Protestants and The Crucifix

[LilyM]

Funny how we all have our pet peeves. I prefer the corpus on a cross for the wall…but to wear–since I’m not looking at or being inspired by what I am wearing–I prefer an empty cross for general sentiment’s sake. Most of us don’t stand still long enough for others to meditate on our jewelry and we can’t see it while we’re wearing it anyway (unless we want to stand in front of a mirror all day)…

Well I always proudly wear my crucifix and I do get the occasional comment since the design is fairly unusual (more ornate than most) … so you’d be surprised!

 

[sandmountainsli]

I have a silver Crucifix with corpus hanging above the front door to my house. I am a “Protestant”.
I am actually unsure if the cross in my church has the body of Christ or not. I normally sit on the left side back row and it is hard to see it well from there.
WP

 

[glimmer]

Well I always proudly wear my crucifix and I do get the occasional comment since the design is fairly unusual (more ornate than most) … so you’d be surprised!

Maybe 'cause it’s unusual…a crucifix on a chain would not get a second notice in my neck of the woods.

 

[MariaG]

:crying:

Maybe 'cause it’s unusual…a crucifix on a chain would not get a second notice in my neck of the woods.

Maybe. But I know I used to have (now lost:crying: ), a crucifix necklace. Nothing particulary gruesome and not ornate at all. Yet I had someone stop me and ask me if I “used to be” a nun.

Clearly they had noticed it. To this day I do not know why they assumed I used to be a nun and not just a general Catholic, but I think it is just that some are more curious (rude?) or obsevant than others.

Also, I have failed to note if you are a male or female? I assumed male but we know what happens when one assumes , but women usually will notice jewerly. And while women will comment on other women’s jewerly they don’t know, they usually refrain from commenting on the adornments of men they are unaquainted with.

God Bless,
Maria

 

[glimmer]

. Yet I had someone stop me and ask me if I “used to be” a nun.

Sorry for your loss. Interesting comment, though.

Clearly they had noticed it. To this day I do not know why they assumed I used to be a nun and not just a general Catholic, but I think it is just that some are more curious (rude?) or obsevant than others.

When you have spent half your life in South Texas, it tends to be a non-issue unless the crucifix on your neck is about two feet tall!

Also, I have failed to note if you are a male or female?

MOI??? Last time I looked, I was female (although I think I’m sprouting hair on my chest )

 

[dessert]

:crying:

Maybe. But I know I used to have (now lost:crying: ), a crucifix necklace. Nothing particulary gruesome and not ornate at all. Yet I had someone stop me and ask me if I “used to be” a nun.

Clearly they had noticed it. To this day I do not know why they assumed I used to be a nun and not just a general Catholic, but I think it is just that some are more curious (rude?) or obsevant than others.

Also, I have failed to note if you are a male or female? I assumed male but we know what happens when one assumes , but women usually will notice jewerly. And while women will comment on other women’s jewerly they don’t know, they usually refrain from commenting on the adornments of men they are unaquainted with.

God Bless,
Maria

I am a girl and not afraid to say it. I have three brothers so know all about that species too!

 

[glimmer]

I am a girl and not afraid to say it. I have three brothers so know all about that species too!

Me, too. Three brothers. But I never have to say it. They never let me forget while I was growing up. Those were the days of girls not being allowed to do some stuff. I wanted to play baseball, but they didn’t have girls’ leagues. So I played ball with the guys in the neighborhood while my brothers played in the leagues. Now, at age 51, I am reliving my childhood and bicycling to work when it’s not raining–14 miles round trip.

 

[Cardinalsong]

I live in the Midwest and in our town we have a ‘mega-church’. This Protestant church brings in around 3000 people each weekend. I used to attend years ago but was very disappointed in a number of things, one of which is that there are no symbols of any kind. There aren’t any crosses, crucifixes…nothing. In fact if you didn’t know it was a church, you’d drive right by it and think it was a walmart or something. It’s a ‘seeker’ church and doesn’t want to offend anyone by coming on too strong, so the messages are basically social messages and they have their bookstore and coffee shop right there in the church.

Sounds like the same church I attend, for now. No Cross, no nothing. Looks like an ordinary auditorium & they play rock music every Sunday morning.

Nothing is sacred anymore but I guess that is for another thread.

 

[Cardinalsong]

MOI??? Last time I looked, I was female (although I think I’m sprouting hair on my chest )

Female Catholic wannabe here. Sounds like a singles ad doesn’t it

No brothers only sisters. I’ve been wandering in the desert for 40, no make that 41 years & I think I see the promised land from here!:dancing:

 

[glimmer]

Female Catholic wannabe here. Sounds like a singles ad doesn’t it

Maybe we could advertise for a couple of male Protestant wannabes. Or worse. :bigyikes:

 

[dessert]

Me too wanted to the boy stuff but was not very athletic but also like to bike but don’t do much because of arther ritis my enemy. Now the girls have so much opportunity, even the nuns are different wearing regular clothes, usually dresses of course, geeee! I could have been one (naadda) and still ended up in street dress HA! It sounds like your daughter really wants to stand up for what she believes in so I would encourage her. My most favorite Psalm that a priest made me memorize when I was in the 8th grade. He said it will get me through much and more than I had been through already.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHARD. I SHALL NOT WANT.
HE MAKES ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES;
HE LEADS ME BESIDE THE STILL WATERS.
HE RESTORES MY SOUL;HE LEADS ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESSFOR HIS NAMES SAKE.
YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH,I WILL FEAR NO EVIL;FOR YOU ARE WITH ME;YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF THEY COMFORT ME.
YOU PREPARE A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESCENCE OF MY ENEMIES;YOU ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL; MY CUP RUNS OVER.
SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER. PSALM 23

Desert, return from

 

[glimmer]

Me too wanted to the boy stuff but was not very athletic but also like to bike but don’t do much because of arther ritis my enemy. Now the girls have so much opportunity…

This has been fun. Sorry we got off thread, everybody. We’ll try to get back on.

It sounds like your daughter really wants to stand up for what she believes in so I would encourage her.

You lost me here. Don’t remember mentioning a daughter, though I do have one.

My most favorite Psalm that a priest made me memorize when I was in the 8th grade. He said it will get me through much and more than I had been through already.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHARD. I SHALL NOT WANT.
HE MAKES ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES…

Funny, I didn’t have a priest, but my mother made us memorize that as kids. She got concerned that we weren’t learning about God. Hopefully, you weren’t subjected to hour-long unabridged King James Version Old Testament read in a monotone…:crying: --the Levitical Law, Numbers, the genealogies: “and Abraham begat Isaac and Isaac begat…” on and on through “and Septimus begat Octavius…until the last human was born and died.” No break–on and on and on. :banghead: (We’re still talking about children here, you realize…) There are worse things than growing up devout Catholic–I’m sure of it… But God is merciful. Fortunately, my parents were not very disciplined and these bouts did not last more than a few weeks…We kids went back to our old irreligious selves… And that is probably what made me open to know the **real **Christ (as opposed to the dissected, bisected, theologically correct, interlinearly, concordance and Bible-dictionary worthy Jesus). I needed Him to protect me from His followers!

 

[MariaG]

MOI??? Last time I looked, I was female (although I think I’m sprouting hair on my chest )

Well that also gives me an idea of your age too!

God Bless,
Maria

 

[MariaG]

Me, too. Three brothers. But I never have to say it. They never let me forget while I was growing up. Those were the days of girls not being allowed to do some stuff. I wanted to play baseball, but they didn’t have girls’ leagues. So I played ball with the guys in the neighborhood while my brothers played in the leagues. Now, at age 51, I am reliving my childhood and bicycling to work when it’s not raining–14 miles round trip.

I am so good. I was guessing your age before I read this one

Humble too.

 

[deb1]

I don’t keep it out because of my convictions mentioned in other’s well put together previous posts. I wonder if I should take it out sometimes because I feel as though I am keeping Christ locked up but then the whole ‘graven image’ things comes to mind and I keep it where it is. See, I believe it is wrong to display graven images, of Christ or not, because of the whole Commandments thing. I will probably get rid of the one I have but I haven’t because it was a gift by a family member. )

If you want to get rid of it, perhaps you could donate it to some Catholic charity, or if you want to send it to me, I will email you my address.

 

[Philthy]

I have been through the crucifix vs cross debate too many times. I dont have a problem with preferences, but I cant help but point out how illogical some of the considerations are. I dont have a problem with crosses, I do have a problem with those who slander crucifixes.

It seems that both Protestants and Catholics have come to accept the empty cross as symbolic of the risen Christ. Well I hate to be the party pooper, but an empty cross does nothing - per se - to symbolize the risen christ - nothing. The fact of the matter is that Christ did not rise from the cross, he was removed from it in the normal manner. He rose from the tomb, remember folks? How, exactly does the empty cross symbolize that? The 2 criminals were also removed in similar manner, which left other empty crosses. There were also other empty crosses that had nothing to do with Christ or our salvation. How does the empty cross symbolically differentiate itself from the countless other empty crosses? It doesnt. There is only one cross which has true meaning to the Christian, and that is the cross with Christ on it. If you wish to symbolize that, the crucifix is the logical choice.

The concern regarding the second commandment and all the other stuff addressed by rbarcia seems selectively misplaced to me. Just remember that when you bring up - as you did - Christs words “It is finished” to justify your rejection of the Mass as somehow adding to Christs sacrifice you end up supporting the crucifix again. Why? Because he said that on the cross, and that is part of what the crucifix represents that an empty cross cannot. It is the same reason that Paul boldly proclaims “Jesus Christ and Him…crucified”

 

[cheddarsox]

It seems that both Protestants and Catholics have come to accept the empty cross as symbolic of the risen Christ. Well I hate to be the party pooper, but an empty cross does nothing - per se - to symbolize the risen christ - nothing. The fact of the matter is that Christ did not rise from the cross, he was removed from it in the normal manner. He rose from the tomb, remember folks? How, exactly does the empty cross symbolize that? The 2 criminals were also removed in similar manner, which left other empty crosses. There were also other empty crosses that had nothing to do with Christ or our salvation. How does the empty cross symbolically differentiate itself from the countless other empty crosses? It doesnt. There is only one cross which has true meaning to the Christian, and that is the cross with Christ on it. If you wish to symbolize that, the crucifix is the logical choice.

the cross symbolizes Christ, faith in Christ and His gift of salvation, and His rising…because thats what we think of when we see it. It’s understood and agreed upon, just like the letter A symbolizes certain sounds…because we agree that that is what it means.

That is what a symbol is. It doesn’t need to be literal or even to make some logical sense, it just has to be agreed upon and understood by those who use it.

When Protestants use it, it is used respectfully and it symbolizes Christ’s salvific gift…all parts of it. The God becoming man, the life teachings, the passion and the resurrection. It symbolizes those things, because that is what it means to the people who use it.

If it does not symbolize that to you, then you are welcome to use a symbol that is meaningful to you, but that doesn’t mean that the symbol is not useful to those who recognize it in other terms.

I cannot read Chinese script,yet I do not think that people who can should find a more meaningful way to express themselves…one that will be comprehendable by me. I accept that they understand meanings and nuances, and that their symbols are good.

cheddar

 

[jim1130]

I am not a Protestant, just a Christian.]

You are a Protestant whether you wish to admit it or not because you are “protesting” the Catholic Church.

 

[jim1130]

Why is it that when you walk in a Protestant Church you don’t see Jesus hanging on the cross?? Is it because they don’t want to remember The Passion and his dying for our sins and the horrendous way he died?

Very simple answer: Because to keep the Corpus of Christ on the cross is Catholic and they are “protesting” anything Catholic. I can assure you that if Catholics removed the Corpus of Christ then the Protestants would place the body on their cross… Another example: Rather than accept the Deutorocanical books the Protestants assign a new name Acrophya. This way, they can list the books with some type of symbolic semantic disclaimer.

 

[rr1213]

Very simple answer: Because to keep the Corpus of Christ on the cross is Catholic and they are “protesting” anything Catholic. I can assure you that if Catholics removed the Corpus of Christ then the Protestants would place the body on their cross… Another example: Rather than accept the Deutorocanical books the Protestants assign a new name Acrophya. This way, they can list the books with some type of symbolic semantic disclaimer.

Well, that’s a bit cynical. Did you read the 97 posts in this thread prior to your post? They will show some pretty thoughtful answers by Protestants as to the various cultural differences between our faith communities on this issue. Pleasant reading!