to hate it when people write "Xmas"?

[LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary]

It is, after all, a festival about Christ.

Putting an "x" instead of His name is lazy and disrespectful.
If you don't want a Christian Christmas, refer to the "holidays" instead.

Jeanne Your post makes me think of a story that has long been told in my native state of Georgia about a state legislator who (some years ago) during a debate about requiring the teaching of a foreign language in all high schools in the state, defended his opposition with "If English was good enough for Christ Jesus, it's good enough for me." May be apocryphal, but then again, maybe not.

If Christ exists (which I don't believe he does) would he really be so sensitive that he'd be offended by someone shortening his name to X and why would he be so sensitive?

Why would be want everyone on earth to be bowing down giving him respect - it seems like someone who's a bit insecure or something?

Instead of feeling hurt that his name has been shortened to X should he not be more worried about all the wars and famines etc

If someone shortened my be to X I wouldn't care

I will admit, I've heard that story before, but I love it. Maybe I heard it from you, even?

Left I'm really quite disappointed in you.

My beliefs are as deeply held as yours and no doubt we both read the 10 commandments the same way.

We spoke about outcasts earlier. I'm pretty sure that the Son of God today would be found breaking bread with those we marginalise and exclude. That means he would be more likely to be drinking and dining with Sniv and her partner than sitting next to you or I in a pew.

So yes, I've asked God. I'm at peace with my answer:

1 Corinthians 13:13:

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love"

OK OP, you had me until the Pope not being Christian. You want respect for your religion (presumably protestant Christian - a political divergence) but won't respect Catholic Christianity (most of the Christian world)

And to many pp's you write Xmas due to a deep understanding of Greek symbols? Bullshit and yes you do sound like twats even saying that.

Oh, bless you, AGB.

It's not a deep understanding of Greek symbols that is required - nor was it by the early Christians. For the majority of the time x was in use as an abbreviation for 'Christ', people were writing in Latin in the West, and Greek was unknown.

Now, that is an explanation both pretentious, and accurate.

I'm not sure the OP would consider the 10 commandments particularly important, Anna. What with them being OT and all.

She might want to refer to the 'new commandment' though.

Or Romans 13:8
Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.

A deep understanding of Greek symbols?
Mine's pretty shallow but somewhere along the line I picked up the X thing. :)

Thanks for the patronising post Jeanne (love the nn btw) but early posts were referencing Greek symbols as their justification - erroneously according to you.

You've misread me, ABG.

All I said was that understanding of Greek symbols was not required - I never speculated on justifications, sola symbolica or otherwise.

Rafals

I misread you? Not really, I was referencing the early posters to this thread.

I'm not offended that you misspelled me or taken offence on behalf of the Gaelic readers of MN

I did have to Google Sola Symbolica - without getting into transubstantiation I would have to say eh?

Oh dear - so, you meant to address other 'pp', but not me?

I had no idea I was excluded, but nice to know your insults didn't extend to me.

As for mis 'spelling' - which that isn't, since you're referring to non-words - I'm dyslexic, terribly sorry. I generally find it and Christianity good litmus tests for bigotry/arrogance.

I always thought people wrote 'X' like Kiss and are being cute, like Merry Kissmas. No?

Anyway, I actually don't like it much. If you don't like Christmas then have your own holiday and call it something else. Atheimas or Winter Solstice or whatever.

I also dislike it when people type 'Thx' instead of thanks.

Wow you are working hard to misread aren't you? Why do you think you are excluded? Also dyslexic & dyspraxic here so no great moral high ground for you.

No insults intended, but the misspelling referred to my nn - you called me ABG but my nn is AGB, Alba gu Brath in full if that helps.

Also OP you ask for respect then say:

I think the late pope should be rechristened "John Paul" . As that was the blokes name.

To most Christians that is really fucking rude.

OP

Yes ban Xmas, in fact ban all crosses used to represent 'christ', so no more wearing an X round your neck. OK?

I'll stop writing X when Xtians stop wearing them.

I hate people referring to it at all. It's November....but then I'm a miserable old Grinch........

To err is human, to judge, divine. Looks like OP is setting her sights pretty high here.

A, I didn't ask for moral high ground, just explained why I was transposing letters (not misspelling). It's not a horrible insult, just a slip. You can't have it both ways: either you meant me along with everyone else - in which case it's perfectly fair for me to point out not all of us had claimed deep understanding of Greek symbols - or you didn't, and you'd left me out of your comment. It doesn't much matter which, but I don't see why you're so sniffy about being challenged - do you usually post something rude and expect everyone to come lick your shoes?

I'm still waiting for someone to define 'occult' and explain how standing in a special building full of symbolism and chanting so a magic man grants you wishes isn't occult.

Anyway OP, I don't believe in your god and I'll abbreviate the jolly hols any way I like.

Xster egg anyone??

Jeanne, people spell my username wrong all the damn time. I don't think I've ever been arsey enough to point it out, let alone devote multiple posts to it or speak on behalf of the Mitfordians of MN....

Weird.

It's a weak religion which can't cope with the traditional Greek-based shortening of the name of one of its festivals.

Mine too, jassy. It is odd.