Progressive Christianity: The Many Different Meaning of The Crosses Many Believers Wear

The Celtic cross, a pre-Christian symbol which was later amalgamated with the Christian crucifix. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are many different kinds of crosses someone can wear to express their Christian faith. The design of the crosses has different symbolic meanings the most common of course is the style of the empty cross symbolizing the resurrected Christ.

Crucifixes are many times elaborate pendants worn by more orthodox Christians. There are actually variations of cross styles that reflect certain aspects of the Christian faith. If you dig a little deeper into the various styles of crosses available you can find one that uniquely expresses your faith.

The Anchor Cross

The Anchor Cross was an Egyptian symbol that early Christians adopted as a faith symbol . This of course was poplar with Christian seafarers and was associated with the Apostles. The symbolism is tied to Christ ,the fisher of Men" and the Church as the arc of Salvation.

The Celtic cross

The Celtic cross also goes by the name of the Cross of Iona. It was a sign worn by the early Christians in Britannia. It follows the design of the Latin cross but has the addition of a small circle at the arms cross section. It expresses a belief in Celtic Christian values with include a love of nature, knowledge of the presence of God, and spiritual equality of women.

The Crucifix

The Crucifix is a Latin cross with the image of the Crucified Christ. The carved image of Jesus can be very detailed in its design. This cross tends to reflect the wearers focus on the Passion of Christ and the devotion to a more orthodox Catholic faith .

The Latin cross

The basic design of the Latin cross is simple. It is an empty Christ which some wear to show a Protestant emphasis on the Resurrected Christ.It can be accented with things like a Dove descending through the middle representing the Holy Spirit or a heart in the center representing the Sacred Heart. Some use the Christian symbols of the Alpha and Omega on these crosses. The symbolic additions to this simply cross are almost endless.

MacKinnon's Cross, is a shaft of a Celtic cross, found on the island of Iona. The cross has an inscription in Latin, which translated means: "This is the cross of Lachlan MacKinnon and his son John, Abbot of Hy, made in the Year of Our Lord 1489." (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This article does not begin to cover the variations of Crosses that can be chosen by believers. These crosses of course can be made from gold , silver, wood or any type of material . The choice of material like a wooden cross that emphasizes simplicity of faith can reflect a wearer's faith as well. Popular today are crosses that are like lockets and contain miniature scriptures that can only be read with a magnifying glass. Some people carry sand or soil from a holy site inside of the cross that they were. The options for personalizing the cross you wear are as unique as your faith.