# Why can't people just use Christ??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 5, 1999, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844 "1999-12-05T22:45:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/21 "1999-12-07T01:19:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Cristi: BTW, I never knew that the X in Xmas was actually a Greek thing, and wasn’t simply a removal of Christ from the word Christmas. Pat yourselves on the back–you’ve eradicated a little ignorance! Thanks! May we now call you _Xi_? ## Peace. _“Put the ‘Crist’ back in ‘Cristi’!”_ ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/22 "1999-12-07T01:27:00Z")
> [@](#): > > OpalCat posted: I write xmas because a) it is shorter and b) I’m not a Christian and I’d rather not use Christian words in a holiday if I don’t have to. To me xmas is a holiday for being nice to everyone, thinking of those less fortunate than yourself, and giving presents. In our house, Christ has no part in it and I don’t want him to. Sorry Opalcat, but according to Jesus… > [@](#): > > Mt 25:31-40 – "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ In other words, because you practice compassion for those in need, Christ is present in your holiday and you get to go to Christian heaven, and you are celebrating Xmas in the true Christian spirit (maybe even more so than many Christians). Congratulations! Peace. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/23 "1999-12-07T03:38:00Z")
> [@](#): > > May we now call you Xi? Hey! I like that! But tell me if it has any strange meanings before you do, okay? My Greek is obviously a little rusty. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/24 "1999-12-07T04:39:00Z")
Well, I got a herd of goats here, who I love and treat with compassion, and if we’re Left out, I don’t get it? Splain, please? ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/25 "1999-12-07T06:03:00Z")
elelle, it didn’t say where the goats went. The sheep got the kingdom, yeah, but the goats got to PAR-TAY! * * * “Teaching without words and work without doing are understood by very few.” -Tao Te Ching ---
**Author:** ![neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ab097/32.png) [@neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neuro-trash_grrrl)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/26 "1999-12-07T06:34:00Z")
I now find myself in the unusual position of correcting God. I realize you must be awfully busy this time of year, but you must realize that they’re calling it “NC-17mas” these days… ZOT!!! * * * “That’s entertainment!” —Vlad the Impaler ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/27 "1999-12-07T11:16:00Z")
See that, Opal? You get to be Christian even when you don’t want to! How con_veeeeen_ient. ---
**Author:** ![WIGGUM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WIGGUM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WIGGUM)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/28 "1999-12-07T15:42:00Z")
> [@](#): > > My > Greek is obviously a little rusty. Maybe you should use a little Greece. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/29 "1999-12-07T15:55:00Z")
\…Very good shot Wiggum…lol 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PurpleCrackwhore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc348/32.png) [@PurpleCrackwhore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleCrackwhore)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/30 "1999-12-07T16:12:00Z")
I look forward to this time of year the most because no matter where I am, there is always some arrogant bible quoting Christian who asks this same question, only to learn that the X in Xmas symbolizes his/her beloved God and they finally have to admit that maybe…just maybe… they don’t know everything there is to know about their own religion. I recommend a class in Religious Symbolism for you counterattackii…it may open your eyes to alot of things about your chosen religion. * * * “Only when he no longer knows what he is doing, does the painter do good things.” --Edgar Degas ---
**Author:** ![counterattackii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/41988e/32.png) [@counterattackii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/counterattackii)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/31 "1999-12-07T21:44:00Z")
I did not know that that’s what the X is for. Excuse me, pldennison, if I am not on the same intellectual level with YOUR infinite wisdom. _rolls eyes_ It is not my fault that my parents always told me that. _Runs off to do battle with parental units…_ Wash, rinse, maim. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 1999, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/32 "1999-12-08T02:56:00Z")
> [@](#): > > In other words, because you practice compassion for those in need, Christ is present in your holiday and you get to go to Christian heaven, and you are celebrating Xmas in the true Christian spirit (maybe even more so than many Christians). Congratulations! Don’t be an idiot. Anyway, I’m religious and believe in a god etc, but I don’t label my god “Jesus” or his long bearded, robed dad. Jesus is credited with a lot of good stuff in the NT, I’ve never doubted that. However, Christianity as a whole reflects veeeeery little of that. > [@](#): > > I did not know that that’s what the X is for. Excuse me, pldennison, if I am not on the same intellectual level with YOUR infinite wisdom. _rolls eyes_ It is not my fault that my parents always told me that. _Runs off to do battle with parental units…_ ## I find this particularly amusing given the use of the word “ignornant” in the OP… – Teeming Millions: [http://fathom.org/teemingmillions](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions) “Meat flaps, yellow!” - DrainBead, naked co-ed Twister chat O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![counterattackii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/41988e/32.png) [@counterattackii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/counterattackii)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 1999, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/33 "1999-12-08T03:07:00Z")
I admit it - I was ignorant on this topic. Next time- a little research prior to posting. I apologize, and now I am off to get gauze for my foot… _ow_… Wash, rinse, maim. (well, maybe not the last one…) ---
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 1999, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/34 "1999-12-08T03:55:00Z")
So if Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ, why does the year start several days later? The church calendar always was goofy to me. Christ is born, then there’s Carneval etc etc and Easter.End of Christ. What do you do with the rest of the year? All sorts of useless saint days. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 1999, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/35 "1999-12-08T05:35:00Z")
I will admit though that non-Christians celebrating Christmas but “not wanting to bring Jesus into it” struck me as a little odd and insulting. A lot like me saying “I think I’ll observe Hannukah this year. Oh, I don’t believe in the Jewish junk – I just like the idea of eight days of gifts.” If you want a nice non-denominational reason to put up a tree and give out Pokémon dolls, make a holiday out of the Solstice. And don’t bother me with the “it used to be a pagan holiday” junk. Thayt’s not the issue. Christmas is a _Christian_ holiday. If you want to observe pagan holidays, knock yourself out. Just call them what they are. * * * “I guess one person can make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.” ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 1999, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/36 "1999-12-08T06:17:00Z")
Heh. I didn’t know that I could tweak Christians by celebrating Christmas. Well, this Sunday, me and my agnostic/atheist/deist/Hindu side of the family are going to celebrate _Christmas_ early, and we are going to open _Christmas_ presents and drink wine and have a fine old time and not mention Jesus at all. Holidays change; you mentioned yourself that it was once Mithrasmas, then Christmas, and now it is still called Christmas but it is a secular holiday for many non-Christians. I don’t see any reason to make up a new holiday when I can use one that already suits me just fine. If non-Jews in a predominately Jewish country had a history of celebrating Hannukah, I wouldn’t worry about that either. Christmas has been changed from a wholly religious holiday to one that can be secular as well, and I don’t see any reason to turn back the clock. * * * “Happiness is nonetheless true happiness because it must come to an end, nor do thought and love lose their value because they are not everlasting.” - Bertrand Russell ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 1999, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/37 "1999-12-08T06:30:00Z")
Actually, it doesn’t bother me at all what anyone does with it. I was just making a point. Namely, to use my own example, that it would seem so un-PC to bastardize Hannukah into a secular holiday, but since Christians are the majority, no one really cares if they get their holiday taken over. On the other hand, if the Christians cared that much, they’d of tried harder to make Christmas more… well… Christian. I guess it’s what you make of it. * * * “I guess one person can make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.” ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 1999, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/38 "1999-12-08T06:35:00Z")
Why can’t people just use “Happy Holidays?” * * * _The margarine of evil_ ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 1999, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/39 "1999-12-08T06:45:00Z")
I don’t think it is so much that secular sorts “stole” Christmas as it is that there were so many Christians around that it was more circumspect even for people who did not believe to celebrate the holiday. Christianity secularized Christmas simply by making it “weird” (or suspicious, “anti-Christian”, evilly-atheistical or heretical) to _not_ celebrate it. If this was a predominately Jewish country, and we all got 8 days off of work for Hannukah and were bombarded with Hannukah symbols and songs since before Thanksgiving, I’d bet secular sorts would celebrate Hannukah too. Frankly, I’m not about to turn down a holiday where people try to be nicer and I get to give and receive gifts (and drink and party with friends and family). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 1999, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844/40 "1999-12-08T11:40:00Z")
OpalCat were you the poster on the AOL board who had the sig line “I don’t have any problems with Jesus. It’s his fan club I worry about.”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-just-use-christ/11844.md?page=3)