Wearing Crosses or Stars of David

[goofygirl]

I think some people would be surprised how many wear crosses simply so they will fit in and not be looked at as being different.

I don't know if its my imagination, but I feel like I get treated better if I wear a cross. Sometimes you do get treated a certain way by what you wear. I'm sure my priest gets treated differently when his wearing his collar in public rather than street clothes. I've even noticed that there's a difference in the way I'm treated by the public, customer service, etc when I wear my scrubs as opposed to street clothes.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I think some people would be surprised how many wear crosses simply so they will fit in and not be looked at as being different.

That says more about that individual needing other people's approval than it does about society as a whole.

 

[momrek06]

I am Catholic. I wear the "Shrouded Cross"! I wear it all the time. I have had it maybe 3 years and I get complements on it DAILY. I saw it at a lovely jewlery store in Kennebunkport, ME and INSTANTLY loved it. It is also known as the "Empty or Ressurrection Cross"! The Shrouded Cross is adorned with the burial shroud draped over the cross, left behind when Jesus rose from the dead. (As we all know, Jesus rose from a tomb, not from the cross, therefore the cloth shroud would be more accurately depicted inside the tomb. Like all crosses, the Shrouded Cross is just symbolic.) The Shrouded Cross signifies not only the message of the crucifix, it also signifies the future hope of believers. Many Catholics as well as Protestants wear the "Shrouded Cross".

It really is a beautiful Cross!


ETA: I would not wear a "Star of David" because I truly feel I do not have enough knowledge of the Jewish religion to explain the it to anyone asking me about the "Star of David".

 

[juligrl]

I'm not really sure of the meaning of the Star of David, so no, out of respect for Judiasim I would not wear one.

What about a crucifix if you aren't Catholic?

I personally would be okay wearing a star of David or a cross, but I felt uncomfortable when my kids bought me a crucifix for Christmas one year. Can't really explain why, I just was. For the record, I'm a protestant.

As a protestant, I also do not wear a crucifix. I do think they are beautiful, but I was taught that the emphasis is to be on the resurrected Christ and the crucifix doesn't show that whereas the empty cross does.
Also it's just a lot easier to eat meat on Friday's during lent without sporting a crucifix!

 

[tar heel]

I'm Christian and would wear a Star of David. After all, the roots of Christianity are also there.

I have a Hindu symbol pendant that my DH bought in India. I don't think of it as a religious symbol and only a couple people have ever recognized it for what it is. We also have some Hindu "gods" at our house, and I think of them as "art."

 

[cardaway]

That says more about that individual needing other people's approval than it does about society as a whole.

Not when there are people willing to discriminate based on a person not sharing the same religion, especially Jews in situations where it would be pretty dangerous to get caught wearing the Star of David.

My take on it is exactly the opposite. Pretty sad that these people are accepting of somebody just because they are wearing a cross. Extremely superficial, but lots of things are more about appearance rather than content, not just religion.

 

[JVL1018]

I'm Christian and would not wear a Star of David, just because I think those proclaim someone as Jewish, so I don't see a reason for me to wear it.

I'm not Catholic, so wouldn't wear a crucifix, I would wear a plain cross.

 

[Rajah]

Hmm, good question.

My initial reaction is I wouldn't have a problem wearing a Star of David, though I normally would wear a cross. Assuming, of course, I'm wearing any religious jewelry of any kind. Which isn't often. I'm just not a jewelry person.

Then more came into the thread...

I'd not be fond of wearing a crucifix, as I'm a protestant.

But why am I willing to wear a Star of David yet not a crucifix? Interesting question.

And my reaction to the khamsa was an instant no, yet I have no valid experience or reason to base that reaction on, and I have no problem wearing or hanging a dream catcher in my home, or a sand painting of one of the many Native American deities.

More than anything else, I'm finding my reaction to the khamsa interesting and it leaves me wondering why I reacted instantly against it.

 

[Fitswimmer]

My take on it is exactly the opposite. Pretty sad that these people are accepting of somebody just because they are wearing a cross. Extremely superficial, but lots of things are more about appearance rather than content, not just religion.

That kind of goes against the quote in your signature though, doesn't it? If someone is so superficial that they will only accept someone wearing a certain type of jewelry then their opinion certainly isn't worth the effort.

 

[disykat]

I probably wouldn't wear a Star of David unless I was doing it as some sort of Holocaust memorial or something on the order of "wear a yellow ribbon to honor...". I wouldn't mainly because I would feel like I was misrepresenting myself.

As a protestant, I would have no problem wearing a crucifix. I have a small one displayed in my home. Although protestants like to think in terms of the empty cross and risen Lord, there is also a time to spend time thinking about the sacrifice. I don't consider doing so is uniquely Catholic.

I'm not really a jewelry person. However, in my home I have some religious symbols including icons etc. collected while traveling. I use them as art, and sort of a historical item where someone else might use them as a worship tool. I also have some Christmas stuff where Mary has a Halo - not a typical Protestant representation of Mary, but one I see value in as an artistic representation.

 

[cardaway]

That kind of goes against the quote in your signature though, doesn't it? If someone is so superficial that they will only accept someone wearing a certain type of jewelry then their opinion certainly isn't worth the effort.

Like I posted ealier, if it's situation of safety or discrimination, I believe it's worth it. Obviously it's better to remove yourself from the situation, but that's not always an option in the short term.

 

[GeorgeG]

I would not wear either one. Neither represents who I am. Come to think of it, nothing else does, either.

 

[Crankyshank]

I'm Catholic so it wouldn't be a stretch to wear a crucifix. I do have a cross though. I would probably wear a Star of David if given to me. I would also wear a khamsa.

Then again, I have been known to wear a pentagram because of what it represents and not because of the religious affiliation. I also have an eye of horus, and an Italian horn pendant

 

[VioltePrincess]

this thread is bringing back memories. I knew a lot of people in hgih school who wore the Italian horn that crankyshank mentioned (there are a lot of Italians in the neighborhood).

we also wore the ankh, an Egyptian symbol meaning "life". we wore it as a fashion statement, not as a link to the gods of the Nile.

 

[Buckalew11]

I have a cross and a Mezuzah pendant. Nobody around here even knows what the Mezuzah is. My grandmother asked me why I was wearing that "Jewish symbol" around my neck once but she was the only one who even knew what it was. It contains my favorite scripture.

 

[Sherri]

If you are a Christian, would you feel comfortable wearing a Star of David? And if you are Jewish, would you feel comfortable wearing a cross?

This question has come up in a completely different forum, and I was just curious to see how other people feel. Personally, I'm Jewish and I would never wear a cross.

I am of mixed faith and have both. Funny enough though I have been wearing my cross the last couple of weeks. No real reason.