What is your view on wearing a Crucifix vs Regular Cross?

[fhansen]

As St. Paul wrote; "We worship Christ crucified". I wear a crucifix and there are a couple on the walls of our house, and there is a big one on the altar in my Church.

Yeah, I agree. The most striking symbol of Christianity, with a most profound message to the world, is our hero, our Lord, our God hanging on a cross, naked, bloody, humiliated, dead. Whodathought? You just won't find such a concept anywhere else.

 

[Albion]

I have nothing against crucifixes and expect to see some of them in the churches I worship in. But the cross seems to me to be the more powerful emblem of the faith we call Christianity. It is completely non-sectarian, and perhaps that's why it makes the stronger statement.

By contrast, someone wearing a crucifix--and that's what we're talking about, not just the display of the crucifix in church, etc.--makes me think that person may be making a prideful show of loyalty to their denomination.

Of course, that's not always the case. People who have no religious affiliation at all sometimes like to show off the crucifix (and wear the rosary or hang it from their rear-view mirrors) just because it's ornate, or "neat," or in ordert to be provocative, or because it's especially "religious" or "devout" looking. That's not always the case, but often it is.

 

[RDKirk]

I'm aware of the doctrinal distinctions, but my grandfather, a Protestant minister for 60 years, variously wore both a crucifix and a cross.

I prefer the icthus myself, which has no association with the Church as a worldly empire (and as well, it hasn't been adopted as secular jewelry), but otherwise I don't care.

 

[fhansen]

By contrast, someone wearing a crucifix--and that's what we're talking about, not just the display of the crucifix in church, etc.--makes me think that person may be making a prideful show of loyalty to their denomination.

That's a bit of an odd take, considering that the plain cross was a novel idea-Calvin, especially, opposing the crucifix-which had been more the norm for centuries in both the east and the west. And I've never for a moment supposed or presumed that anyone wearing a crucifix was doing anything more than displaying their Christian faith with a time-honored practice- humbly unashamed of the gospel, proclaiming the death of the Lord Jesus all the while.

Of course, that's not always the case. People who have no religious affiliation at all sometimes like to show off the crucifix (and wear the rosary or hang it from their rear-view mirrors) just because it's ornate, or "neat," or in ordert to be provocative, or because it's especially "religious" or "devout" looking. That's not always the case, but often it is.

True, with plain crosses as well, in many variations of design.

 

[Albion]

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[Albion]

That's a bit of an odd take, considering that the plain cross was a novel idea-Calvin, especially, opposing the crucifix-which had been more the norm for centuries in both the east and the west.

That's all quite irrelevant to the issue here IMO.

And I've never for a moment supposed or presumed that anyone wearing a crucifix was doing anything more than displaying their Christian faith with a time-honored practice- humbly unashamed of the gospel, proclaiming the death of the Lord Jesus all the while.

Probably because you didn't realize all that goes into some folks' decision.

 

[Albion]

Incidentally, the crucifix was the innovation during the Early Middle Ages. Prior to that, the cross minus any corpus was the usual. I'm thinking you didn't know that.

 

[abysmul]

I wear both but I love the Crucifix, even though I'm not catholic. Some are opposed to wearing the crucifix and I don't understand why?i do prefer the empty cross though because it reminds me of the reserruction

Your thoughts?

I don't wear either. My personal thoughts are that we are to be known by our fruits and not by icons/jewelery, and I personally don't need a necklace to remind me of the sacrifice of Christ at Golgotha.

I have no hard feelings towards those that choose to adorn them selves with such iconography... it's hard to turn on the TV and not see some news anchor, or man on the street, or Hollywood starlet, or heavy metal rocker, or whomever wearing crosses/crucifixes.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I don't wear either. My personal thoughts are that we are to be known by our fruits and not by icons/jewelery, and I personally don't need a necklace to remind me of the sacrifice of Christ at Golgotha.

I have no hard feelings towards those that choose to adorn them selves with such iconography... it's hard to turn on the TV and not see some news anchor, or man on the street, or Hollywood starlet, or heavy metal rocker, or whomever wearing crosses/crucifixes.

Mine is worn inside my cloths. It is a reminder of our Lords great passion for all of God's children.

 

[Mark51]

According to one authority, the Greek word (stau·ros´) rendered “cross” in the King James Version “denotes, primarily, an upright pale or stake. [It is] to be distinguished from the ecclesiastical form of a two beamed cross. . . . The latter had its origin in ancient Chaldea, and was used as the symbol of the god Tammuz.” Far from being idolized, the instrument on which Jesus was impaled should be viewed with revulsion.

The cross “feeds a death worship,” said theologian Catherine Keller of Drew University Theological School in Madison, New Jersey, U.S.A. “Nobody would want an electric chair or noose as a key symbol of faith, but that’s what we would be using if Jesus were put to death by the state today.”

Showing that the cross was not a symbol used in early Christianity, the book Records of Christianity states: “Even the Cross was not directly employed in church decoration . . . The earliest symbol of Christ was a fish (second century); on the earliest carved tombs he is represented as the Good Shepherd (third century).” Also, J. Hall in his Dictionary of Subjects & Symbols in Art writes: “After the recognition of Christianity by Constantine the Great, and more so from the 5th cent., the cross began to be represented on sarcophagi [stone coffins], lamps, caskets and other objects.” (Italics ours.) Adds Sir E. A. Wallis Budge in Amulets and Talismans: “The cross did not become the supreme emblem and symbol of Christianity until the IVth century.” No, there is no record of the use of the cross by first-century

 

[Albion]

According to one authority, the Greek word (stau·ros´) rendered “cross” in the King James Version “denotes, primarily, an upright pale or stake.

That's the Jehovah's Witness view of the matter, all right, but it's incorrect. And even if the word encompasses both an upright stake and a crucifix, there is little doubt that the Romans normally used crosses.

 

[Rajni]

I wear both but I love the Crucifix, even though I'm not catholic. Some are opposed to wearing the crucifix and I don't understand why?i do prefer the empty cross though because it reminds me of the reserruction

Your thoughts?

I don't wear either anymore.

-

 

[Jipsah]

The crucifix is different from the Cross. The Cross is Jesus no longer hanging on it. The crucifix as you see in the Catholic Church is a Cross showing Jesus still hanging on it. Jesus is not still hanging on the Cross.

"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."

 

[rockytopva]

I pray with the bbnradio.org just about every day at 1:15PM. I take my rosary beads with me, even though the Catholics say they are no good without the priests blessings!

 

[Albion]

The bare cross could bring to mind that Jesus has risen, but it could also bring to mind a cross that's not been used yet. That's why we sometimes see an otherwise bare cross depicted with a swath of cloth draped around the juncture of the upright and the horizontal bars. However, I never see this depicted in jewelry, pendants, etc.

 

[Albion]

I pray with the bbnradio.org just about every day at 1:15PM. I take my rosary beads with me, even though the Catholics say they are no good without the priests blessings!

Did you ever consider "Christian Prayer Beads" instead?

 

[Jipsah]

First, what I said was that I am amazed how many people see anti-Catholics under every bed

There are certainly anti-Catholics under some beds, though, aren't there? Else why any opposition to crucifixes or making the sign of the Cross? "Oooooh if we make the sign of the Cross of Christ people will think we're (shudder!) Catholic." Same with the crucifix.

But the fact remains that to wear a cross is to make a statement about Christianity whereas a crucifix suggests that the wearer is making a statement about his or her denomination.

If only because Protestants have abandoned the use of the crucifix for fear of appearing Catholic.

Not all of those who do wear crucifixes are doing it for that reason, but some are. There's no such problem with the cross.

The problem with the plain cross is that it has been thoroughly secularized, to the extent that it has become in many cases just another ornament. That's happening with the crucifix as well, especially with the "street culture" fad of wearing rosaries, but hasn't gonee as far as it has with the Protestant corss.

Thirdly, I do not have the burden of making sure that all my statements pass muster with the "Round Table " society.

The Round Table Society, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Illuminati Inc. We're Everywhere, We're Everywhere!

 

[Jipsah]

Did you ever consider "Christian Prayer Beads" instead?

Oh yes, the different arrangement of beads changes everything! <laugh>

 

[Willie T]

Hummmm...... Which did Jesus and the Apostles wear?

 

[Albion]

There are certainly anti-Catholics under some beds, though, aren't there?

If you want to live like a conspiracy theorist all the time, I suppose so.

Else why any opposition to crucifixes or making the sign of the Cross?

Surely you aren't saying that there is no reasonable explanation why anyone might not favor a crucifix with corpus EXCEPT THAT they're looking for something Catholic to be upset about. I would hope that's not the case and it's dead wrong in any case.