AIBU to not want to look like a Christian

[Todaytodaytodaytoday]

First of all, I have nothing against Christians. I have friends and family members of that faith, whom I respect and admire. My dilemma (if you can call it that) is that I was once given a beautiful gold necklace with a little crucifix on it. Not a big jesus-y one - just a solid gold cross with a pattern on it, with another smaller cross in front of that - not that big. The thing is, I love it and want to wear it, but on the odd occasion I do, I feel self-consious, believing people will assume I am religious. I don't know why this bothers me - I know it shouldn't - but I think it has something to do with identity and self-expression. It just feels wrong somehow. I don't want to be perceived as anything other than I am. Am I being silly?

It was nothing to do with you disagreeing and everything to do with the unsolicited AI tutorial.

I would assume someone wearing any kind of cross was a Christian, but wouldn't particularly care!

Would maybe think it a little odd if you weren't Chrisian yourself, but if I knew it was special for some other reason that'd explain it.

And I say this as a Christian (Anglican) who does sometimes wear a cross.

AI? LOL. Nope, I'm actually a writer. And that post took me about three minutes of my life.

I am Christian and don't where a cross. I am married and don't wear a ring.

I would reiterate other poster responses.
No one would really care, just do what you want to do.

I did recently discover that 'church merch' is a thing. Every day is a learning day.

I wear a saint Christopher and I'm not at all religious. Its a fancy expensive one and it looks cool, there's no other reason than that.

..googling ..'church merch'

Exactly. I totally see your point on your messages.
In Egypt, someone named Mohamed may not be a practicing Muslim, same as a Brit named John may not be from a Christian family. Etc

I would assume someone wearing a cross was Christian unless the rest of their outfit was very gothy. I wouldn't wear a cross for that reason.

I’d assume someone would wear a cross as a symbol of their belief. I wouldn’t care or treat them any differently because of it.

That you'll never get back.

I’d never assume someone wearing a cross is religious, actually where I generally see crosses (eg some tattoos) I assume the person would have strongly anti Christian views!!

I completely disagree with you. I grew up in a country where Christianity is the norm (UK) but I would never, ever, wear a cross. If I did, my family, who follow a different religion, would be absolutely horrified. (I am an atheist.) I don’t think a St. Christopher has as much religious connotation.
Other than teenage Goths, I have never met anyone who chose to wear a cross who wasn’t a a Christian.

I've got a gorgeous white gold and (very tiny) diamond cross necklace that DH bought me as a wedding gift. He brought it because I have always had a thing for crosses despite being agnostic (then) / atheist (now) - mainly due to a slight obsession with vampire lore.

I don't really wear necklaces these days, but I used to wear it all the time - it was very small but if anyone did notice and comment / ask whether I was religious or why I wore it, I just used to tell them I wore it to protect against vampires (tongue in cheek of course)

I would assume anyone wearing a cross was a Christian. As an atheist I wouldn’t wear one, no matter how nice it was. I wouldn’t ever want to be perceived as religious. It’s clear you DO have a problem with Christians otherwise you wouldn’t care if someone mistook you for one. It’s ok to admit having a problem with religion. I dislike any organised religion and wouldn’t want to be seen as supportive of it in any way, especially if I was perceived as Catholic. There’s plenty of nice necklaces that aren’t crosses

So what? The OP's question was an interesting one, and I've enjoyed reading people's responses and considering my own thoughts on the matter.

Happy to while away a few minutes on that, especially while I'm sitting here in a hospital waiting room with fuck-all else to do. I've got no chance of concentrating on my book, due to a TV being on and a man sitting behind me having the world's loudest phone conversation, so a rumination on religious symbols and cultural norms has been as a good a way to spend a few minutes as any.

The cross that Jesus died on was a method of execution. Unless you believe in what they stands for (redemption and a new life), seems really daft to me, to wear it. You wouldn’t go around with a gold electric chair on a chain! And as others have pointed out, you’re unlikely to wear a hijab unless you’re Muslim.

You can obviously do whatever you want but it seems odd to wear the symbols of a faith if you don’t believe in that faith.

I’m not religious, but still admit to coveting a SiL’s* cross that is set with emeralds. If anyone gave me one like that I’d wear it and not give a toss what anyone thought.
*Sil is a practising Catholic.

Have it made into a pendant or don't wear it, if it makes you feel uncomfortable.

I think it's okay to be mistaken for a Christian but to keep them guessing you could add star of David, crescent moon and Om charms. It would create a coexist in peace vibe too.

This.

It already is a pendant. Do you mean make it into something other than crosses? I'm not sure how that would work.

I'd assume you were Christian if I saw you wearing a cross. It's a weird thing to wear as a fashion statement, I don't know any atheists who'd wear one.

Keep it for sentimental reasons, but be aware that most people will assume you are Christian if they notice it. That's not a bad thing, surely?

Well it's a Christian symbol and recognised as that so if you wear it, I assume some people will think you're a Christian. Does it matter? The people who know you will know you're not religious.

It's not a bad thing. It's just not me.

It's not like OP went out and boight it. It was a thoughtful and pretty present.

Just wear it