Why do Catholics have crucifixes and other Christian denominations have unadorned crosses ?

Answer 1

Because Catholics want to revere Jesus, not the cross. The cross isn't special, it's the dude on it, get it?

Plus it's creepier.

Answer 2

When the Protestants split off from the Catholic Church, they rejected many things from the Catholic faith. They rejected teh Catholic list of books in the Old Testament and adopted the Jewish list of books. They removed all of the statues from their churches, including the figure of Jesus on the cross.

Those who say that this was done because these thing are idols need to read Numbers 21; 8 - "the LORD said to Moses, "Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if anyone who has been bitten looks at it, he will recover."

When I look at the figure of Jesus on the cross, I see the torture, pain, and suffering that He went through on my behalf and see it as the ultimate act of love for mankind. It also reminds me that I may need to suffer for what I believe in, but I am promised everlasting life.

Answer 3

Catholics wish to remember that christ suffered human aggony and humiliation for our sins. Many Catholics also wear the simple cross rather than a crucifix.

Answer 4

It depends how high the church is! Roman Catholic is regarded as high church but some Anglican Churches consider themselves high. My parish church (Canterbury Cathedral) can be quite Anglo-Catholic, we have Crucifixes in some chapels, icons in others, crosses and the Beckett Chapel has the Blessed Sacrament.

I think it depends on who worships at the church rather than denomination.

Answer 5

the protestant reformation was in part a reaction to the excesses of the catholic church. The protestants wanted a purer, more austere version of Christianity and they did away with the adornment seen in catholic churches and crucifixes

Answer 6

It has to do with differences between the Catholic and Protestant versions of the commandments and their interpretation. Protestants believe that the image of Christ on the cross amounts to idolatry.

Answer 7

Catholics put more emphasis on the crucifix and mary instead of who died on the cross.
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Answer 8

because protestants see the crucifix as a graven image

Answer 9

Thus saith the Lord;

Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Answer 10

well because the catholics from what i understand worship him in all facets other denominations emphasize more on the fact that he is risen and "coming back"