The cross dates back thousands of years before Christ. Pagans used it as a symbol for their gods. The word cross doesn't even appear in the Bible. It comes from the word stauros which means "stake or pole."
2007-10-03 07:56:40 · 35 answers · asked by Brett 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If you would do some unbiased research into the Christian use of the cross, you would find that the word stauros was used, not just of a stake, but also of ALL torture stakes, even those with crosspieces. The BASIC meaning of stauros is "stake", but the word was used to describe T-shaped torture stakes also. One example is the use of the word "stauros" by the writer of the Letter of Barnabas around 100-133 AD where he describes a stauros as a T.
The word "xylon" basically means "wood", but it is also sometimes translated as "stake" and other things made of wood. If you rule out the use of the word "stauros" as a cross just because its basic meaning is "stake", then you should also rule out translating "xylon" as "stake" because it's basic meaning is "wood", not stake.
The Christian symbol of the cross is based on the belief that Jesus died on an instrument of torture in the shape of a cross, and through his death, the world was redeemed. The apostle Paul often spoke of Jesus' 'stauros' as representative of the sacrifice Jesus made, and eventually the shape of that torture device became a symbol of his sacrifice. If pagans used crosses to symbolize their gods - which is doubtful - it is entirely irrelevant. Pagans of the third century actually criticized Christians because of the esteem they placed on Jesus' "stauros". (Writings of the early Christian, Minucius Felix - Ante-Nicene Fathers)
2007-10-05 02:47:29 · answer #1 · answered by browneyedgirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm pretty sure that the word cross is used in the Bible (at the very least crucified is used - which means hung on a cross to die) and Christians adopted it as a symbol because Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on one by the Romans.
2007-10-03 08:06:03 · answer #2 · answered by Susan G 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We did not take the cross from pagan beliefs as a sign of our christianity. Jesus died on a cross shaped from the wood of a dogwood tree. He is our salvation and his death allows us to be forgiven of our sins and enter the kingdom of heaven when this life is over. Therefore we take the cross as a symbol of our faith in his life and death. I do know that pagans used crosses as well but that is not where we get the cross from. Those that do wear a cross or exhibit it in their home for pagan reasons are pagans. Those that display it as a christian take it from the life and death of Jesus Christ.
2007-10-03 08:04:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Similarity does not mean descended from. What difference does it make, we know that Jesus died on a cross from the witnesses and that is why Christians use the cross as a symbol to remind them of Christ's sacrifice. I have no idea why the pagans may have used a cross nor does it matter to my Christian faith.
In Christ
Fr. Joseph
2007-10-03 08:03:17 · answer #4 · answered by cristoiglesia 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yes you and I know that, but for most in Christendom, they have some weird tendency towards making allowances for the pagan in their religion by dismissing the origins of the pagan symbols and traditions with the statement "well, it doesn't mean that to us".
Apparently they are not very concerned with the fact that God knows that the image of the cross started as a pagan 'phallic symbol'.
The cross was proved to have originated (much to the chagrin of Christian) all the way back in ancient Babylon.
When God mixed up the languages, the image of the cross, in it's various forms was spread throughout the earth.
That is why the European explorers were surprised to find the image of the cross in wide use by the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
It is quite amazing how sentimental people are for this inaccurate symbol of the murder weapon of one Jesus Christ!
Never mind that nowhere in scripture are we instructed to honor the execution of our Lord by making an image of the torture instrument, but that people refuse to acknowledge the historical inaccuracy of that murder weapon is nothing short of astonishing!
Just because the murder implement has been incorrectly regaled as a 'cross' for so many years, still does not make it true!
Jesus himself said that those worshiping the Father must do so in spirit and truth, so that to many of us would coincide with the fact that he also told us to be faithful in the smallest of things, so, if we 1.embrace a false symbol, 2. were not even told to make any image, and 3. then refuse to let it go after it has been proved to be false, then we are saying, it is our emotions and feelings that we are more concerned with, than as to what the Father and the Son think and feel.
2007-10-03 08:02:59 · answer #5 · answered by Tim 47 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Your name is Brett, but I am sure that someone else has used that same name before. Is there a patent on it?
The Bible clearly and undeniably teaches that Jesus died on a cross (Matthew 27:32,40,42; Mark 15:21,30,32; Luke 23:26; John 19:17,19,25; Acts 2:23; 1 Corinthians 1:17-18; Colossians 1:20; 2:14-15). The Greek words in those Scriptures specifically identify a cross, not a pole or stake. The most common method of execution by the Romans in Jesus’ time was crucifying a person on a cross, with nails through their hands/wrists and feet/ankles. Sometimes people were tied to the cross in addition to being nailed to it. There were instances where people were crucified to poles, stakes, trees, x-shaped crosses, etc. But this was not the case with Jesus – He was crucified on a cross.
2007-10-03 08:03:21 · answer #6 · answered by Freedom 7 · 2⤊ 5⤋
You are right. The cross is pagan because it refers to the planet of the crossing. The planet Nibiru which enters our solar system every 3600 or so years. The Swastika is also related to the cross and this symbol.
Jesus died on a cross but we do not know what is looked like.
I do not believe Christians should ware or use any of these items myself. The German army had crosses on the military equipment airplanes and tanks etc. It is not Christian it is pagan.
Why do people do things? Ignorance of the truth.
2007-10-03 08:04:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Pagans never used a Crucifixion cross as a symbol. The cross is a symbol of our crucified and risen Lord.
This is not a secret. The problem with your JW way of thinking is that Romans used crosses to crucify people, not stakes or poles.
2007-10-03 08:01:38 · answer #8 · answered by great gig in the sky 7 · 1⤊ 5⤋
well actually the cross was used by Romans to torture the Jewish people..in Jewish law torture is not allowed so the Romans being smartass.s at the time would hang Jewish people whom they did not like on crosses because it was torture and took a bit to kill the person in that manner so i think they got the "cross" from that era
2007-10-03 10:24:47 · answer #9 · answered by mindy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For Christians it's the symbol of grace. No matter what Pagan thing took place before Christ, he was still crucified on a cross - a t-shaped piece of wood.
2007-10-03 07:59:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 3⤋