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What do Christians make of the crosses at the Tommy Robinson march?

176 replies

noblegiraffe · 17/05/2026 11:46

I'm an atheist so my reaction is 'co-opting the imagery of the Crusades because these people hate Muslims'. But it's not my religion and not my imagery.

What do Christians think about the huge amount of wooden crosses being available for protesters on the Tommy Robinson march to pick up and march with?

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NanFlanders · 17/05/2026 14:10

BluebellShmoobell · 17/05/2026 13:46

How are they far right? Have you ever been on one of the marches? You've no idea what your talking about. Are you going to condemn the free Palestine March where they were calling for tommy to be shot in the neck like charlie kirk, regardless of what you think of him thats an incite to violence.

I've attended a counter protest. I stood with other Christians in a silent protest at the appropriation of our faith by people preaching what appears to me to be the opposite of Christian principles. If I heard someone calling for anyone to be shot in the neck I'd argue with them of course. If they said they were calling for violence in Jesus' name though, that would be even more offensive to Christians. (I imagine observant Moslems and Jews feel the same when extremists appropriate their faith to do evil.)

MushMonster · 17/05/2026 14:30

I spotted them straight away and it makes me feel a bit worried, to be honest.
Perfectly normal to feel closer to faith when something is amiss, and maybe that is why they carry crosses. But I am very wary of relating religion to political movements. I am done with Trump "christian" claims, for example.
It is all about the intent and feeling of the person carrying it. So, really if you actually follow Christianity, it is not for us to judge.

Justmadesourkraut · 17/05/2026 14:30

Deeply saddened by it, as it is being used to give validity to a political viewpoint, and the cross is above that. It shows the love of God for all people, everywhere . . .

The reformed church does not often use crosses, because they can become confusing, like lucky charms, for some - a focus in their own right. As Christians we don't look to a statue or carving made from wood or metal, we look to Jesus for the truth, and he was, as pointed out above, a refugee, who went on to sit with the outcasts and the oppressed, and who always put the hurt and the lonely at the center of his ministry.

Interested in this thread?

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mindutopia · 17/05/2026 14:46

White Christian nationalism has long been a thing. Racists love it (even though they don’t really understand Christianity or practice it, bit like how they all love the bloody flag but I don’t see them rushing to sign up to the Army or Navy or whatever). I’m sure proper (non racist) Christians find it as offensive as the rest of us do (I’m Jewish so can’t speak for the Christians).

I think there are a lot of morons doing it for shock and because they saw a YouTube video. I was coming from a day out today with my dc and they saw a confederate flag sticker on the back of a car and asked what it was for. It’s a bit like that. I’m half American, grew up there, I know very well what the confederate flag represents. I suspect whatever moron put that on the back of their Subaru 🙄 probably really does not. But did it for shock value.

ZenNudist · 17/05/2026 14:54

Nothing new about religion being used as a front for hatred and oppression. The crusades are a good example.

It's common to blame religion for wars but the wars would be started anyway. Religion or freedom or democracy or other high minded ideals used to obscure the venal self interest underlying.

Araminta1003 · 17/05/2026 14:56

As Christians, we aren’t meant to judge anyone, including the yobs. As they too are lost marginalised souls trying to find a community (like all the other ministries on the march). Before they find their way back to God through Christ, they have to find a community first. And if they need to use the cross we hope they somehow find their way to God through Christ.
At least that is the official line.
We also condemn racism, hate etc, violence, of course.

LizzieW1969 · 17/05/2026 14:58

tomatoesofresh · 17/05/2026 14:07

People are worried about immigration. Well, Christianity is the answer.

We can evangelise to Muslims, we can live side by side peacefully with those who don't want to become Christian.

Muslims aren't vampires. Most of them commit very little crime in the UK, even compared to other immigrant groups. They are people of the book, after all.

We can evangelise with Christ on our side, not with racists. The church is already growing due to African immigrants.

The grooming gangs were made up of men not adhering to their own faith. If they had been, they would not have done such bad things. We can't label all Muslims groomers like we can't label all white men colonisers, or Palestinians terrorists, or Israelis terrorists, or anything like that.

I think Christ may lead us out of here but first we need to shed tribalism. We need more sensible border enforcement but in the meantime we need less aggression and singling out different groups like mobs with pitchforks and more bridge building.

^I agree with everything you’ve said here.

theworldisadarkplace · 17/05/2026 14:59

chisanunian · 17/05/2026 13:17

Wooden crosses at a far-right march? It's not Christian imagery, it's KKK.

Yes, this is the first thought I had when I saw the crosses.

MarkingBad · 17/05/2026 14:59

"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Luke 6:37

You can't tell peoples faith by looking at them, by what they do, or what they say, or what they think. There have been a growing number of Christians who do not feel their church is Christian anymore so don't attend, it doesn't stop us practising our faith in private. If that means I'm not Christian in peoples eyes that's entirely up to them but they do not control my mind or know my beliefs.

It is easy to conflate a symbol with faith but it doesn't make it so, there are many types of crosses in Christianity as there are crosses to bear in life. The cross is just a symbol, it is not the faith, it is used both wrongly and rightly throughout the ages. That situation is never going to stop but it doesn't matter because true faith is worth more than a symbol. That's why I am not going to make assumptions or condemn anyone for their actions with a cross yesterday, faith is very personal, and not for me to act as judge.

LizzieW1969 · 17/05/2026 15:00

theworldisadarkplace · 17/05/2026 14:59

Yes, this is the first thought I had when I saw the crosses.

^Me, too, it was uncomfortably similar to the KKK. Nothing whatsoever to do with the message of Jesus at all, completely the opposite in fact.

MaidsRoom · 17/05/2026 15:01

Christian nationalism is a contradiction in terms. Jesus was famously (and highly provocatively) uninterested in Jewish nationalism despite being a Jew. He was equally uninterested in the Roman Empire despite living and dieing in it. Christianity is for everyone, everywhere, and if you think that Jesus is a partisan supporter of your country or ethnic group or political party then you clearly haven’t understood.

TreesandGreen · 17/05/2026 15:18

I'm a Christian, and I was repulsed when I saw the crosses.
Jesus was a homeless Palestinian man who opposed nationalism and sectarianism; and who preached inclusion and peace.

The far right marches are totally unholy happenings.

Not in my name.

bigblondewig · 17/05/2026 15:18

❤Christ, a refugee, our Prince of Peace, a beloved Jew loved by Muslims alongside Mary, should not be used as a symbol of hate. Christ is also forgiving, and who are we to say whether everyone holding the cross was doing so with Islamophobic intentions. Christ is for everyone. Does anyone know who supplied the crosses?

I am a bit shocked by the lack of empathy for the English, Welsh and Scottish people about rapid demographic change. It is historically unusual and would not be tolerated in most countries, and quite violently opposed at that. I myself am worried, and not even about Islam but general chaos, crime and decline.

At the same time, part of the current situation we've found ourselves in stems from Christian ethics that have contributed to it. I do not see an easy way to reconcile this and am personally struggling.

I attended the event and found every group I encountered (civnats, ethnats, pro immigrant groups) to be made up of mostly friendly people. If you take anything from this, take that away. Friendly, broken people trying to make sense of the world.

My conclusion is the UK is fragmented beyond recognition. There are so many ideologies and identities flying around at once, it makes the landscape hard to read and difficult to find "your people." It is very confusing.

My innate sense is that it is untenable and that eventually people will form into groups just for sanity and stabilise there. They may be religious, ethnic, or ideological.

A helpful encapsulation of this cacophony is something I saw on Twitter: Black users arguing over the event. One side was calling the other "Uncle Toms" for siding with "racists"; the other described themselves as British patriots. Then white users intervened intermittently, either claiming black people cannot be British, or expressing preference for patriotic Black people over English/Welsh/Scottish liberals. 🤣😲❤ what a time.

PeachOctopus · 17/05/2026 15:55

Wherever they are in the world Christians are persecuted by other ethnic groups.
Islamic terrorists are burning entire Christian and Alawite villages in Syria.
Christians are being massacred in Nigeria.

Christians are already a minority in the UK, less than 50% and shrinking and they have a right to march to defend their religion just as any other group- Jews, Muslims etc. do.

I think people are really objecting to the fact that the rally is seen through a class lens, working classes must be put back in our place by our ‘betters’.

www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/world-watch-list/

noblegiraffe · 17/05/2026 16:06

GentleSheep · 17/05/2026 12:33

As a Christian, yes it is uncomfortable in many respects to see them. I agree with the PP who said it reminded her of LARPing. Of course I'm delighted if people have a genuine faith in Christianity and I do know people online who have gone to that march and are real Christians. It isn't my cup of tea though. And although I know TR has recently become a Christian, he has a long way to go in terms of Christian maturity, and I hope he really does mature, but he's not there yet. The chants, the bacon, it's unnecessary and damages the image of Christianity.

Do you believe that Robinson's turn to Christianity is actually genuine?

I thought it was because if you want to yell 'Britain is a Christian Country' at Muslims, it might sound slightly better if you, yourself, claim to be Christian.

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idontmatter123 · 17/05/2026 16:09

Mumandcarer80 · 17/05/2026 12:42

I don’t believe most of those with a cross dragged their sorry arses out of bed this morning or any other Sunday morning to attend church.😂😂😂

As a lot of Christians don't

idontmatter123 · 17/05/2026 16:09

noblegiraffe · 17/05/2026 16:06

Do you believe that Robinson's turn to Christianity is actually genuine?

I thought it was because if you want to yell 'Britain is a Christian Country' at Muslims, it might sound slightly better if you, yourself, claim to be Christian.

He's always been Christian

noblegiraffe · 17/05/2026 16:13

idontmatter123 · 17/05/2026 16:09

He's always been Christian

There were newspaper articles about how he was 'led to Christ' by a pastor in prison last year. He came out wearing a rosary around his neck (performative, you don't wear them as necklaces).

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MissyB1 · 17/05/2026 16:15

idontmatter123 · 17/05/2026 16:09

He's always been Christian

He might call himself that but he clearly is not a follower of Jesus Christ’s word.

PercyPigsAreOverRated · 17/05/2026 16:15

It doesn't match the Christianity I know @and love. They might claim to be Christian, but they don't speak for me

In the same way terrorists using Islam as an excuse don't represent my Muslim friends.

WonderfulSmith · 17/05/2026 16:20

BluebellShmoobell · 17/05/2026 13:48

In my opinion theres nothing Tommy Robinson has said that is worse than the men who have raped, tortured and in some cases murdered heaven knows how many women and girls

Good job no white born and bred British men have ever done that. There was no rape or murder before the immigrants arrived…

idontmatter123 · 17/05/2026 16:23

MushMonster · 17/05/2026 14:30

I spotted them straight away and it makes me feel a bit worried, to be honest.
Perfectly normal to feel closer to faith when something is amiss, and maybe that is why they carry crosses. But I am very wary of relating religion to political movements. I am done with Trump "christian" claims, for example.
It is all about the intent and feeling of the person carrying it. So, really if you actually follow Christianity, it is not for us to judge.

Do you not feel worried by Muslims who refuse your food unless it's blessed by their god. Or a lot of other social Norms because it's not how they want to live?

Yet you have issues with Christians carrying a cross?

MushMonster · 17/05/2026 16:25

I also think we should not brush all those attending or supporting any group under general derogatory qualificatives.
I think UK citizens are under massive stress. They work hard, follow the rules and pay a big amount in taxes. From income and council tax, road tax and VAT. Amonsgt others.
But the service we get back is lesser and lesser each day. People have issues to see the GP, their specialist, their medication, potholes gallore, and a long long list of grievances.
Potholes were quite up in the list related to prior demonstrations. And that makes full on sense to me.
Anyone brushing these issues as far right racist thugs (a common one used) is creating more division.
Yes, some of the organisers, and maybe attendees, have proven to be racists. But we cannot dismiss thousands of people protesting just like this.
There has to be a reason.
I, personally, think the reason is that politicians (the so called Stablishment) is failing to find lasting solutions and just applying patches here and there. They are losing the trust of the citizens and contact with reality.
They should listen, put themselves in the shoes of the citizen. Just brushing it all aside as far right racist thugs, for thousands, which include families, is just ballooning the problem. The opposite of constructive. Irresponsible and dangerous.

MushMonster · 17/05/2026 16:26

idontmatter123 · 17/05/2026 16:23

Do you not feel worried by Muslims who refuse your food unless it's blessed by their god. Or a lot of other social Norms because it's not how they want to live?

Yet you have issues with Christians carrying a cross?

Where did I say that I have issues with Christians carrying a cross?
Read it again.

noblegiraffe · 17/05/2026 16:27

These crosses are definitely performative crosses.

For those who think the Tommy Robinson march was for expressing dissatisfaction with politicians, NHS waiting lists and potholes: What do you think the crosses were for?

What do Christians make of the crosses at the Tommy Robinson march?
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