Why is a cross a pagan symbol? What is the history of it? Please provide a link or reference. Thanks!?

Answer 1

What were the historical origins of Christendom’s cross?

“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. India, Syria, Persia and Egypt have all yielded numberless examples . . . 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.”—Encyclopædia Britannica (1946), Vol. 6, p. 753.

“The shape of the [two-beamed cross] had its origin in ancient Chaldea, and was used as the symbol of the god Tammuz (being in the shape of the mystic Tau, the initial of his name) in that country and in adjacent lands, including Egypt. By the middle of the 3rd cent. A.D. the churches had either departed from, or had travestied, certain doctrines of the Christian faith. In order to increase the prestige of the apostate ecclesiastical system pagans were received into the churches apart from regeneration by faith, and were permitted largely to retain their pagan signs and symbols. Hence the Tau or T, in its most frequent form, with the cross-piece lowered, was adopted to stand for the cross of Christ.”—An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (London, 1962), W. E. Vine, p. 256.

“It is strange, yet unquestionably a fact, that in ages long before the birth of Christ, and since then in lands untouched by the teaching of the Church, the Cross has been used as a sacred symbol. . . . The Greek Bacchus, the Tyrian Tammuz, the Chaldean Bel, and the Norse Odin, were all symbolised to their votaries by a cruciform device.”—The Cross in Ritual, Architecture, and Art (London, 1900), G. S. Tyack, p. 1.

“The cross in the form of the ‘Crux Ansata’ . . . was carried in the hands of the Egyptian priests and Pontiff kings as the symbol of their authority as priests of the Sun god and was called ‘the Sign of Life.’”—The Worship of the Dead (London, 1904), Colonel J. Garnier, p. 226.

“Various figures of crosses are found everywhere on Egyptian monuments and tombs, and are considered by many authorities as symbolical either of the phallus [a representation of the male sex organ] or of coition. . . . In Egyptian tombs the crux ansata [cross with a circle or handle on top] is found side by side with the phallus.”—A Short History of Sex-Worship (London, 1940), H. Cutner, pp. 16, 17; see also The Non-Christian Cross, p. 183.

“These crosses were used as symbols of the Babylonian sun-god, [See book], and are first seen on a coin of Julius Cæsar, 100-44 B.C., and then on a coin struck by Cæsar’s heir (Augustus), 20 B.C. On the coins of Constantine the most frequent symbol is [See book]; but the same symbol is used without the surrounding circle, and with the four equal arms vertical and horizontal; and this was the symbol specially venerated as the ‘Solar Wheel’. It should be stated that Constantine was a sun-god worshipper, and would not enter the ‘Church’ till some quarter of a century after the legend of his having seen such a cross in the heavens.”—The Companion Bible, Appendix No. 162; see also The Non-Christian Cross, pp. 133-141.

Is veneration of the cross a Scriptural practice?

1 Cor. 10:14: “My beloved ones, flee from idolatry.” (An idol is an image or symbol that is an object of intense devotion, veneration, or worship.)

Ex. 20:4, 5, JB: “You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven or on earth beneath or in the waters under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them.” (Notice that God commanded that his people not even make an image before which people would bow down.)

Of interest is this comment in the New Catholic Encyclopedia: “The representation of Christ’s redemptive death on Golgotha does not occur in the symbolic art of the first Christian centuries. The early Christians, influenced by the Old Testament prohibition of graven images, were reluctant to depict even the instrument of the Lord’s Passion.”—(1967), Vol. IV, p. 486.

Concerning first-century Christians, History of the Christian Church says: “There was no use of the crucifix and no material representation of the cross.”—(New York, 1897), J. F. Hurst, Vol. I, p. 366.

Does it really make any difference if a person cherishes a cross, as long as he does not worship it?

How would you feel if one of your dearest friends was executed on the basis of false charges? Would you make a replica of the instrument of execution? Would you cherish it, or would you rather shun it?

In ancient Israel, unfaithful Jews wept over the death of the false god Tammuz. Jehovah spoke of what they were doing as being a ‘detestable thing.’ (Ezek. 8:13, 14) According to history, Tammuz was a Babylonian god, and the cross was used as his symbol. From its beginning in the days of Nimrod, Babylon was against Jehovah and an enemy of true worship. (Gen. 10:8-10; Jer. 50:29) So by cherishing the cross, a person is honoring a symbol of worship that is opposed to the true God.

As stated at Ezekiel 8:17, apostate Jews also ‘thrust out the shoot to Jehovah’s nose.’ He viewed this as “detestable” and ‘offensive.’ Why? This “shoot,” some commentators explain, was a representation of the male sex organ, used in phallic worship. How, then, must Jehovah view the use of the cross, which, as we have seen, was anciently used as a symbol in phallic worship?

Answer 2

Calling the cross a "pagan symbol" is overstating the case. There have been cross-like symbols that predate Christianity, but there's no indication that Christianity adopted the cross from those sources. The evidence suggests that Christianity adopted the cross because of the crucifixion.

For example, the swastika is a cross symbol but it was originally a religious symbol for Eastern religions before being coopted by the Nazi party. But the Christian cross rarely took a form which looked anything like the swastika. The same may be said for Odin's cross or the Egyptian ankh.

It should be noted that Christianity did not immediately adopt the cross widely. At the time, a cross was still primarily an instrument of torture and execuation and the fish was more commonly used.

Answer 3

Simple, the Cross didn't come into place until Constantine the Great sent his mother on a quest. And supposedly she found an artifact of the cross and she "design" the cross of which Christians believe to today. During Jesus's time there was no "Cross". As a result the Cross as we know it today is a pagan symbol of which there is no real historical belief of what Christ would have designed. You might want to check on the Discovery Channel link as a stepping stone. Good luck

Answer 4

Coolcat just did some research. It turns out that the original Greek word 'stauros' means a poll or tree; this is the word that was used to describe the instrument that was used to impale Jesus. The word "impaled" is what appeared in the original bible manuscripts, however it was replaced by the word "crucified" in order to fit the pagan symbol of a cross.

Answer 5

~~~ SuzieQ92,,, You'll get a lot of opinions on this which have nothing to do with fact. ALL of The Symbology of the christian religion is plagiarized from other philosophies. Primarily the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism. History bears this out as irrefuteable. It is considered a "Pagan Symbol" because it was used in their Iconography, predating christianity. In the Christian Motif however, the cross is also a reference to The Tree of Knowledge,,, and The Bodhi Tree, of which The Buddha meditated under in Contemplation of attainment of Wisdom, etc, etc, etc,.

Answer 6

The oldest scriptural scrolls, held by the Vatican, says Christ was hung on a branchless tree.

I imagine there will be some decent answers as to why it was changed to say Cross, but one thing to consider.

Satanists use an upside down cross. Do they do that to irritate Christians, or to make Christians think there is some significance to the Cross? Or better yet, which would Satan want to do, simply irritate Christians, or deceive them into thinking that the Cross has some significance?

Answer 7

The cross is a pagan symbol, "adopted" along with every other pagan symbol that Christianity stole from the religions they attempted to stamp out.

See below: http://www.albatrus.org/english/religions/pagan/origin_of_cross.htm

Answer 8

The Celtic Cross has some kind of Pagan symbolism. The Catholics co opted the symbol to get them to convert.

Answer 9

The Solar Cross is one of the most ancient symbols in the world. What it symbolizes varies by tradition and interpretation. Even within traditions it does not just symbolize one thing. It has many layers of meaning.

You can read about it here
http://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefssolar.htm
Or here
http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/sun.html

Or get Ronald Hutton's The Religions of the Ancient British Isles.

Answer 10

Yes, do a search on Tammuz (a God written about in the Bible... I believe women were at a wall wailing for him. Find out why the women were doing that)

The Egyptian Ankh is also a cross and represents life. It is also part of the belief that one is judged by weighing the persons heart against a feather. *wink*

I'm sure you will find many references for this. Some are even Christian references.

Answer 11

The use of the Cross goes back thousands of years.

See links below