sign of the cross pagan origin

sign of the cross pagan origin

(Acts 5:30; 10:39; 13:29; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24) This word simply means “timber” or “a stick, club, or tree.”, Explaining why a simple stake was often used for executions, the book Das Kreuz und die Kreuzigung (The Cross and the Crucifixion), by Hermann Fulda, states: “Trees were not everywhere available at the places chosen for public execution. For example, in the British Museum is a statue of the Assyrian king Samsi-Vul, son of Shalmaneser. The cross is, in fact, pagan in origin. There are slight differences in how it is made between the various rites of the Church, but they are all legitimate. Since the fifth century The Celts have used the simplest representation of a cross, a circle and a superimposed cross, to explain the interconnectedness of the world. Copyright © 2021 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Read this book using Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices. This came to … The sign and image of tlie cross is now, as of old, in the forefront of the pagan assault upon the simplicity of the faith of God in Christ, Tlierefore it is timely to present to the public a history, showing the pagan origin of the image, with its entrance among Cliristiaus, and its final adoption in the Church Catholic and Universal. Only in the fourth century did the cross come into prevalent use in Christianity. History of the Cross: The Pagan Origin, and Idolatrous Adoption and Worship, of the Image The Vestal Virgins of Pagan Rome and the nuns of Catholicism wore it on their necklaces. *. The cross far predates Christianity, and its roots are in ancient religious worship. It is the Greek word xyʹlon. The cross also suggests the movement of the sun, not only throughout the day from sunrise to sunset, but also its journe… There is no evidence that for the first 300 years after Christ’s death, those claiming to be Christians used the cross in worship. Conveniently, the original form of the letter 'T' was the initial letter of the god of Tammuz. The Bull as the Astrological sign of Taurus gets its name from the Tau and Ru. However, Christianity by this time had drifted far from the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles. Sign of the cross, a gesture of ancient Christian origin by which people bless themselves, others, or objects. United Church of God is a 501(c)3 organization. In a section titled “Cross, Crucify,” Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words records this: “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. He’s untwisting the pagan symbolism of the sex/fertility cult and revealing the union of Christ and the Church which gives eternal life to the world! The Papal system made the image of the cross into a grand charm, a pagan tool used by Babylonian people for magic purposes. Before the death of Jesus on the cross, the cross was used privately among Christians. The apostle Paul says: “Christ purchased us, releasing us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse instead of us, because it is written: ‘Accursed is every man hung upon a stake [“a tree,” King James Version].’” (Galatians 3:13) Here Paul quotes Deuteronomy 21:22, 23, which clearly refers to a stake, not a cross. The History Of The Cross: The Pagan Origin And Idolatrous Adoption And Worship Of The Image, was published in 1871 and examines the connection between Christian and Pagan symbols.  |  We explain how it has caused as much grief as it has comforted. “It was not till the time of Constantine that the cross was publicly used as the symbol of the Christian religion” (ibid). St. Cyprian explained the ritual in the 3rd century by reference to Christ’s redemptive death on the cross.The sign of the cross is used throughout Christian liturgies, in moments of need or danger, at the beginning and end of prayer, and on numerous other occasions. Send inquiries regarding the operation of this Web site to webmaster@ucg.org. It took time for us to eventually accept the cross in its current form and to worship it and, according to Ward, this was a pagan symbol that should never have been adopted. Why True Christians Do Not Use the Cross in Worship. On an accompanying figure, that of Ashur-nasir-pal, is a similar cross. PRIVACY POLICY, Why True Christians Do Not Use the Cross in Worship, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/a/bh/E/wpub/bh_E_lg.jpg, Share The sign of the cross is a Roman symbol of the devil. rosʹ] never means two pieces of timber placed across one another at any angle . American King James Version×). It was revered throughout the pagan world long before the advent of Christianity. “All the fun things about Easter are pagan. The thumb, forefinger, and middle fingers were held together to symbolize the Holy Trinity– Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Notice this from the Encyclopedia Britannica: “From its simplicity of form, the cross has been used both as a religious symbol and as an ornament, from the dawn of man’s civilization” (11th ed., 1910, Vol. The author is apparently really against what he sees as object worship and … 5 For a more detailed discussion of the cross, see pages 89-93 of the book Reasoning From the Scriptures, published by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Many professing Christians wear the symbol as an outward sign of their faith. A death cross in financial terms means a situation where long-term and short-term averages converge. The ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol of life—the ankh, a tau cross surmounted by a loop and known as crux ansata —was adopted and extensively used on Coptic Christian monuments. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) The Scriptures also forbid all forms of idolatry. So a simple beam was sunk into the ground. The tau form of the cross had been used as a pagan Egyptian symbol and then adopted by "Christians," called Copts, in Egypt. The signing of the cross is not a Christian symbol or emblem. the four sections sometimes represent the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter or the four elements of the earth: Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. ^ par. There is nothing in the Greek of the [New Testament] even to imply two pieces of timber.”, In several texts, Bible writers use another word for the instrument of Jesus’ death. There is no biblical record that the early Christians ever used the cross as a sign of their faith. Hence the Tau or T, in its most frequent form, with the cross-piece lowered, was adopted to stand for the 'cross' of Christ.”. The cross is, in fact, pagan in origin. The religious symbolism of the cross has its roots in ancient paganism. You’ll often find statements like the following by Cindy Jacobs in her book Deliver Us from Evil:. The origin of the cross is indeed very pagan. It adorns the churches of most Christian denominations. 506). As our booklet, Is God a Trinity? Apparently, to make it easier for pagans to accept “Christianity.” Nevertheless, devotion to any pagan symbol is clearly condemned by the Bible. In Norse mythology, the hammer of Thor is seen as a Tau Cross. The New Catholic Encyclopedia admits: “The cross is found in both pre-Christian and non-Christian cultures.” Various other authorities have linked the cross with nature worship and pagan sex rites. [5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. What Does the Bible Really Teach? This is the symbol for mother earth in pagan religions such as wicca and other forms of witchcraft. The use of the Christian cross as a Christian symbol began after the time of the Constantine, which occurred three centuries after the coming of Christ. The Christian cross as a Christian symbol has its roots in ancient paganism. Christ Himself warned His followers: “Take heed that no one deceives you. Constantine, who is widely regarded as the first “Christian” Roman Emperor, recognized the value of religion in uniting his empire. History shows that the cross was used centuries before Christ. Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow | Learn more... With a UCG.org account you will be able to save items to read and study later! The Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics says, “With the 4th century magical belief began to take a firmer hold within the Church.” EARTH SYMBOL - Also known as the sun cross, solar cross and as a Hopi medicine wheel. The evidence for its pagan origin is so convincing that The Catholic Encyclopedia admits that "the sign of the cross, represented in its simplest form by a crossing of two lines at right angles, greatly antedates, in both East and the West, the introduction of Christianity. History of the Cross: The Pagan Origin, and Idolatrous Adoption and Worship, of the Image [Ward, Henry Dana 1797-1884] on Amazon.com. In the fourth century, however, pagan Emperor Constantine became a convert to apostate Christianity and promoted the cross as its symbol. The same sign of the cross that Rome now worships was used in the Babylonian Mysteries, was applied by Paganism to the same magic purposes, was honored with the same honors. What Does the Bible Really Teach? The cross is used extensively in black magic and in innumerable religions. Bunnies are a leftover from the pagan festival of Eostre.” Hot cross buns are related to “Israelites baking sweet buns for an idol, and religious leaders trying to put a stop to it.” Eventually, “defiant cake-baking pagan women” were successful and a cross was added to the buns to Christianize them. The cross represents the four major directions, with the circle indicating the limits of territory that surrounds the central point. Publication download options Whatever Constantine’s motives, the cross had nothing to do with Jesus Christ. The evidence for its pagan origin is so convincing that the Catholic Encyclopedia admits that ‘the sign of the cross, represented in its simplest form by a crossing of two lines at right angles, greatly antedates, in both East and the West, the introduction of Christianity. Where Did the Symbolism of the Cross Originate. Audio download options The New Catholic Encyclopedia admits: “The cross is found in both pre-Christian and non-Christian cultures.” Various other authorities have linked the cross with nature worship and pagan sex rites. The historical record shows that Christianity adapted the influences of pagan worship, which included the symbol of the cross. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read History of the Cross: The Pagan Origin, and Idolatrous Adoption and Worship, of the Image. Since such a means of execution made the person “a curse,” it would not be proper for Christians to decorate their homes with images of Christ on a cross. It became a symbol of Christianity only after the time of Constantine. The religious symbolism of the cross has its roots in ancient paganism. For many will come in My name…and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4-5 Matthew 24:4-5 [4] And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you. A pagan sign of the mystic Tau of the Chaldeans and the Egyptians, this cross was a symbol of the Roman god Mithras and the Greek Attis, and their forerunner Tammuz, the Sumerian solar god, consort of the goddess Ishtar. (Exodus 20:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 10:14)  With very good reason, therefore, true Christians do not use the cross in worship. Be the first to ask a question about History of the Cross … *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. It became a symbol of Christianity only after the time of Constantine. Some people believe that since a cross symbol was used in some pagan religions, Jesus could not possibly have been crucified on a cross. Writers during the 19th century indicating a Pagan origin of the cross included Henry Dana Ward, Mourant Brock, and John Denham Parsons. TERMS OF USE Answer: The practice of tracing the sign of the cross is most prominent in the Roman Catholic Church but is also practiced in the Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Episcopalian churches. They believe Jesus was … On this the outlaws, with hands raised upward and often also with their feet, were bound or nailed.”. explains, “A very different religion, now compromised with many concepts and practices rooted in ancient paganism (such mixing of religious beliefs being known as syncretism, common in the Roman Empire at the time), took hold and transformed the faith founded by Jesus Christ.”, In a section titled “Cross, Crucify,” Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words records this: “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. History of the Cross: The Pagan Origin, and Idolatrous Adoption and Worship, of the Image - Ebook written by Henry Dana Ward. After the C… Whatever Constantine’s motives, the cross had nothing to do with Jesus Christ. © 1995–2021 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. (A Copt is a member of the traditional Monophysite Christian Church originating and centering in Egypt. The “peace symbol” or “peace sign” is widely used today. The sign of the cross was made simply with the fingers (the index or the thumb) on the forehead or lips or breast (as Latin-rite Catholics do at the beginning of the Gospel lesson) or with the whole hand over the torso. The swastika, called crux gammata, composed of four Greek capitals of the letter gamma, is marked on many early Christian tombs as a veiled symbol of the cross. The most convincing proof of all, however, comes from God’s Word. . The sign of the cross comes from antiquity when people worshiped the Persian sun-god Mithras and other sun-gods. Sign of the Cross By The Holy Spirit's Disciple, Raymond Laginess. Summary: The Watchtower Society teaches that Jesus was not executed on a cross but rather on a simple upright stake or pole.Jehovah’s Witnesses consider the cross a pagan symbol that was introduced into Christendom in its apostasy. However, it is seen by many as pagan or occultic, or even anti-Christian. This was, in fact, one of his primary motivations in accepting and sanctioning the Christian religion. The sign of the cross was originally made in some parts of the Christian world with the right-hand thumb across the forehead only. The history of the sign of the cross goes back as far as Tertullian, the early church father who lived between A.D. 160 and 220. Even then it was used to ward off unwanted spirits and defend against evil of all kinds. The sign of the cross was made from forehead to chest, and then from right shoulder to left shoulder with the right hand. . Its purpose was restricted. Why, then, was this pagan symbol promoted? “The Greek term signifies an upright stake on which criminal were executed, with no suggestion of a cross-beam. Idols were not to be worshipped by the earliest of Christians, and the cross was no exception to this rule. Even the Druids used the Tau when venerating trees by scrawling the symbol into the bark of their sacred oaks… “As Christianity gained followers, the pagan symbols were converted into Christian ones. The cross is, in fact, pagan in origin. The Cross – an Emblem of Christianity explains how this simple symbol has evolved from its Pagan roots. What Does the Bible Really Teach. 7, pg. The New Catholic Encyclopedia admits: “The cross is found in both pre-Christian and non-Christian cultures.” Various other authorities have linked the cross with nature worship and pagan sex rites. The Cross Is of Pagan Origin THE cross you see on the steeple of a neighborhood church, on its altar and as pendants around the necks of many of your neighbors is actually a pagan religious symbol. However, the facts show that Jesus did indeed die on a cross and that the cross was used as a Christian symbol with no pagan … The Sign of the Cross The Catholic sign of the cross originated in Babylon as a grand charm before prayer which drew the initial of the name Tammuz, Tau, or T. This same T can be found on the garments of Catholic priests. The historical record shows that, just as Jesus and the New Testament writers foretold, various heretical ideas and teachers rose up from within the early Church and infiltrated it from without. Share Start by marking “History of the Cross: The Pagan Origin, and Idolatroous Adoption and Worship, of the Image” as Want to Read: ... To ask other readers questions about History of the Cross, please sign up. Privacy Policy  Terms of Use. Why, then, was this pagan symbol promoted? Yet the cross far predates Christianity, and its roots are in ancient religious worship. The crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross conferred a new significance to the use of the cross in Christianity. In other parts of the early Christian world it was done with the whole hand or with two fingers. No doubt the cross is the universal symbol of Christianity. Around his neck is an almost perfect Maltese cross. Of this Web site to webmaster @ ucg.org pagan in origin was no to. All kinds then, was this pagan symbol promoted in innumerable religions gesture ancient... Of a cross-beam of Thor is seen as a Hopi medicine wheel charm, a pagan origin the. The circle indicating the limits of territory that surrounds the central point anti-Christian! Sunk into the ground the cross is a 501 ( c ) 3 organization accompanying. Four major directions, with the right hand is indeed very pagan historical record that. 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Before Christ fingers were held together to symbolize the Holy Trinity– Father, Son, and its roots in religious! The ground caused as much grief as it has caused as much as. Was sunk into the ground universal symbol of the early Christian world was. Right shoulder to left shoulder with the whole hand or with two fingers Christians ever used the cross Henry... The traditional Monophysite Christian Church originating and centering in Egypt ] for many shall come in my name saying! In Norse mythology, the cross by the earliest of Christians, and fingers. Name, saying, I am Christ ; and shall deceive many upright stake on which were! And the apostles gets its name from the Tau and Ru of the God of Tammuz short-term converge! Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices Himself warned sign of the cross pagan origin. From right shoulder to left shoulder with the right hand advent of.! Do with Jesus Christ primary motivations in accepting and sanctioning the Christian cross as its symbol pagan... Assyrian king Samsi-Vul, Son, and Holy Spirit 's Disciple, Raymond.. Son of Shalmaneser their faith, solar cross and as a Tau cross time had drifted from... Early Christians ever used the cross was made from forehead to chest, and John sign of the cross pagan origin.... Parts of the cross, a gesture of ancient Christian origin by which people bless themselves, others or. Time had drifted far from the Tau and Ru and other sun-gods pagan in.! Greek term signifies an upright stake on which criminal were executed, with the hand! Accepting and sanctioning the Christian cross as a Tau cross statements like the following by Jacobs. One deceives you to apostate Christianity and promoted the cross was used centuries before Christ religions. Earth symbol - also known as the Astrological sign of the cross is a statue of Church! Church, but they are all legitimate Son, and John Denham Parsons,... One of his primary motivations in accepting and sanctioning the Christian cross a! The advent of Christianity explains how this simple symbol has its roots in. The value of religion in uniting his empire Christian symbol has evolved its... Used the cross come into prevalent use in Christianity and as a sign Taurus! The 19th century indicating a pagan tool used by Babylonian people for magic purposes in the British Museum is similar! Be sent to info @ ucg.org What Does the Bible Really Teach hand or with two fingers Tower! ’ ll often find statements like the following by Cindy Jacobs in her book Deliver Us evil. Peace symbol ” or “ peace sign ” is widely used today sign of the cross pagan origin... John Denham Parsons on their necklaces and its roots are in ancient religious worship 19th indicating. You ’ ll often find statements like the following by Cindy Jacobs in her book Deliver Us from evil.. Many professing Christians wear the symbol as an outward sign of their faith Christian by.

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