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Original poster

"Jesus" is an offensive name

65 replies

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 03/02/2010 22:29

There's a thread at the moment by a woman who wants to name her baby "Jesus". Most people are saying don't do it, and giving a variety of reasons, but some Christians have said they actually find it offensive, because Jesus=God to a Christian.

Not wishing to hijack that thread, I'll ask again here; [i]why[/i] is that disrespectful and offensive? Jesus is a common name in Latin American countries, and Mohammed is a common name with Muslims. What is it about Western? British? Christianity that's different?

Genuinely curious, btw, I can understand that they're/you're offended, it's a very unusual thing here, and if I were Christian (as I used to be) I'd be too. But why is this?

OP posts:
Fruitysunshine · 03/02/2010 22:32

I'm christian and I don't find it offensive.

DuelingFanjo · 03/02/2010 22:33

how ridiculous.

Original poster
OldLadyKnowsNothing · 03/02/2010 22:34

This is the thread. Quite a few folk on there expressing discomfort.

OP posts:
Heathcliffscathy · 03/02/2010 22:35

yeah, right and most of fervently catholic south america is offensive too!

what a nonsense.

it's a great name.

Milliways · 03/02/2010 22:35

I agree with the other thread, in that in South America pronounced "HayZus" it is fine, but it is just weird & attention seeking here pronounced as we do.

I don't find it offensive (especially as child wouldn't have chosen it) - just weird.

weegiemum · 03/02/2010 22:36

The names of God are very special in any religion.

Muslims don't call their children Allah, they call them Mohammed after the Prophet. Christians also call their children after prophets - just look at all the Elijahs etc around just now.

Jesus is God, and this could be seen as blasphemous by some people. I'd be offended, but more by the tactlessness of it than anything else really, as well as a bit at the motive - why call your baby Jesus, setting them up for a life full of ridicule etc ....

Jesus is common in Latin American countries, this is true. Its partly that Jesus is the (er? um? Latinized?) form of the Hebrew name Yeshua (Joshua) and so much closer to Spanish in terms of linguistic heritage I think. Also a far more religious society, perhaps, at least until recently?

You know, I don't quite know what makes it different in English, but it just is. Now I am frustrated at myself for not being able to explain why!

Original poster
OldLadyKnowsNothing · 03/02/2010 22:37

LOL @ weegiemum, that's exactly how I feel!

OP posts:
weegiemum · 03/02/2010 22:37

Also smacks very much of Trying Too Hard - kind of Fifi Trixibelle and Heavenly Hirani Tiger Lily really.

That makes me too!

DuelingFanjo · 03/02/2010 22:40

"why call your baby Jesus, setting them up for a life full of ridicule"

by not very nice people. Who really cares about people like that anyway?

weegiemum · 03/02/2010 22:41

Well there are a lot of not very nice people out there and I wouldn't want to be the 13 year old boy at school called Jesus, I can tell you that! (former secondary teacher).

hewasmytwin · 03/02/2010 22:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
OldLadyKnowsNothing · 03/02/2010 22:46

Milliways, do Latin Americans, who pronounce "Jesus" as "HayZooz", pronounce the name of the Lord the same way? Perhaps it's more acceptable to us that Latin Americans use it as a name because it sounds different (from the way we pronounce "Jesus") to us.

IYSWIM.

OP posts:
Original poster
OldLadyKnowsNothing · 03/02/2010 22:48

hewasmytwin, how about Trinity as a name?

OP posts:
weegiemum · 03/02/2010 22:49

The name Jesus in Latin America is pronounced the same for the man in the street and Jesus Christ.

Many, especially from a catholic background, will cross themselves or bow their heads when they say it to mean God though.

weegiemum · 03/02/2010 22:50

Or they say "Jesucristo" to differentiate.

hewasmytwin · 03/02/2010 22:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

meoww · 03/02/2010 22:56

trinity is another name for god, isn't the holy trinity jesus/god/spirit?
wouldnt you be angry at someone calling their baby trinity?

Original poster
OldLadyKnowsNothing · 03/02/2010 22:58

Thanks, weegiemum.

OP posts:
Original poster
OldLadyKnowsNothing · 03/02/2010 22:58

Ah, hello OP on the other thread.

OP posts:
differentID · 03/02/2010 22:58

Jesus is the Son of God to Christians surely?

weegiemum · 03/02/2010 23:01

No.

Christians believe in a trinitarian God - three Persons, all equal in substance, known as the Father, Son and Spirit.

Jesus Christ was the incarnation of the Son, but the Son is not the Son of God in the way my son is the son of weegie!

Its complicated. Flip I did this two years ago as part of my degree and I already can't explain it again!

meoww · 03/02/2010 23:02

thanks for making this, maybe there's more 'free thinking' types in this area.

He could still use his middle name 'jacob' at school.
But if he's confident he might love his real first name

onagar · 03/02/2010 23:05

It would almost certainly cause him problems so I wouldn't do it. But not because the Christians don't like it since it's a common enough name. Anyway the carpenters son almost certainly wasn't the FIRST to be called that

gerontius · 03/02/2010 23:05

Jesus and God are different/the same depending on which denomination of Christianity you're talking about.

UnquietDad · 03/02/2010 23:05

Well, it's a common Latin American name. Pronounced Hay-zoos. You don't tend to get it as much in Europe.

The toyboy Madonna has just ditched was called it. Thank goodness - we won't get the predictable headlines any more!

I knew a Judas at university. And he was a nasty untrustworthy two-faced git.