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?

Does it? Culturally? I mean, yes, it’s a fashion item but I think a small gold cross is clearly not that.

The UK can hardly be described as Christian anymore. From 2011 to 2021 the percentage of people who identified as Christian went down from 59% to 46%. So the majority of British people are not Christians.

Yes I know that, but as it has a state religion it is a Christian country and is highly unlikely to ever persecute those who practice what is the state religion. Quite aside from the fact that all faiths and beliefs are protected in the Equality Act.

The way I read the thread, I don’t think
anyone, including the Christians, would mind you wearing it. They are just saying what they, personally, would or would not do.And the assumptions they might make about your own beliefs, which you have said you don’t mind. So I say go for it!

Ooh-what’s an atheist symbol?

That Little Darwin symbol it's like a fish on legs. I've seen it on the back of cars 😂

I used a bespoke jewellery designer. I don’t think an ordinary jewellery shop would offer this service. My gold was all 24ct and honestly looks beautiful.

Google ‘bespoke jewellery remodel’ and I’m sure you’d find someone. Happy to PM you the name of mine. She has a big presence on FB and Instagram and has won some prestigious industry awards. 👌🏻

Well yeah, you'll find crosses amongst fashion jewellery in high street stores, I doubt most buying these are connecting it with religion particularly.

There's also the cultural legacy of Christianity being the dominant religion for hundreds of years. I have a cross that belonged to my granny. It would have had religious significance for her, but me wearing it is about my connection to her, not religion.

I would presume someone wearing a cross was a Christian, yes. Not necessarily a very observant one, but yes, I would think a Christian of some sort.

That’s not an atheist symbol-you can be an atheist and not believe in evolution-and a Christian and believe in it. Quite fancy a fish with legs pendant, though…….😀

I've seen fish symbols on cars ( I can't remember if they had legs or not) but I thought the fish was definitely a Christian symbol? (Fishers of men etc)

I’d also assume you were a Christian

It's usually an A surrounded by a swirly thing? Have a Google!

Yes the fish symbol is a Christian symbol so the fish with legs is like a kind of darwinion mockery of that if that makes sense as far as I'm aware x

@curlewkate

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/709624914/atheism-1quantum-necklacescientific?ls=a&gaorder=most

This sort of thing

But tbh, the existence of such a necklace isn't really the point. I was agreeing with the op that I wouldn't want to wear a symbol of something which was completely contrary to my beliefs hanging round my neck. Do you not agree with that or are you just really keen to buy an atheist necklace?

Op, you are absolutely not going to offend anyone, least of all Christians! It sounds like a lovely cross that means a lot to you, someone meant you to wear it, so if you want to, you should! Getting it remodelled is a great idea if you don't like it, but you clearly do, so I think you might regret it.

Look at how many men wear st Christopher medals, do you think they're all devoted church goers? It's a cultural thing thats passed down the generations, and there's nothing wrong with that, no one has a problem with it.

Thank you-that is really nice! It has a Star Trekky vibe that I like. But no-I don’t really want to wear an atheist symbol-I tend to resist anything that tries to lump us together when really we have nothing in common except a lack of belief in a god or gods. I know that there are people
who want us to be like a faith group-but we’re not!

There are indeed! Some have atheist tattoos and everything. I find it as weird as you do tbh, but different strokes and all that... You could just get the atomic swirly thing on its own if you like the necklace.

They may not go to church but still consider themselves Christians.

If Jesus comes back do people think he's going to want to see crosses everywhere?
Would be like wearing a rifle pendant to commemorate JFK.

I would assume that anyone wearing a religious symbol adheres to that religion ... so yes, I'd assume you were a Christian

This us the 4th post ive seen now viewing the significance of the cross through a narrow lens. Not only is it insulting but its pure ignorance. You really think the cross only signifies death?

The cross signifies the resurrection of Jesus, rather than his death. That's the point of Christianity.

I wear a large, obvious cross every day. The cross is more obvious than my Christianity - that's a work in progress. People do stare, and you can 'see' them making assumptions. However, if I'm not labelled with my cross, people assume I'm a Muslim. I got hassled after Southport, and have been previously accused of supporting ISIS. People are so lacking in knowledge and so confident they can do or say what they like. So my cross is multi-purpose - it protects me from Islamophobic abuse, it reminds me of who I am supposed to be even if I don't make it, and it's my label so I get directed to heaven when I die. ;)

I don't know, OP. If it makes you uncomfortable, don't wear your cross. But if you want to wear it, don't let other people's thoughts stop you. They're probably thinking 'Oh, that looks nice. Where can I get one?'

I’m sorry you’ve been the object of bigotry, and I understand why you would want to wear a cross. But people who choose to wear a religious (rather than cultural) emblem need to realise the effect it can have on others. I was always wary of one of my primary school teachers because she wore an ostentatious cross every day and I knew she knew I was Jewish. Rightly or wrongly, I felt she was demonstrating that she disapproved of me.