Christ

Christ is the English representation of the Greek word ??????? (transliterated as Khristós), which means anointed. In the Christian religion it is a title given to Jesus of Nazareth, in which case "Christ" is capitalized, as a singularly descriptive title (The anointed). In English translations of the New Testament, the Greek ?????? ???????, and related phrases, are almost invariably translated Jesus Christ and Christ Jesus, leading the uninformed to mistake this title for the last name of Jesus of Nazareth. The part of Christian theology which focuses on the identity, life, teachings and works of Jesus, is known as Christology.

Expansions and appropriations of "Christ"

"Christ" has taken on such power and significance as a theological, religious and/or devotional term that it has been appropriated and/or expanded by various theologians and religious writers so as to take it beyond its merely Christian context. The development of Judeo/Christian religious concepts in a world religious context may be startling to the orthodox, but is part of the full picture and contemporary meaning of the term "Christ".

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Paramahansa Yogananda - writes about a "Christ Consciousness" interchangeably with "Krishna Consciousness"

Related Topics:
Paramahansa Yogananda - Krishna

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Matthew Fox - speaks of "the Cosmic Christ"

Related Topics:
Matthew Fox - Cosmic

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etc.

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One belief is the idea or concept that 'Jesus became Christ;' i.e. his 'flesh was transformed to spirit.' By taking a spiritual and good path through life, Jesus was reunited with his true holy nature (redemption) and preserved forever in God.

Related Topics:
Spirit - Redemption

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However in this view, this psychic force is often called 'the Christ,' or sometimes 'Christ consciousness,' etc; drawing a separation between God (whose nature some maintain we cannot fathom or comprehend) and the Holy Spirit, which has experience (through Jesus) and therefore compatibility with our mortal and frail humanity. This separation of spiritual concepts is embodied in the Christian Trinity.

Related Topics:
Holy Spirit - Trinity

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From within certain branches of Christianity, some limitations on extra-cultural interactivity have brought about typically localized and dogmatic interpretations of the meaning of "the Christ" to refer only to "Christendom" (i.e. confirmed "Christians") as opposed to all of spiritual humanity, that may have equal devotion to 'the Christ,' yet may refer to it by another name: i.e. God, Krishna, etc.

Related Topics:
Dogmatic - God - Krishna

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In Eastern religious traditions, for example, "God" remains mysterious and unknowable and therefore only implied; described instead by personifications

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(deities) which are manifestations of particular aspects of God's power. In mortal form, the Christian Jesus is akin to these personifications, with the caveat that he alone is the deity; all of God's powers that are relevant or understandable to man, are manifest through Jesus. Thus, where Christ is a synonym for the Holy Spirit, the Trinity of Father (God) Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit (Christ) are unified, though each remain distinct.

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