Is it weird to wear a cross necklace if you're not a Christian or even religious?

[CaptainOliviaBenson]

I saw this gorgeous black cross necklace in River Island a few months back, (which they don't seem to have anymore 🙄). I'd really love one for my birthday but I'm wondering if it'd be weird to wear one when I'm an atheist? 🤔

It was a bit like this one.

I actually have a small gold one that was my grans
I don't wear it (more out of fear that I'll lose it) but wouldn't think twice about religious connotations if I did wear it. To me it's just a precious heirloom.

When I see snake it reminds me of the biblical story of Moses when he made a bronze snake on a pole.

I'm a former Christian. By your logic am I still allowed to wear my jewellery with crosses or should I get rid of them? If I was your daughter!

I don't know. My daughter isn't a former Christian.

At least if someone asked you about your cross you would have something to say about it.

My daughter knows nothing about Christianity.

🤣 love bill hicks 😁

Crucifixes are mostly, or traditionally a Catholic symbol. The plain cross is the usual equivalent for Protestants. One isn't "more Christian" than the other. They just come from different Christian traditions.

I'm an atheist. I would avoid wearing any religious symbols at all. Partly because I wouldn't want to be associated with them, and partly because I think they "belong" to the people who have that faith. I certainly wouldn't wear a cross with a snake on it. I can imagine it would be quite upsetting for some people to see.

Honestly I would think of it as a symbol/shape like any other - not as a form of execution! a bit like a rhombus or sphere. But then I’m not a Christian!

The snake on a pole is a bible story - the serpent represents Jesus dying on the cross or Jesus’s sin and the cross is the turning away of sin/evil. Or something. But it is not satanic.

Madonna made crucifixes fashionable for a while back int he day. It doesn’t seem particularly gothy to me.

Tell that to the maker. That item is listed as "satanic" in the description.

I wear a Celtic cross. I'm not Celtic, nor Christian, it's just a lovely piece of jewellery.

Well the maker didn’t read the bible then!

Maybe just Genesis with the forbidden fruit bit.

@Newsenmum "Honestly I would think of it as a symbol/shape like any other - not as a form of execution! a bit like a rhombus or sphere. But then I’m not a Christian!"

I don't think that's anything to do with not being a Christian. It's more to do with lacking general knowledge to be honest!

Would you wear a Star of David necklace?

Yes
They are also quite popular in gothic style jewellery

I know an atheist who wears all of these (star of david, cross, crescent and more). She's a travel-enthusiast and likes to collect little pieces from countries she's been to. So Israel, Vatican, Morocco.

I don't see the harm.

Another Christian here who finds it offensive, not to mention ugly. I'm not surprised it's satanic.

I was raised catholic and identified as such up until about 10 years ago.

I wouldn't even bat an eye at that necklace. I quite like the gothy aesthetic and to me, that necklace is so far from religious. I don't understand how others find it offensive or upsetting

If I liked it I would.

I used to wear a black beaded River Island choker one years ago (no snake though)

I took delight in telling a door to door Jehovah's witness I was an Atheist.

She took greater delight in pointing out the irony of my adornment 😂

I wore it for years and years, probably until the sun and sea eventually wore it away.

I loved it.

This particular necklace didn't immediately make me think of Christianity I have to say! 😂

But yes if it's a 'normal' cross,I think it's a bit strange to wear if you don't have a Christian background

I’m an atheist and I wouldn’t wear a normal plain cross because I think peoples obvious thought is Christian . I wouldn’t wear the black one with the snake because it looks tacky but I wouldn’t look at someone wearing it and think Christian . Likely much more expensive but what about this one
https://www.rubyandoscar.com/thomas-sabo-rebel-at-heart-black-cubic-zirconia-sword-with-snake-pendant-in-sterling-silver-r170375s

I loved mine. Great as a toothpick when I had something stuck in my front teeth.

Interesting.