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Outward signs?

Eddi

Eddi

Agnostic
Premium Member
Who here displays outward signs of their religion or spirituality? If so, why?

Of course, inward spirituality is more important than outward spirituality, but I believe you can have both, that they’re not mutually exclusive!

Basically – what if anything about your personal appearance is determined by your faith?

I now wear a gold cross around my neck

Previously it was something I was in two minds about doing, I made a thread about this somewhere on here and at one point was very much against doing so

I now wear it around my neck as to me it symbolises God’s love and eternal life (it is an empty cross without a Jesus on it, which signifies resurrection) and also because it feels like the right thing to do, it feels like an act of commitment

It also has sentimental value to me as my now deceased grandmother gave it me

If it’s cool for a Sikhs to wear a turban or Moslem women to wear a veil then why should it be uncool for a Christian to wear a cross??? Christianity is a part of who (and what) I am!

However, it is seldom visible as it’s on quite a long chain and is normally under my shirt/T-shirt so although it’s round my neck it’s not really on display. But it’s hanging on in there!
 
Rival

Rival

se Dex me saut.
Staff member
Premium Member
Carry a Tanakh on my every outing.

Though that gradually appears to be changing to carrying a siddur.
 
Heyo

Heyo

Veteran Member
I aggressively show my non-religiousity by not wearing any religious symbols.
 
Audie

Audie

Veteran Member
Rival said:
I'm not allowed to carry a mace or a sword, so...*shrug*
Click to expand...

Here in NYC carrying weapons is not allowed
of course, Where do you live?

A Chanel or especially a Birkin is a sort of
weapon, can be used to intimidate other
women or get special attention at a shop.
 
Rival

Rival

se Dex me saut.
Staff member
Premium Member
Audie said:
Here in NYC carrying weapons is not allowed
of course, Where do you live?

A Chanel or especially a Birkin is a sort of
weapon, can be used to intimidate other
women or get special attention at a shop.
Click to expand...
U.K.
 
Heyo

Heyo

Veteran Member
Rival said:
I'm not allowed to carry a mace or a sword, so...*shrug*
Click to expand...
May I suggest to take up reenactment/living history as a hobby? I can carry a sword at any medieval fair and sometimes to practice. (A practice sword, of course, blunt but otherwise accurate.)
 
Samana Johann

Samana Johann

Restricted by request
Carrying no signs of householder or Brahmans.

As for devoted, vituose lay follower, they would not make use of beautification, garlands... and appear in white, simple.
 
Spirit of Light

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
I don`t wear any symbols on me as a Buddhist but in a few occasions I will wear a white robe but not as an everyday wear
 
Quintessence

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
I can't avoid displaying outward signs of my religion when for me, religion isn't something I compartmentalize into some box somewhere. It is who I am, it is my way of life.

Almost nobody notices, though. Almost nobody notices because I'm a religious minority and our Abrahamic-dominated society hasn't a clue what to look for. That includes the atheists, who in my culture basically are reacting against foundational assumptions of Abrahamic religions. It means my religious expressions get a free pass and the job I hold even involves blatant proselytizing paid for in part by tax dollars. One of the few benefits of being a lesser known religious minority is that I have far more freedom of religious expression than Christians seem to these days.
 
P

pearl

Well-Known Member
There is nothing wrong with wearing a symbol of who we are or what we believe. Its only a problem when its abused and our actions don't relate to the symbol. Acting un Christian while wearing a big gold cross, or removing the wedding ring before an adulterous act.
 
9-10ths_Penguin

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Eddi said:
If it’s cool for a Sikhs to wear a turban or Moslem women to wear a veil then why should it be uncool for a Christian to wear a cross??? Christianity is a part of who (and what) I am!
Click to expand...
You do realize that your cross is a different sort of thing from the other two, right?

- baptized Sikhs have a religious obligation to leave their hair uncut. The turban is a practical way to manage this long hair and keep it out of the way. The turban isn't technically a religious obligation itself, but it's a reasonable offshoot of a religious obligation.

- if a woman is wearing a hijab, odds are she considers it a religious obligation.

- AFAIK, virtually no Christians believe that wearing a cross is actually required.

So when I see a Christian wearing a cross, I generally assume that the reason they're wearing it isn't because they think their god or scripture commands it, so I look for other reasons.

It could be that they're wearing it because it gives them comfort or just because they like it, but I don't automatically exclude the possibility that they're wearing it specifically to advertise the fact that they're a Christian.
 
9-10ths_Penguin

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
pcarl said:
There is nothing wrong with wearing a symbol of who we are or what we believe. Its only a problem when its abused and our actions don't relate to the symbol. Acting un Christian while wearing a big gold cross, or removing the wedding ring before an adulterous act.
Click to expand...
I get leery about businesses who give outward signs that they're "Christian."

When a plumber - or some other business that really has nothing to do with religion - has a little cross or Jesus fish in their logo, I have to wonder what they're trying to communicate. I've only been able to come up with a few possibilities, none of them good:

- favouritism ("hey, fellow Christians - we're in the same club, so I'll give you a special deal")
- prejudice ("because I'm Christian, you know you can trust me... unlike all those non-Christian plumbers")
- tribalism ("hey Christians if you hire me, you'll be keeping your money in our religious community and won't be letting wealth slip out to non-Christians")
 
Eddi

Eddi

Agnostic
Premium Member
9-10ths_Penguin said:
You do realize that your cross is a different sort of thing from the other two, right?

- baptized Sikhs have a religious obligation to leave their hair uncut. The turban is a practical way to manage this long hair and keep it out of the way. The turban isn't technically a religious obligation itself, but it's a reasonable offshoot of a religious obligation.

- if a woman is wearing a hijab, odds are she considers it a religious obligation.

- AFAIK, virtually no Christians believe that wearing a cross is actually required.

So when I see a Christian wearing a cross, I generally assume that the reason they're wearing it isn't because they think their god or scripture commands it, so I look for other reasons.

It could be that they're wearing it because it gives them comfort or just because they like it, but I don't automatically exclude the possibility that they're wearing it specifically to advertise the fact that they're a Christian.
Click to expand...
I am a great believer in religious liberty

If any atheist wanted to somehow wear a symbol of atheism round their neck I would never seek to limit their right to do so indeed I would champion their right

We in the West are fortunate to have such a degree of religious liberty

And as regards Christianity: I think a big part of it all is making it visible (without being pushy or obnoxious) so as to raise awareness of it

I believe a part of being a Christian is to be visibly Christian, and hopefully put out a good impression!

I think any demand to become invisible would be unreasonable and counter to religious liberty

Also, as Christians we are tasked to evangelize, specifically by scripture, see this link:

16 Bible Verses about Evangelism - Powerful Scripture Quotes

in logic: Wearing a cross is an act of evangelism (true) / evangelism is encouraged by scripture (true) / therefore wearing a cross can be justified by scripture (a sound conclusion)

But please note, evangelizing doesn’t have to be pushy, or in-your-face, it can be just a matter of being passively visible and available if anyone wants to ask

When we think of evangelizing we often think of awful people being pushy and obnoxious, but I don’t see why it can’t be done quietly and passively, without intruding into anyone’s existence, there’s no need to be a **** about it or to knock on peoples doors or force leaflets on them in the street etc. I would never do such things but am always happy to discuss my faith if anyone asks

But all that said, for me wearing a cross has more to do with me gently expressing my true nature than about evangelizing, which I suspect is true of many others too
 
Jainarayan

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
Eddi said:
Who here displays outward signs of their religion or spirituality? If so, why?
Click to expand...

I wear a silver chain and pranava (om ॐ ) pendant. It's usually under my shirt but sometimes with a t-shirt I wear it outside the shirt. No particular reason except I think it's pretty. :) I also have a ॐ tattoo on my right delt. That's about the extent of my religious displays.
 
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