Why do even non believers cross there fingers in hope?

Answer 1

Because we were taught to do that for luck as children, and it stuck.

Also, here's an excerpt from a discription of an article on the subject:

Charles Panati, in Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things, has a nice article on crossing one's fingers as a sign of luck or making a wish. He traces it back to pre-Christian times, when the cross was a symbol of unity and benign spirits dwelt at the intersection point. A wish made on a cross was a way of "anchoring" the wish at the intersection of the cross until the wish was fulfilled.

Panati says this superstition was popular among many early European cultures. It originally took two people. A comrade or well-wisher placing his index finger over the index finger of the person making the wish, the two fingers forming a cross. The one person makes the wish, the other empathizes and supports. Over centuries, the custom was simplified, so that a person could wish on his own, by crossing his index and middle fingers to form an X. But traces remain--two people hooking index fingers as a sign of greeting or agreement is still common in some circles today.

Panati comments, "Customs once formal, religious, and ritualistic have a way of evolving with time to become informal, secular, and commonplace." Thus, friends crossing fingers evolved (Panati says "degenerated") to crossing one's own fingers, and ultimately to the stock phrase, "Keep your fingers crossed," with no actual finger-crossing at all.

Answer 2

Why do 'believers' describe Islam as 'evil', say that people not following the Bible should be criticised and claim that those who follow the Bible should dominate others?

Alternately, why do 'Jesus freaks' believe that every little action that people do has a religious foundation? Why can't they see 'crossing fingers' as a meaningless symbol that predates Christianity?

Answer 3

It is natural for a non-believer to do this unscriptural thing of crossing fingers.

Crossing fingers is not found in Christianity. Therefore it has nothing to do with Christianity

Answer 4

It's a superstitious belief to make a cross with fingers. It hasn't anything to do with Christianity.

Answer 5

Crossed fingers are not religious, cross your fingers and look at them. Does it look like a cross? Nope.

Answer 6

As has been stated already, crossing ones fingers does not indicate belief in anything except superstition.

Answer 7

Superstitious... but it really has no basis in any religion. You don't think a Railroad Crossing is a religious idea just cause the word Cross is in there do you?

Answer 8

I don't cross my fingers in hope. I see very little hope around me. I clench my fists in anger, it works better.

Answer 9

wat is the meaning of crossed fingers??? i neva thought about it and ur question has triggered thought lol ^_^ !! im a christian so i have no idea why they do... Anyway i dont cross my fingers in hope...

Answer 10

It is a conditioned response acquired through learning. It is not instinctive nor is it of supernatural/spiritual origin.