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The Cross

Breathe

Breathe

Hostis humani generis
Nowhere, at least not I've seen.

However, Christians use it as a symbol for Christianity because it shows the death of Jesus, and implies his resurrection and his sacrifice for the sins of humanity.

Or at least, that's how I've understood it.



Not all Christians use the cross, though. If you consider Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons as Christians, then neither of those use the cross as a symbol.
 
G

Godwilling

Organic, kinetic learner
I don't know the answer because I don't know what others think unless they communicate it to me. What do you base that question/statement on? Is it because you are able to know what others are thinking? I can assure you that in my case you are wrong!

Even if I knew the answer, I would want to know what others think. The heading in this thread is "Biblical Debates".
Do you often have debates with only your opinion?
 
A

angellous_evangellous

Guest
Godwilling said:
Even if I knew the answer, I would want to know what others think. The heading in this thread is "Biblical Debates".

Do you often have debates with only your opinion?
Click to expand...

Whether or not the concept that the cross is a symbol for Christianity in the Bible is a yes or no question. You did not start a debate - you simply asked a question, ready to give your own reasons later.

That's not debating, that's baiting.
 
G

Godwilling

Organic, kinetic learner
Yes or no answers are good in electronics. For example, the switch is on or off. There would be no need for Biblical debate if your assertion was correct.

Again, you are making gross assumptions. Please quote the answers I have provided for my question so far.

Would it not be more productive to offer an honest answer to an honest question than to try to bully the person with the honest question?
 
A

angellous_evangellous

Guest
If you really want to debate the topic, explain to us why using the cross as a symbol of Christianity is not biblical. Then we can debate the substance of your view. That's how a debate works. You don't ask an idiotic question and hope for someone to take the bait.

[bit of advice - no one here will, and if they do, they'd be too stupid to debate]
 
G

Godwilling

Organic, kinetic learner
Charater attacks are the weapons of those voided of substance. You insult those that dear think and communicate their thoughts. It does not sound Christian to me. Your statement is a warning to those who would dare disobey your command.

You sound like you don't need God. You already have yourself!
 
rusra02

rusra02

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Godwilling said:
Where in the Bible does it say to use the “cross” as a symbol for Christianity?
Click to expand...

Quote from ​
w08 3/1 p. 22:The use of the cross can be traced back to Mesopotamia, to two thousand years before Christ. Crosses even decorated Scandinavian rock engravings during the Bronze Age, centuries before Jesus was born. Such non-Christians used the cross “as a magic sign . . . giving protection, bringing good luck,” wrote Sven Tito Achen, Danish historian and expert on symbols, in the book Symbols Around Us. It is no wonder that the New Catholic Encyclopedia admits: “The cross is found in both pre-Christian and non-Christian cultures, where it has largely a cosmic or natural signification.” Why, then, have the churches chosen the cross as their most sacred symbol?
W. E. Vine, respected British scholar, offers these hard facts: “By the middle of the 3rd cent. A.D. . . . pagans were received into the churches . . . and were permitted largely to retain their pagan signs and symbols. Hence the Tau or T, . . . with the cross-piece lowered, was adopted.”—Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.​

Vine further notes that both the noun “cross” and the verb “crucify” refer to “a stake or pale . . . distinguished from the ecclesiastical form of a two beamed cross.” In agreement with this, Oxford University’s Companion Bible says: “The evidence is . . . that the Lord was put to death upon an upright stake, and not on two pieces of timber placed at any angle.” Clearly, the churches have adopted a tradition that is not Biblical.
Historian Achen, quoted above, observes: “In the two centuries after the death of Jesus it is doubtful that the Christians ever used the device of the cross.” ​
 
A

angellous_evangellous

Guest
Godwilling said:
Charater attacks are the weapons of those voided of substance. You insult those that dear think and communicate their thoughts. It does not sound Christian to me. Your statement is a warning to those who would dare disobey your command.

You sound like you don't need God. You already have yourself!
Click to expand...

How can this be - you haven't shared your thoughts on this topic. :shrug:
 
A

angellous_evangellous

Guest
rusra02 said:
​
Historian Achen, quoted above, observes: “In the two centuries after the death of Jesus it is doubtful that the Christians ever used the device of the cross.”
Click to expand...

I suspect that Achen would want us to note that there is scarcely any evidence of Christians before "two centuries after the death of Jesus," and that includes the writings that later were included in the Bible.
 
A

angellous_evangellous

Guest
Ah, I forgot - the earliest copy of John uses the symbol of the cross in place of the word "crucify" and "cross." I have pictures of it posted somewhere in RF. I'll find it.
 
Terrywoodenpic

Terrywoodenpic

Oldest Heretic
Christianity has used many symbols From a fish to letters IHS , a dove, to a cross or crucifix.
They are simply identifiers to communicate your faith to fellow believers.
Some Christians admit to no symbols.
None of these symbols could come into place till after the death of Jesus, and the gradual formation of the forerunners to his early church.
 
sandy whitelinger

sandy whitelinger

Veteran Member
Godwilling said:
Charater attacks are the weapons of those voided of substance. You insult those that dear think and communicate their thoughts. It does not sound Christian to me. Your statement is a warning to those who would dare disobey your command.

You sound like you don't need God. You already have yourself!
Click to expand...
Daddy didn't attack your character, only your postulation and form of your topic of debate.
 
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