why do people say "x-mas"?

this has been troubling me for years.
you see, my father insists that saying 'x-mas' is wrong,
because the word you replace with the "x" is "christ".
& when you think about it, he's right.
is it really just to shorten "christmas" ----
or is it an attempt to take the religion out of the holiday?

 

I always thought people used it because they didn't believe in god, i may be wrong.

 

Seems there is an etymological link.

src = "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas"

 

hmmm. thanks.
i feel enlightened.

 

for me, the time to make everything an express lane already includes the shortened word, thus the xmas in lieu of Christmas. There's nothing wrong with this shortened word as long as one is not thinking the other way around. Remember, we are referring here of Baby Jesus' birthday, so there's nothing to make a big fuss but rather let's begin giving love.