The sign of the cross is not generally practiced in protestant churches. For example, the cross is the most well known holy symbols for Christianity. What does it mean to you tonight? Sigh. The symbol can be traced back several thousands of years and holds great cultural, religious, and social significance. We don’t realize what sin is in the sight of God–how deeply it offends Him and how it separates us from Him. I was raised in a very christian family and went to sunday school as a younger child. Since the earliest times, the concept of symbolism has been prevalent in every human culture, social structure, and religious system. The cross is, in fact, pagan in origin. They have left Him on the cross, but Protestants display pictures of an empty cross as a reminder that Jesus died and returned to life. In the European Bronze Age the cross symbol appeared to carry a religious meaning, perhaps as a symbol of consecration, especially pertaining to burial.. While the comparison of the event with Moses is what Jesus used in John 3:14, it is NOT proper to put a snake on a cross to use as a symbol. It is related to the crucifix (a cross that includes a usually three-dimensional representation of Jesus’ body) and to the more general family of cross symbols. Because i thought for all of my 17 years of life and going to church every sunday,friday and wednesday that God really got butthurt over a fruit. They point a way through the spiritual world, act as badges of faith, teaching tools, and aids on the journey towards understanding complex philosophies. That is one, but not the biggest reasons why i lost my faith in christianity. From its simplicity of form, the cross has been used both as a religious symbol and as an ornament, from the dawn of man's civilization. People who wear them are not informed of this poor religious practice. Various objects, dating from periods long anterior to the Christian era , have been found, marked with crosses of different designs, in almost every part of the old world. The Secular Birth of the Red Cross . It is not scriptural to wear these tokens. The earliest use of the cross symbol was found in Egypt before the Christian era.. But actually, the cross represents the persecution of the Jews and early Christians by the Romans. The cross is worn on the necks of so many people, but they don’t know what it means. On each petal corner, there are nail-like markings. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb on the third day after his cruxifixion. This style of cross is known as the "Coptic Cross" in Coptic Christianity. You’d see it on the side of a hospital. However, because of Christ and His death on the cross, the meaning of the cross today is completely different. Log in or sign up to leave a comment log in sign up. Since the Pope is the natural successor as the Bishop of Rome to St. Peter, therefore, the Papacy is known by its two symbols – the Petrine cross and the keys to heaven. It is widely and frequently used by Lutherans, Episcopalians, and other denominations as well. Dogwood trees became shorter. In fact, some religious symbol means can also shock. During the 1930s, the Nazi regime in Germany superimposed a swastika on the traditional medal, turning it into a Nazi symbol. what does the cross symbolize (non christian) 1 comment. Signs and symbols play a vital role as objects upon which thoughts and prayers can be focused. As AA's web site says: "Not all of the answers are in. The stamen in the center of the flower symbolizes the Jesus’ Crown of … The inverted cross is sometimes associated with the pope, who Catholics believe can trace his authority back to Peter. The use of the cross as a religious symbol in pre-Christian times, and among non-Christian peoples, may probably be regarded as almost universal, and in very many cases it was connected with some form of nature worship." The Jewish symbol, if any, symbolizes Judaism. The upside-down cross, sometimes called the Cross of St. Peter or the Petrine cross, thus became a symbol of humility. The cross sign occurs trivially in tally marks, and develops into a number symbol independently in the Roman numerals (X "ten"), the Chinese rod numerals (十 "ten") and the Brahmi numerals ("four", whence the numeral 4). The New Catholic Encyclopedia admits: “The cross is found in both pre-Christian and non-Christian cultures.” Various other authorities have linked the cross … As a result, the cross today is a symbol of Jesus’ death and His resurrection. To Catholics, the crucifix is a powerful symbol that represents the focal point of their beliefs: that Jesus died on the cross to redeem humanity. Non-Catholics can also use the sign of the cross. Before Jesus went to the cross, He prayed in Gethsemane. Media Matters reported in 2006 that the American Red Cross website said the symbol of a red cross on a white background was the reverse of the Swiss flag, a country known for its neutrality and also the home of the founder of the Red Cross, Henry Dunant. This now symbolizes the gates of heaven. The cross is one of the earliest and most widely used Christian symbol. Many immoral, blatantly immoral people will be a cross necklace, ring, tattoo, etc.. sometimes its a heritage thing, such as a celtic cross, being more about their heritage than their faith. Re: Question for Christians & those who know: what does the symbol of the snake and the cross mean? THe wearing of religious tokens is an expression of ones faith. Would you ever wear one if you were not Christian/Catholic? 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