Catholic Priest: Abandon Crucifix

The cross is the one of the most famous symbols in the world, representing the death of Jesus Christ. For Roman Catholics, the crucifix is what symbolized their faith. Father John Dobson, a Roman Catholic Priest in Australia, argues that it should perhaps be abandoned because it never really should have become a symbol for Christianity in the first place.

We have read recently about the argument that the cross should be give up for all of Christians, but this is a more narrow argument about the crucifix. The Advertiser explains:

"Most certainly Jesus would have been crucified naked, as was the Roman practice," Father Dobson wrote. "At some stage it was decided that Jesus' sexuality must be covered up, and so he was draped in a loincloth, which somehow would make him more presentable in polite Christian company! "It is also as if sex had to be removed from this powerful image."

Father Dobson said the crucifix should never have become the symbol of Christianity because it was a means of execution. "If Christianity means life it is the resurrection that is our real symbol. But maybe the crucifix is the appropriate symbol for such negative, confining thinkers who are terrified to think in a more lateral, open way. These people love to debate what other people should or shouldn't be thinking or doing and whether they belong in the Christian tradition or not. Christianity was surely never meant to be a stick to belt someone on the head with, but rather a constant call to a meaningful life with God."

This is an interesting argument - and it has a lot of merit. Christianity portrays itself as being about eternal life, but its primary symbol represents a painful, nasty death. Perhaps there aren't a lot of good symbols for resurrection. Nevertheless, it seems unlikely that Dobson's argument will go anywhere.

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