How Many Crosses Does a Family Need…?

Maybe it’s like those old ladies who collect ceramic cow knicknacks or cat-themed wall clocks. Except spookier, because no matter how horrible a kitschy porcelain heifer might be, it couldn’t be called an instrument of execution. A crucifix has rather… unfortunate implications. I’m reminded of the “If Jesus were executed 20 years ago, all the good little boys and girls would be wearing electric chair pendants” joke.

I think that you are making too much of this, Hemant. In this case, the display of different sorts of crosses is as much an artistic display as a religious one (for all we know, perhaps even more so).

I have seen on some people’s walls or shelves various sorts of displays, such as weapons or fantasy creature pewter figurines; my dad, an engineer, even used to have a display of calculating devices on his office wall (an abacus, a slide rule, and a pocket calculator). None of these displays had anything to do with religion. But if religion is important to someone, it makes sense to decorate one’s home in a way that reflects that importance aesthetically.

~David D.G.

When I look at situations like this, it makes total sense to me, if I pretend that I were Christian.

If I honestly and really truly believed that a man in the sky sent his son down from heaven to die on a cross and save me from an eternity — ETERNITY!!! — of Hell and that I was going to spend FOREVER in PERFECT HAPPINESS with Him, you better f#$%ing believe I’d have a ton of crosses up on every wall. I’d wear a cross, put crosses on my car, and leave crosses on other people’s cars.

I have to disagree with Hitchens on this one: if I honestly thought that Christianity was more than a total crock of absolute horse manure, I’d be pretty damn happy about it. Sure, this life would totally suck in every imaginable way, but that’s nothing compared to an eternity of bliss.

But since I think it’s all a sham, all that’s on my wall is an American flag and a poster of Led Zeppelin.

My mom has a wall just like that. Although the crosses are religiously significant for her, it really is mostly for decoration. Because Christianity is so popular, it is easy to find many different styles of crosses to collect and display.

If it were possible to go to a store and have 2 or 3 dozen different styles of atheist symbols to choose from, I might have a wall similar to this.

Ok, normally I’d find that many crosses a bit odd, but the consensus here seems to be that its a collection and may not even have the same context we would otherwise associate with it. In the same way one might ask Jay Leno how many cars he needs or an NRA-type how many guns they need, its not about need. Fair enough, I’ll bite:

Typically, the Christian cross that we are most familiar with is a simple “†” – no more, no less.

The Nordic cross is a sideways “†” used in many flags – while the mythical origins of the flag involve a god of some sort, its interesting to note that the countries that still use the Nordic cross also tend to be more socialist/no religion bent.

More stylized crosses such as Gothic or Celtic have become associated with certain sects of Christianity, such as in Ireland or Egypt.

The Sun cross is a plus sign in a circle that represented the Medicine Wheel of Life.

There are also several versions of ankhs (I cannot find a text representation) which, to most, would look simply like stylized crosses with handles but in fact pre-date Christianity and were symbols used by the ancient Egyptians to signify life. It was later co-opted by Christians.

This is a short list, there are many different versions in addition to these. All that said, I see only one possible crucifix (“†” with “Jesus” on it) in the far right corner, and the rest look Gothic or Celtic to me. Thats not to say this family doesn’t think of them as Christian symbols, but its not something we should worry about.

P.S. I’ve always been fascinated by crosses, in much the same way I am fascinated by cathedral architecture. I very well may end up with a collection someday, but they wouldn’t carry the Christian context for me. A collection is a collection, we should all be able to appreciate art without worrying about deeper meaning.

P.P.S. As a fan of Metallica, Lars Ulrich (I know, he’s an ass, bear with me) once said that some people take a stack of money and put it in the bank, he takes a stack of money and puts it on the wall (referring to buying paintings). So, let’s appreciate the collection for what it is until proven otherwise.

I’m glad most people here could tell the difference between a fanatical shrine and a classy collection. I admit, I’d be a bit intimidated if I went to a friend’s house and saw that on the wall, but not much more than if it were a collection of Buddha statues.

Microbiologychick wrote:

If it were possible to go to a store and have 2 or 3 dozen different styles of atheist symbols to choose from, I might have a wall similar to this.

Either that, or you could just leave the wall blank.

;^D

~David D.G.

When decorating the dining room the Jeffcoat family chose crosses as their theme. The kitchen features Iron Maidens and the study has electric chairs. Every room has a different symbol of torture or execution.

I think it’s quite possible that they’re insanely religious christian fanatics, considering the situation in the US right now.
However, the wall of crosses doesn’t demonstrate that. Like others here, I think it’s perfectly possible that they are collectors of crosses. Even if you don’t believe in an imaginary friend, it’s undeniable that the cross has become a culturally influential icon, making this wall a very educational piece of art.

Almost as educational and classy as my wall of swords from the movie Lord of the Rings….

It looks like 18 crosses on the wall, since that circular one also appears to be a cross. It’s almost like an 18-eyed (cross-eyed?) wall of Lord Sauron, keeping the pious followers in line. And then there are the 6 obligatory necklace crosses, of course.

Also, that blob on the right side appears to be the end of a cross arm (the cross’ hand?), so set the count at 19.

Anyway, Jesus Fucking Christ, that’s a lot of crosses!

Nth person with a non-religious family member with wall of crosses.

Maybe if the FSM wasn’t so dang ugly…

Everyone seems to be focussing on the numerous crosses rather than the fact that the young guy in the middle at the back seems to have a much larger (salad based) dinner than everyone else.

What can we read into that? Is he another vegetarian atheist?

I wouldn’t mind hanging that display and I’m so not christian. It’s just aesthetically pleasing as a grouping. 1 cross = religious. 20 crosses = interior decorator.

[apologies to ye & yers if 5 comments show up from me]

It’s clear that he’s in the process of converting his dining room into an arena for battling vampires.

Yep. Though it is odd that the symbols of execution have becone so common (it feels normal to see a cross), it’s harmless.

It doesn’t reek of other things that bother me in the homes of Christians such as a huge, very anglo-looking picture of Jesus or a copy of James Dobsons “Bringing Up Boys” (or any Dobson book for that matter).

I seem to recall hearing that Ozzy Osbourne collected crosses at one point. I have a number displayed, sure they were collected when I was still a Christian, but I still find them aesthetically pleasing so I keep them.

Why do people want to have daily reminders of an instrument of torture and an agonising death?

Because they have a sickness of the mind called religion.

How sad that many of you who commented find it necessary to make fun (with vulgar language also) of people who are Christian. Please think of what you are giving up by not accepting the very thing that could lead to eternal life. If a Christian dies and he is wrong the only thing that might have happened is that he lead hopefully a better life here on earth. When an athesist dies, if, indeed Christianity is true, unfortunately he has lost his hope for eternity with God.

Praying for you and please don’t make fun of prayer. Thank you.

Louise