is jewish ppl calling christianity "xtianity" like a way to like subtlety stick it to christians by misnaming the religion or does it have a purpose? also i saw someone say xmas in place of christmas is a jewish phrase that non jews shouldn't use?
Hi there!
A lot of Jews do not like to word the use “Christ” and instead will replace Jesus’s name with an X. Some folks might use it out of spite, others might do it because the x is used sometimes in “Xmas.” There are so many reasons as to why this might happen.
I personally always spell his name out: “Jesus Christ,” “Christianity,” and “Christmas.” I believe that it is disrespectful to Christians to spell it any other way (true, some Christians will spell Christmas, “X-mas”- and that would be a time that I would follow their lead) Jesus Christ is the name of their god and their central theological figure (or technically 1/3 of their deity. In the same way that I would hope that they would respect me and the Jewish understanding of Adonai, as well as our Torah, I always want to give Christian folks the same respect back.
I know that many followers might be upset at this response. You might be angry with how Christianity has treated the Jewish people for centuries through years of pogroms, persecutions, inquisitions, hatred, and xenophobia. You have every right to be upset at our history. I am also upset that we are a people who have had to live an existence of survival.
But that all being said, there are some beautiful Christians in the world- many of whom are my family, best friends, and colleagues. I am not in the business of disrespecting their theology. I am in the business of looking for the peaceful and loving qualities in their beliefs and sharing in their joy as they do in the light of my Havdalah candles, in my Torah, and in my call to make the world a more justice and chesed-filled place.
Have a great night!
PJ
