"Jesus" is an offensive name

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

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?

it's always sad when parents are so attention seeking but it's better than 'bus stop no 64' or whatever that poor child in new zealand was nearly called recently.
I've got a spanish mate called 'jesus maria' btw (totally normal in his culture so he is not ridiculed there but was when he came here for a year which was a shame) - why not go the whole hog - skip the 'jacob' part - sooooo normal

I am Catholic and Latina. My grandad is Jesus. No, not the Jesus.

Yes Jesus Christ and Jesus are both pronounced 'Heh-sus' in Latin America.

I wouldn't use it in this country because my child would get a lifetime of saying no, it is 'Heh-sus' and people going .

My grandad changed his first name to 'James' when he became a US citizen in the 50's on the advice of immigration officials back then.

So what's the difference between UK Christianity, and Latin American Christianity, that means it's Ok (and common) there, but not-OK here?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's "cultural", but it's the One True Church we're talking about!

Thanks foxytocin, I know many people took the advice of immigration officials re name-changing in the past.

maybe it's old school catholicism vs new fangled protestantism? be interesting to know

Of course it's offensive. It's a swear word isn't it?

That aside, I think it's just not very British to be so, erm, publicly aspirational.

sanfairyann
i thought we'd left your kind of mocking attitude behind and were now in an area where people think more in depth..
Reading your kind of shit is borning/offensive/tiring

i'm leaving

Do teachers do everything they can to stop bullying in schools? I hope so.

Its ok for a non-anglican to call their kid Jesus though, right? Or a Latin American in Britain?

makes mental note to search the name Jesus on electoral register in the morning

meoww, I don't think sanfairyann wrote anything mocking here?

Maybe the Protestant thing is the difference, doing away with religious imagery/icons etc.

meoww, how rude!

Just don't give him a middle name beginning with H.

Or, indeed, a bike.

Do they have have Christians in Latin America? Are they up in arms?

meoww has flounced on the other thread too.

off topic

"The toyboy Madonna has just ditched was called it"

really, she dumped him

Its depends if you believe jesus is god...I dont...he's the SON of god...so his name is fair game imo...

LOL@Unquiet...

Call him Kevin then he'll be set up for a life time of ridicule anyway!!

Methinks people are being smallminded and silly.

"I believe that is very different to a person who doesn't believe in God, who calls Jesus mythical and likes the name because it is 'cute' choosing it. "

so back in whenever it was that Jesus lived - there was only one person called Jesus? Isn't Jesus just another name?

UQD

Thanks for starting this, OP. I was wondering the same thing!

DF - yes, they split up - nothing in common apparently. In other news, the Pope is still very, very Catholic.

surely if someone takes offence that is their problem though?

I just find it difficult to unerstand why a Christian might be offended by Mr and/or Mrs British introducing their son 'and this is DC no 3, jesus' but not by Mr and/or Mrs Latin Amaerican introducing their son '..and this is son No 3, Jesus'?