Bizarre Symbology...

[Boerseun]

We tend to take things for granted, but looking at it objectively, how bizarre is our religious symbology?

 

Wherever we see a cross, we know it to be a Christian symbol. Where that symbol appears on buildings, we assume it to be a church of some denomination. People even wear tiny crosses around their necks. But think about it for a minute: If Jesus lived today, would people 2,000 years from now wear tiny electric chairs around their necks? Or little nooses? After all, the cross might be a symbol of Jesus' Supreme Sacrifice, but it still is, ultimately, simply an execution device.

 

Also, we partake in Holy Communion. We drink wine which symbolises the blood of Christ, which he had when He was in human form. So we are actively simulating the drinking of human blood. Similarly, the wafers being the 'Flesh' of Christ, we are blinded by symbology which, in effect, boils down to cannibalism.

 

How primitive is this? Our (well, not our, but the Christian belief) is based upon human sacrifice. One guy had to die to make up for all the other guys' wrongs. So they pinned him to a cross, but at the end of the day the symbology boils down to human sacrifice. We tend to look down upon backwards tribal people who include human sacrifice in their belief systems.

 

We are not, not by a long shot, very far removed from our primitive selves.

 

How advanced are we really, and how do we explain the perpetuation of this silliness in the 21st century?

[Queso]

Right now, the human race's actions resemble those of your average teenager.

 

2012 marks our 18th birthday.

 

All these fools will die, and so will their children. Amen.

[Monomer]

You forgot the fish symbol. I see it on lots of cars. Jesus was a "fisher of men".

 

The Holy Communion is a reminder of the death and sacrifice of Jesus. During their last meal together, Jesus gave them the broken bread and wine and said that this was his body and blood, given to them. So in effect he was reminding them of his sacrifice. This is the general christian view, but as far as I know, the Catholics believe that the wine and wafers actually turn in to the blood and body of Jesus, which of course it doesn't. They have some strange ideas, but that view isn't accepted by christians.

 

Jesus' death isn't just a human sacrifice. It's the ultimate sacrifice that took on all the sins of the world. Previously the Jews were sacrificing animals as atonement for their sins, but that was no longer necessary when Jesus gave up his life. Only Jesus' sacrifice could do this because he was sinless. So the cross is a constant reminder to christians that Jesus paid the price and gave up his life so that they could have a relationship with God. The cross is viewed as a bridge that crossed the chasm between man and God.

 

I personally think that symbols aren't necessary and shouldn't be a focus, and they can become kind of like idols.