His Name is Jesus.

It might have become apparent by now that I am disturbed by the extent to which people allow their basic presumptions to be so greatly influenced by cultural conditioning. The following is, in my view, a good example.

There was a programme on the TV the other night, a documentary about the finding of an ancient tomb somewhere in or near Jerusalem. The short synopsis described it as being ‘what many people believe could be Christ’s tomb.’ We have become so indoctrinated to the indivisibility of ‘Jesus’ and ‘Christ’ that the latter has become viewed as part of his name, and the two words interchangeable.

‘Christ’ is a title, and not even an objective one like ‘King,’ Emperor,’ or ‘President.’ It’s subjective in the sense that it’s subject to accepting the teachings of one particular belief system. In other words, Jesus is only ‘the Christ’ to Christians. Non-Muslims call Mohammed ‘Mohammed.’ They don’t call him ‘The Prophet.’ Jesus should, therefore, only be referred to as ‘Christ’ in specifically Christian contexts. In all secular forms he should be called by his name – Jesus. A TV programme synopsis is a secular document, and the journalist who wrote it should know the difference.

A small matter, maybe, but a telling one nonetheless.