If I was to walk into a home and see a cross hanging on the wall I would simply think, this person considers himself or herself a christian. I don’t believe I would draw any other conclusions. The more important question will be what that symbol means in the persons life. It could invite deeper discipleship or it could involve idol worship.My question is, how do you as a Mormon really feel about the Cross hanging in a home. Lets start with the rendition of an empty cross, no body of Christ. I have to admit that I make crosses and crucifixes and I think about it often in so many ways. I want to know how you truly, honestly feel about it.
I completely respect that, Janderich. But I’m also interested in catholic-rcia’a question; can you possibly flesh out what the cross generally means to Mormons? Or as you tacitly said, is it basically an entirely personal matter?If I was to walk into a home and see a cross hanging on the wall I would simply think, this person considers himself or herself a christian. I don’t believe I would draw any other conclusions. The more important question will be what that symbol means in the persons life. It could invite deeper discipleship or it could involve idol worship.
Certainly the message of the cross is important to us. At it’s heart I take this message to mean surrender to the will of God. Each one of us must take upon ourselves the burdens that are given us and submit our will to the will of the Lord. In so doing we transmute suffering into ascension. This is how I believe Jesus used it when he said, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt 10:38). It is this message of finding our lives and the message of Christ’s resurrection we want to hold onto. For this reason we have avoided images of the cross in our churches and homes.I completely respect that, Janderich. But I’m also interested in catholic-rcia’a question; can you possibly flesh out what the cross generally means to Mormons? Or as you tacitly said, is it basically an entirely personal matter?
I don’t see how the second sentence logically follows the first. Catholics and others that display/wear crosses/crucifixes seek to do the same thing.It is this message of finding our lives and the message of Christ’s resurrection we want to hold onto. For this reason we have avoided images of the cross in our churches and homes.
Considering you believe yourself a Christian, and I assume seek deeper discipleship. Does a cross hang in your home? Why, or why not?If I was to walk into a home and see a cross hanging on the wall I would simply think, this person considers himself or herself a christian. I don’t believe I would draw any other conclusions. The more important question will be what that symbol means in the persons life. It could invite deeper discipleship or it could involve idol worship.
Sure there is a corollary between the crucifixion and the resurrection but they are not the same thing. We try to clearly point to the the resurrection and avoid confusion. By this I do not mean to imply that other religions do not or cannot do so with the cross, simply that it is less direct and can lead to misunderstanding of the symbol.I don’t see how the second sentence logically follows the first. Catholics and others that display/wear crosses/crucifixes seek to do the same thing.
It does not. See my previous comment.Considering you believe yourself a Christian, and I assume seek deeper discipleship. Does a cross hang in your home? Why, or why not?
A bit more than a corollary, resurrection would be impossible without death.Sure there is a corollary between the crucifixion and the resurrection but they are not the same thing. We try to clearly point to the the resurrection and avoid confusion. By this I do not mean to imply that other religions do not or cannot do so with the cross, simply that it is less direct and can lead to misunderstanding of the symbol.
Why minimize the crucifixion?Sure there is a corollary between the crucifixion and the resurrection but they are not the same thing. We try to clearly point to the the resurrection and avoid confusion. By this I do not mean to imply that other religions do not or cannot do so with the cross, simply that it is less direct and can lead to misunderstanding of the symbol.
Yet his death in and of itself saved no one. What was spectacular was not his death. How many people were crucified in Roman times? No one remembers them. It was his union with us and the Father along with his resurrection that has made all the difference in the world.When I was LDS, I was told I should not wear a cross. I wore mine anyway. I was asked by a Mormon why I would wear a symbol of death. He asked, “if your wife was killed by a gun, would you wear a gun around your neck?” I responded “If her death saved all mankind from their sins and gave us all the chance for Salvation, you bet I would.”
He walked away
As one pointed out, there could not be a resurrection without the crucifixion. The point is we Catholics don’t see this as an either/or. I wear a crucifix and a cross (two separate chains) to keep near my heart not only the the sacrifice of our Lord but to celebrate our risen Christ. We have no confusion between the two. We “remember” the sequence of God’s love & sacrifice every Sunday at Mass and anytime we say the Rosary.Sure there is a corollary between the crucifixion and the resurrection but they are not the same thing. We try to clearly point to the the resurrection and avoid confusion. By this I do not mean to imply that other religions do not or cannot do so with the cross, simply that it is less direct and can lead to misunderstanding of the symbol.
I feel respectful of other’s beliefs and symbols of faith.My question is, how do you as a Mormon really feel about the Cross hanging in a home. I want to know how you truly, honestly feel about it.
Well you may not think much of the fact that God condescended to turn Himself over to humanity to be killed, others feel differently. Which He did willingly in order to get the part you pay attention to, LDS really give short shrift to Christ’s death on the cross, focusing on the garden and then the Resurrection. Less satisfying IMO, like a hollow chocolate rabbit.Yet his death in and of itself saved no one. What was spectacular was not his death. How many people were crucified in Roman times? No one remembers them. It was his union with us and the Father along with his resurrection that has made all the difference in the world.
I’m sorry you feel that way.Yet his death in and of itself saved no one. What was spectacular was not his death. How many people were crucified in Roman times? No one remembers them. It was his union with us and the Father along with his resurrection that has made all the difference in the world.