Crucifix & Non-Catholics

[feo]

First of all, Let me Apologize if This Was Covered in another Thread Somewhere... if one of The Modz Want to move it There- be my Guest.

i Had a Strong Catholic Upbringing as a Child. i Would Hardly Consider Myself Catholic now, but One Thing i do Admire is The Crucifix. When i Visit a Generic Christian Bookstore, to Look at Their Crosses... They're Usually The Empty Crosses. i Can See Why This is- but yet on The Other Hand, Find The Crucifix very Beautiful (that sounds so Morbid! Sorry!- i Mean The Love That Christ Had For us Was Beautiful)

Anyway, do Non Catholics View The Crucifix as a Bad Thing? Why Does it Seem like an "Only Catholic" Symbol?

Sorry Again For my Ignorance.

 

[Roald]

I dont' know if you are aware of this, but, by posting this question in this forum, you will get the Catholic perspective of what non-Catholics believe.

I personally appreciate the crucifix greatly.

 

[Christy4Christ]

I have heard many Protestants say that they don't want to remember the "dead Jesus" they want to remember the cross after Jesus arose from the dead.

I personally think that both crosses are beautiful reminders of what Jesus did for us.

I have a risen Jesus with his hands outstreched on a cross hanging in my living room. My sons both wear crucifixes. I am Catholic but for ME personally it makes me sad sad sad to look at poor Jesus hanging on the cross, but in a way isn't that sort of the idea? I mean aren't we supposed to totally remember what He did for us? I don't know but that is my theory on the whole thing.

 

[thereselittleflower]

Hi feo

Welcome to OBOB!

Well, as someone coming from Protestantism converting to Catholicism, I have some ideas about this ..

I was always told that the reason Protestants don't usually use the crucifix is that they don't want to focus on His death, but on His resurrection . . The empty cross signifies, to them, His resurrection. .

The feeling I had as a Protestant was that there was a strong feeling against the crucifix as a symbol of our faith as it represented a dead, yet unrisen Lord, instead of a Risen living Lord as He is now . .


All that said, the Catholic Church also uses empty crosses . . but they do not symbolize a Risen Lord . .. they symbolize OUR cross . . the cross WE are called to carry . .

It seems to me that if one really wanted to represent our Risen Lord, they would use something that shows and empty tomb . .


Anyway, I am so glad that you still find the crucifix beautiful . . I do not accept the Protestant reasoning for not using it and avoiding it, and I also was brought up as a child in the Eastern Orthodox faith . . for a very long time I had a crucifix from the holy land . . it was beautiful mother of pearl . . .


I hope what I shared was helpful . . and please, don't make yourself a stranger here!


Peace in Him!

 

[thereselittleflower]

I dont' know if you are aware of this, but, by posting this question in this forum, you will get the Catholic perspective of what non-Catholics believe.

I personally appreciate the crucifix greatly.

Yes, but also there are a lot of us who are converts from Protestantism and we can speak to this as well from the Protestant view point . .


Peace in Him!

 

[pmarquette]

many use an " empty cross " , for he is risen ....

 

[feo]

Thanks For The Kind Words, Everyone... i'll Definatly make Myself at Home here in OBOB more Often (or Try to Anyway!)


As For:

I dont' know if you are aware of this, but, by posting this question in this forum, you will get the Catholic perspective of what non-Catholics believe.

I Realize This. You See, i Have Many Non-Catholic Friends- but no Catholic Ones... and i Think ive Heard the whole "DONT FOCUS ON THAT" thing From 'em... honestly Though, i Dont See The Harm in a Figure of Christ on The Cross... he IS Risen, but i Believe Thats Where The Atonement Took Place. Without Christ, None of Which Would be Possible.

I Just Find it Scary When People Take The "Christ" Outta Things... ie X-MAS, or... the Fact That Mormons Refuse to Symbolise The Cross to Begin With... but Yeah, Thats Another Rant For Another Day.

See You Guys Later !

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

, Find The Crucifix very Beautiful (that sounds so Morbid! Sorry!- i Mean The Love That Christ Had For us Was Beautiful)

I think you have got a great understanding of the beauty of the crucifix and the reminder it servs as.

 

[thereselittleflower]

. honestly Though, i Dont See The Harm in a Figure of Christ on The Cross... he IS Risen, but i Believe Thats Where The Atonement Took Place. Without Christ, None of Which Would be Possible.

That's it exactly, That is why the crucifix is so beautiful! That is where the Atonement took place!


Peace in Him!

 

[Eleana]

Protestants do wear crucifix ( i was once a methodist). It is a symbol for christianity. A reminder that Christ died for us all on the cross. A model for us to follow. Yes. we do have crucifix.

 

[Veritas]

Feo,


Maybe after seeing the Passion of Christ, you'll want to have a crucifix. I heard of a Protestant pastor who has seen the film and he said that maybe it's time to put Christ back on the cross ie. use crucifixes. It's His death on the cross that saved us. His resurrection was the result of doing the will of His Father. If we want the resurrection, we too, must do the will of the Father. Until that glorious moment, I will keep my crucifix and on my eyes on it.

 

[KennySe]

On EWTN last month, Mel Gibson was interviewed live. And he was asked, 'Why does your movie focus on the last 12 hours of Jesus' life [as a man before he died]? Why not show his ministry?

And Mel said that those movies like that had already been made.
He wanted to show the sacrifice aspect.

 

[feo]

Feo,


Maybe after seeing the Passion of Christ, you'll want to have a crucifix. I heard of a Protestant pastor who has seen the film and he said that maybe it's time to put Christ back on the cross ie. use crucifixes. It's His death on the cross that saved us. His resurrection was the result of doing the will of His Father. If we want the resurrection, we too, must do the will of the Father. Until that glorious moment, I will keep my crucifix and on my eyes on it.

hehehe i Already Wear a Crucifix my Grandfather Gave me its Been in The Family For Quite Some Time, and its Tradition we Pass it Down... thats What happens When You Have a Stubborn Italian Family.

its Just Lately People Have Been Asking me, "Are you Catholic?" Cuz Sometimes it Pops outta my Shirt... and it Was Then That i Realized How its Always Associated With Catholicism.

 

[Roald]

You See, i Have Many Non-Catholic Friends- but no Catholic Ones...

Well, first you need to get some Catholic friends!

Here is a good place to start.

 

[Polycarp1]

JFTR, my wife and I both have San Damiano crosses and Cursillo crosses, both being actually crucifixes, appropriately rigged for a man's and a woman's neckwear, and she also has a lovely pewter crucifix, a gift the venue of which I don't recall, likewise as neckwear. Each has special meaning to us beside the obvious and important one of representing the Passion. Our "house" crosses are both empty crosses, reminding us of the Instrument of the Atonement, but symbolizing that He conquered death and rose.

 

[Michelina]

its Been in The Family For Quite Some Time, and its Tradition we Pass it Down... thats What happens When You Have a Stubborn Italian Family.

Italians are stubborn? Tu sei pazzo!

 

[Christy4Christ]

Italians are stubborn? Tu sei pazzo!

Hey I think thats what my problem is!

 

[BrianInNC]

Anyway, do Non Catholics View The Crucifix as a Bad Thing? Why Does it Seem like an "Only Catholic" Symbol?

The Cross and the Crucifix emphasize different theological perspectives; neither is right or wrong.

The Crucifix is a better symbol from a Catholic perspective for several reasons:

1. The Mass (which is the focal point of so much of our theology and spirituality) is literally the re-presentation of the sacrifice of Calvary.

2. In like vein, the Eucharist is that same flesh and blood of Jesus:

51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:51

The Crucifix, together with the altar below, are profound symbols tying these two events together, past and present, till Christ shall come again.

3. Historically, it was the Catholic Church which fought the Docetists and other early groups that denied Jesus was God-made-flesh. The Crucifix is a vivid reminder that God was present bodily among us (and continues to be so in the Eucharist).

4. Catholics have always had a keen sense of how we are wounded in our sins. The Crucifix is a reminder that we have a Savior who Himself was wounded, and that is a source of great comfort.


I suspect Protestant rejection of the Crucifix derives in large measure from their rejection of the theology of the Mass and Eucharist. That, plus Protestant theology emphasizes the present reality of salvation, whereas Catholic theology more emphasizes the "take up your cross and follow me" idea of salvation as a process and journey.

Just my thoughts.

 

[feo]

Italians are stubborn? Tu sei pazzo!

no More Bustin out italian! my Grandparents Purposely Kept it Secret From me (they Always Spoke it when They Didnt Want me to Understand) in Fact, Come to Think of it... i Was Only Taught The Vulgar Wards- lol

 

[Christy4Christ]

feo you aren't alone there.