Christmas Or Xmas - Does It Matter?

I usually use Xmas but a lot of others say Christmas. Many people complain around Xmas time that Christ is being taken out of Christmas, which leads me to believe that, for a Christian, they would prefer we say 'Christmas' as opposed to 'Xmas'.

Is there really any difference between the two words? Does one cause offence or is Xmas seen as a way to simply shorten the word Christmas?

The thought just occured to me so I thought I'd ask.

 

I think there's a difference. Then again, there are those that don't take their faith seriously, so it doesn't matter to them. Personally, I think it's one thing to type xmas, or to write it, but it just sounds strange to actually say "Merry Xmas."

 

Again. I see the "X" in Xmas as a cross...and it really is a cross being carried by Jesus. So to me if you use the X before Mas, it's the same thing...It's easier for people who are slow too. but it means the same.

 

But then you would have this:

Xmas would be 'Cross-mas' if the X refers to a cross.
Christmas is still Christmas and would still refer to Jesus. The cross Jesus carried has nothing to do with Xmas as he wasn't crucified then.

 

dont think it matters, it is more a problem with conservative christians who are very sensitive to the little things

normal christians don't mind

 

it's probably being used as Xmas by atheists to remove the word christ from the christmas. it's dumb and stupid to do that. You are still saying the same thing, it's like saying Happy Birthday as Happy Bday. Means the same thing. if they are using the X as to remove jesus from Christmas then they are truly idiotic people who need a lesson and need to grow up. it's time to stop acting like babies. If you don't believe in Christ, then don't say Xmas or Christmas. Say something else like, "Happy Atheistday"

 

X has been a symbol used for Christ for a thousand years.

 

it doesn't matter because Jesus was not born on the 25th December anyway.

Today people are celebrating a pagan festival today.

 

That really isn't the point, Abu..

The point is that we celebrate the birth of the Messiah.

X is a symbol for the Christ..

And all four gospels are NOT journalism, nor are they identical.. because they were written at different times and at different distances to different audiences.

 

If you ask Christian what date was Jesus born they will say 25th December. The children all are taught this.
The churches are all full of baby Jesus in a stable.

There is absolutely no evidence of Jesus being born on 25th December so the whole thing is built on a lie.

If that simple thing is a lie that they all believe then you wonder what else is and what people are fooled into believing.

In very simple words the church is LYING!

It is spreading a lie.

Something it cannot confirm. Something not true. A whole festival built on a lie. Lying to the people.

It's very simple.

 

You mean like the parting of the Red Sea or flying to Mecca on a horse.???

I never took you for a literalist.

The writers of the gospels weren't reporters..

 

which Red Sea?

the one I swim in or the one in Bardaweel?

 

Good Lord, you swim in that open sewer?

 

What would you call the gospels then?

 

There is no evidence that he wasn't born on december 25th either. Got anything?

Now, i'm not saying that he was born on the 25th. But, can you confirm that Jesus was not born on the 25th? I dare you!

 

The Coptic Christians here dont celebrate it today.

So not all Christians celebrate Christmas today.

The point is the church is saying he was and they have no proof whatsoever. None at all. Therefore it is a lie. They have no proof he was.

 

I am still asking for PROOF that he WASN'T born on December 25th. Thanks.

 

I'm not going to argue with you about this.

It's very clear.

The church is saying he was and they have no proof. Therefore it is a lie unless they prove it which they can't.
Simple.

Something else you can think about.

His birth date in the region would be recorded as the day he was registered. NOT the day he was born.

When his father registered the birth it would have been that day in the register not the day he was born which could have been months apart. They had to travel to register the birth remember.

My birthday is one date but my legal birth date is the one where I am registered not my actual birth date.

They are 3 days apart and my parents didn't have to travel by camel or donkey to register me and travel miles across desert as in Jesus time.

My own birth date is not the day I was born in all legal things. On my birth certificate or in the register.

Simply my passport, my birth certificate, my ID all have the date I was registered not the date I was born.

 

They are stories.. The writers weren't reporters.......

Matthew is writing to an audience of Jewish Christians probably in Northern Israel or lower Syria... He is writing about Jesus a a man from Israel... a teacher greater than Moses...

The Gospel of John in more spiritual.. and stands apart from the others.

Luke was putting more distance between Christians and Jews.. and addressing whether or not Christians could be good citizens of Rome.

Mark wrote in Greek to an audience of Greek speaking Christians.. maybe somewhere around the Mediterrean or in Alexandria... focuses on healing miracles.

 

You all might find this interesting...

http://www.bib-arch.org/e-features/christmas.asp

Read the entire article. It's illuminating.

 

Nor do Greek Christians.. so what?

 

You will have to prove that he wasn't born on Dec 25th. Or stop saying people are lying.

 

I always thought of it like each of them telling their own eyewitness accounts of what happened, but like you said to different audiences. Matthew, and John being the only disciples among the evangelists, where telling it to a Jewish audience, while Mark, and especially Luke where talking to a Greek audience. Luke himself was a Greek. I've also heard that Mark was the interpreter of Peter.

 

It would be as messy as 4 different eyewitness accounts in court, wouldn't it?

Mark seems to have been written first.. and Luke last..

As for the reason we celebrate on Dec 25th.. I think that finally came about as some sort of agreement with pagan Rome..

 

The main thing to remember is that when all these people talk of the birth of Jesus if it is according to tradition then they are talking about the date he was registered not born. Very few would have know the birth date exactly but all could have looked at the records of when it was registered which could have been months apart which in those days it was as they had to travel long distances for census etc.