AIBU to not want to look like a Christian

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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?

You're being ridiculous.
I'm Catholic, but don't 'look it', as I'm covered in tattoos. I very much doubt me wearing my cross makes people think "Christian!"
If it's a piece of jewellery that makes you feel somehow 'other', then it really is simple enough to just not wear it.

OP would probably be chill with people thinking she sacrifices virgins and goats to the dreadlords by the light of a full moon.

It's Christianity that gives her the fear.

Yes but she HAS got christian family and friends. Now where have we heard that rhetoric before? 🤔

This is clearly a goady thread that someone has started, but the comments you have responded to are just taking the mickey out of the devil worshiper comment, as though most people would have one in their friendship group.

Your response makes no sense?
Rhetoric about devil worshippers? Rhetoric about having Christian family and friends?

Anyway, I'm starting to feel like I have my very own, bonafide stalker 😂See you soon I'm sure!!

Yes there seems to be a few threads popping up lately in regards to Christianity...... Are we the latest hate target. At least the Jews are having a break I suppose.

No. You aren’t. HTH.

Wow.

I would assume you were very religious if I saw you wearing a cross and chain

Another goth. I wear crosses, no one has said anything.

Memory unlocked, thanks! As a teen I wore a chunky silver cross on a black leather band as part of the 90s gothy style I liked. Was also a Buffy fan.

I get it. Probs worth just wearing a different necklace really.

If you like it, wear it. Never mind what orher people think.

This reminds me of the time I was doing my best to be an edgy 15 year old goth and accidentally bought a Star of David necklace thinking it was a pentagram.

Not sure what the “wow” is for. I was responding to the poster asking whether Christians were “the latest hate target” by saying “No, they aren’t”

A lot of Christians will see it as cultural appropriation and would rather you not wear their symbol as some sort of cute, aesthetic accessory.
But since your reluctancy to wear it isn’t even based on how Christians feel, just about the fact you don’t want to be perceived as one, then I definitely wouldn’t wear it if I was you.

Well the snarky HTH didn't exactly show a reassuring stance.

Ah, right. That’s because I do find Christians in the UK claiming to be persecuted a little irritating.

Just Christians? That's interesting.

Just wear it if you like it. I'd probably think you were Christian but who cares? I have a crucifix on my wall because it has sentimental family value and for no other reason. The last time I was near a church was ten years ago, for a wedding.

Goths wear crosses all the time. Loads of people wear them, for all sorts of reasons. When you see someone wearing a cross do you say to yourself "oh look, another church-going Christian!" I doubt you even notice half the people wearing crosses around you.

Wear your cross if you want to, for any reason you want to. I doubt anyone gives it a second thought.

Actually, the only people I can think of who might notice are born again Christians and jehovas witnesses. This is good, as wearing a cross means they're more likely to leave you alone as they won't need to "save" you.

I would assume you were a Christian. I wouldn't care, but that would be my assumption.
I'd sell it and buy a different necklace personally.

The OP is presumably culturally Christian, in which case wearing a cross and not being religious is like getting married in a church and not being religious - something that lots of people are comfortable doing

To me, a cross worn by a goth is costume jewelery, a cross worn otherwise is religious

No. Anyone appropriating persecution/discrimination.

I couldn't disassociate the meaning of the symbol from whatever you find aesthetically pleasing about it as a piece of jewellery.

I wouldn't wear a Star of David, however pretty, because it has religious and cultural meaning that it wouldn't feel right for me, as a non-Jew, to be wearing. I wouldn't wear a CND symbol if I didn't want to suggest I was sympathetic to CND.

I think a cross is a really odd thing to wear if you are not Christian.