age of the earth. But alas, just another round of mind erasers for the young lad please.
2007-10-09 17:55:17 · answer #6 · answered by Old guy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It leaves open the possibility of someone else being or having been the Christ. They don't want to seem too locked into Jesus.
2007-10-09 17:50:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
because there aren't many with the reading comprehension and linguistic skills to not get tounge tied while saying that.
2007-10-09 17:51:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i think that Christains works just fine considering that we follow Christ
2007-10-09 17:51:21 · answer #9 · answered by 777 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Well they could call themselves.....
(No, Jenae...you must refrain. Be nice. Be nice.)
Um, no comment.
2007-10-09 17:50:53 · answer #10 · answered by Jenae, TV (tempter of the vile) 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋