Do You Have To Be Religious To Wear A Cross?

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#31
I, personally have never worn a cross. I am a non-believer so I feel that I would be a hypocrite to do so. But I would not pass judgement on someone who does, do whatever makes you feel happy!
 
#32
I get that! :yes:

I'm not a "non-believer" just also not religious or spiritual really. . . but I like them a lot for some reason so I'll be wearing mine! :laugh:
If people look at it and assume I'm Catholic or religious it's fine w/ me.
 
#33
I see the cross as a symbol of christianity or more specifically, a symbol of Christ dying on the cross. I am not a religious person, which is not to say that I am a non-believer. I don't attend church, but I have some degree of faith. I don't wear a cross for those reasons.
I can see the cross as a general symbol of faith and hope too, so I don't think that you necessarily have to be Christian/religious to wear a cross.
 
#35
I never take off my baptismal cross and an icon I always wear, BUT I always wear them under my clothes, not on the outside. Of course, jewelry has SO many personal meanings: think of wedding rings, earrings that came from grandmothers who wore them from the "old country", the possibilities are endless, really. So, I guess if I see someone wearing a cross, I assume they're Christian, but who ever really knows what someone's jewelry means? (I used to know a guy who always wore a star of david, but he was wearing for some Rastafarian belief, and no, he didn't have long dreads or anything, just to confuse the issue ;-))
 
#36
HauteMama said:
To me it definitely indicates being a Christian. Generally speaking, Catholics (at least around here) wear them more often than those of other denominations. To me, there are symbols of hope and then there are religious symbols. For many people, the Star of David is a symbol of hope and unity. Would you find it acceptable for a non-religious person to wear a Star of David, or would you assume they were of a certain faith?

Certainly it is up to you, and everyone has a different perspective. But to me a cross is a specific religious symbol. Unless one shares the beliefs/religion, it would strike me as unusual to wear one.
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I totally agree. Like I love how the Star of David looks and the meaning behind it, but I would never buy and wear one. I personally find it odd that someone would want to wear a cross but not be of the faith. It's assumed you are of the religion if you wear something like that. I don't think of religious symbols as fashion, although the styles are certainly more fashionable today.
 
#38
I don't know - DH and I disagree about this. I say yes, you should only be wearing a cross if you're religious and Christian, but DH says take a hundred cross wearers and ask them 2 questions: 1) are you a baptised Christian and 2) how often do you go to Church (ie. do you practice your faith?). He reckons that consenus would show that you merely need to be Christian to wear a cross, whereas I on the other hand, perceive wearing a cross as showing that one is an active, practicing Christian (and I don't mean just Christmas and Easter!)
 
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#39
I think that wearing a cross indicates that you identify yourself as a Christian, and not as a Jew, Muslim, etc. It may not mean that you go to church or even that you were ever baptized, but people who see you wearing it will probably assume that you're at least somewhat religious. If you're ok with that, then wear it!
 
#40
Swanky Mama Of Three said:
I get that! :yes:

I'm not a "non-believer" just also not religious or spiritual really. . . but I like them a lot for some reason so I'll be wearing mine! :laugh:
If people look at it and assume I'm Catholic or religious it's fine w/ me.
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Our views are exactly the same. I am, and then I'm not, surprised at the intensity of the responses. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I will mine.
 
#42
Just woke up after a restless night because, and this will sound stupid, I'm going into NY to take a yoga class I'm worried is over my head. (it's a holiday special thing went yesterday and all kinds of celebs there so of course I have to go back for a harder class today-didn't notice any jewels, but I'll look today haha). And your little guys brought such a smile to my face! Love them^^
 
#43
Well, here is my small collection of crosses that I love to wear on a black cord or silver collar. I don't consider myself religious, but I do have a belief in a higher power. And when I wear these, I don't feel like I am projecting my beliefs on anyone else. I just love to wear them.
 

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#44
couturequeen said:
I totally agree. Like I love how the Star of David looks and the meaning behind it, but I would never buy and wear one. I personally find it odd that someone would want to wear a cross but not be of the faith. It's assumed you are of the religion if you wear something like that. I don't think of religious symbols as fashion, although the styles are certainly more fashionable today.
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i agree. when i was in college in nyc, my boyfriend at the time, who was jewish, used to wear this huge, ostentatious cross around his neck. i never understood why he did this and to be honest, it was embarrassing. now if he was catholic and wearing it, perhaps i would have felt differently, but knowing he was jewish, i found it humiliating.

(btw, he said he wore it to pi$$ off his mother...weird).
 
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