Intersection

Motar

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Jun 18, 2013
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It's a symbol primarily associated with Christianity these days and in that context can be seen on buildings, signs, posters, monuments, and books, among other places, and is common in jewellery, but it long predates Christianity as a symbol of various other superstitions all over Europe and Asia, probably because it's a simple shape relatively easy to incise on or create from a variety of materials. It's a symbol associated with the Sumerian deity Tammuz, the Persian Mithras, and the little known Greek deity Attis, all of whom reportedly died and were resurrected.
Yes, it is a symbol on banners and flags today, DS.
 

Motar

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The red cross is a symbol used by the Red Cross organization to represent disaster relief.
 

Tecumsehsbones

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The red cross is a symbol used by the Red Cross organization to represent disaster relief.
Which was done in recognition of Switzerland's contributions to humanitarian relief. The Red Cross flag is the Swiss flag with the colours reversed.

In Islamic countries, it's a red crescent.

And the Swiss flag? It's the Calvinist cross. John Calvin, a leader of the Protestant Reformation, operated from Basel and Geneve.
 

Motar

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Which was done in recognition of Switzerland's contributions to humanitarian relief. The Red Cross flag is the Swiss flag with the colours reversed.

In Islamic countries, it's a red crescent.

And the Swiss flag? It's the Calvinist cross. John Calvin, a leader of the Protestant Reformation, operated from Basel and Geneve.
There is quite a bit of history and meaning associated with this symbol, TB.
 

Dexter Sinister

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Oct 1, 2004
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Yes, and every educated person knows that, why did you even have to ask where we've seen it and what it means to us? I've no idea what your point is here. Your usual pattern is to ask a question most of us already know the answer to, then provide your own answer and use it for didactic and witnessing purposes about your religious beliefs without really responding seriously to anybody, but I don't yet see where this one might be going.
 
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Motar

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The green cross is a symbol for pharmaceutical provision and environmental protection in Western nations.
 

Motar

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What about this symbol makes it so versatile and meaningful in the Western world?
 

Motar

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The second of the top three United States military awards for valor are crosses - the Distinguished Service, Navy and Air Force crosses.
 

Motar

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To recap, some of the meaning ascribed to the cross symbol in our culture today includes Red Cross relief, blue cross insurance, green cross provision and protection, and military cross valor.

Where else have you encountered this cross symbol and what other meaning is associated with it?
 

Tecumsehsbones

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To recap, some of the meaning ascribed to the cross symbol in our culture today includes Red Cross relief, blue cross insurance, green cross provision and protection, and military cross valor.

Where else have you encountered this cross symbol and what other meaning is associated with it?
Early versions of the Celtic cross pre-date Christianity.
 

Motar

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Historically, the cross symbolized the suffering and shame of crucifixion, a practice ascribed first to ancient Phoenicians. How did the meaning of the cross change from historical suffering and shame to relief, insurance, provision, protection and valor in our day?
 

Tecumsehsbones

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Historically, the cross symbolized the suffering and shame of crucifixion, a practice ascribed first to ancient Phoenicians. How did the meaning of the cross change from historical suffering and shame to relief, insurance, provision, protection and valor in our day?
Excellent PR.

Nice cherry-pick on the Phoenicians, by the way. I'm sure you're going somewhere with this, though it's a rather drawn-out argumentum ad populam.

I might point out that for centuries, Jews viewed the cross with dread, given the conduct of people who marched under it.
 

Motar

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Excellent PR.

Nice cherry-pick on the Phoenicians, by the way. I'm sure you're going somewhere with this, though it's a rather drawn-out argumentum ad populam.

I might point out that for centuries, Jews viewed the cross with dread, given the conduct of people who marched under it.
Agree, TB. The ancient Hebrew view was a negative one:

“If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse” (Deuteronomy 21:22-23a, NIV).
 

Tecumsehsbones

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Agree, TB. The ancient Hebrew view was a negative one:

“If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse” (Deuteronomy 21:22-23a, NIV).
Are you implying that Jews deserved the pogroms?
 

Motar

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A friend pointed out that the “plus” sign in mathematics is another positive use of this symbol in our day.