Why is it (your personal theory) that you see some people wearing a cross around their neck, when they obviously outwardly, don't practice the faith tied with it? Has the cross become a fashion statement?

I will say what sparked this question. I was looking online for picture of crosses and a picture of Angelina Jolee pops up with a picture of her wearing a cross. Is this symbol just a fashion statement these days? Of course, I am not judging her faith, being that is in the heart. But OUTWARDLY they displays many other ways that go against the faith. So, which is she trying to outwardly potray, a believer in God (Christ Jesus who died on the cross). OR trying to outwardly potray a freak (I use this term loosely, being I can't think of any other way to describe her at this moment). :)

I'd agree that the cross has become more a fashion statement than a relgious statement.

It is really disappointing these days, you see can see people who call themselves "Gangsta" wearing crosses, you see people who are obvious jerks wearing crosses, it's as if the cross is some sort of fashion accessory. It's offending to the people who tote cross earrings and necklaces who actually DO practice their faith.

And why should christians have a monopoly on crosses?

I'm not saying they should have a monopoly on crosses, I'm saying people who wear the symbol of Jesus Christ shouldn't act like fools.

You're missing my point. Why does the cross have to represent Christianity?

It doesn't HAVE to necassarily, but then tell us oh wise LP, what IS it supposed to stand for otherwise?

I'm not saying it's supposed to stand for anything. Christians use the cross as a symbol of their faith, yes, but I see no reason that Christianity should have a monopoly on the cross as such a symbol. So a "gangster" wears a cross? Why must that be somehow different than wearing some other shape?

Like most objects it has whatever interpretation the wearer puts upon it. Some believe it can ward off evil. Some see it as a reminder that Jesus died on the cross so that we may live. I see it more as an invention to suffering by the Romans & maybe earlier people, I don't know, unless it has a representation of Jesus on it. Burning crosses are used to instill fear.

The only reason it means something different then any other shape is because it's a huge symbol widely recognized as a Christian symbol. When people see crosses etched into the backs of cars for instance, they automatically think Christian. So when say a "gangster" wears a cross, you think Christian and you could assume Christianity condones the killing and violance that gangsters commit everyday. Now, you don't have to be a Christian to wear a cross, but going out and being an ass while wearing one gives people the wrong impression of religion. It's the same if someone had a tattoo of Buddha on him but he was involved in mass-killings, that would upset Buddhists, and it's the same for any religion.

With all due respect,
~~~Mr. Cain and Mr. Abel

Take the Swastika, for example, which is a wide usely Hindu symbol in India. The second you take a foot out of the country, you run the risk of being mugged (a hyperbole) for donning it.

The Hindu symbol of good luck and health is now the symbol of madness and the Holocaust. Don't you think I'd be a little ticked? It's the same way.

I see what you're saying. The cross doesn't NEED to represent Christianity, but it does. The pattern of the American flag doesn't NEED to represent America, but it does.

And just as it would seem odd for terrorists to wear American flags as a fashion statement, it does seem odd for people who do not outwardly practice Christianity to wear crosses.

Note that for many of the rappers that Cain and Abel has referred to, they refer to their cross as their "Jesus piece." In other words, they are saying that the cross around their neck is specifically the Christian cross. In that sense, for them, it's not merely a random arrangment of line segments, but rather an explicit reference to Christianity.

I always thought that gangstas wore their Jesus pieces to imply that their fury would be like God's fury which I find to be laughable hubris.

Wearing a cross doesn't make you a Christian anymore than wearing the Star of David makes you Jewish. I've met people who wear symbols without any clue of their origins. People just go "Oh a symbol, looks cool, think I'll wear it." Symbols give people an icon to stand behind and represent them (whether it really does or not).

It depends on the cross. There's the iron cross, infinity cross, even scientology uses the same symbol.

The official symbol of the
Church of Scientology:


And about gangsters wearing crosses, well, it makes about as much sense as rappers thanking God while they promote sex, partying, hate, crime, drugs, gangs, murder, need I go on?

I agree. Heck, I'd say its the same for people in political office. It makes as much sense as politicians promoting war, killing, not helping the poor, racism, and all other things. They like to have that false sense of rightousness.

This is the same issue with pentagrams... some people use it as a symbol of Wicca, some for the elements in general, Pythagoreans use it as their symbol, Sir Gawain had one on his shield (and he fought in the name of God), and the country of Morocco has one on its flag.

And often times, an inverted pentagram is used for Satanists, but some people don't differentiate between the two orientations.

Truth to tell I've never noticed the satanic pentagram was inverted until you pointed that out. I only come across it in movies.

Yeah... its not really noticed the orientation. I've heard people thinking the star of david is a satanist symbol... :P

At my school the only jewelery your allowed is Religous symbols so alot of people wear crosses just so they can have a necklace on