The Christian cross is a familiar religious symbol of Christianity. It is significant for Christians based on the gospel accounts of the New Testament, which describe the manner of Jesus Christ's death as crucifixion. This painful method of execution was common for slaves and non-Romans convicted of serious crimes in the Roman Empire. The type of cross actually used by Romans for crucifixion is now known as St. Anthony's Cross, shaped like the letter "T", unlike the traditionally depicted Latin cross. Christian cr ...

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Christian cross - History and Usage Christian cross - Forms of the Cross Christian cross - Alternative theological views of the cross Christian cross - Gallery

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Christian cross, Christian cross - History and Usage, Christian cross - Forms of the Cross, Christian cross - Alternative theological views of the cross, Christian cross - Gallery

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During the first three centuries of Christianity, the cross was rare in Christian iconography as it depicts a purposely painful and gruesome method of public execution by impalement and/or exposure. The Ichthys, or fish symbol, was used by early Christians to covertly identify each other. The Chi-Rho monogram, which was adopted by the emperor Constantine in the fourth century as his banner called the lab ...

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Christian cross, Christian cross - History and Usage, Christian cross - Forms of the Cross, Christian cross - Alternative theological views of the cross, Christian cross - Gallery

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The Sign of the Cross is a ritual performed mainly within Latin-Rite Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and the Oriental Orthodox, as well as Eastern-Rite Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Lutheranism. For the members of the Faith, it symbolizes by manifestly marking directly on one's own body or in the air, the four points of the Cross on Calvary. It also represents loving God with all one's heart, soul, mind and strength. There are two particular arrangements one is most likely to observe. One is followed by many of the Eastern Churches, th ...

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Sign of the cross - Ritual of the gesture Sign of the cross - Use of the sign Sign of the cross - Double-cross

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A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars intersecting each other at a 90° angle, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run diagonally, the design is technically termed a saltire. The cross is one of the most ancient human symbols, and is used by many religions, most notably Christianity. It is frequently a representation of the division of the world into four elements (or cardinal points), or alternately as the union of the concepts of divini ...

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Cross - History Cross - As markings Cross - As emblems and symbols Cross - In heraldry Cross - In flags Cross - Other noteworthy crosses

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The long standing importance of the Ankh, and its deep symbolism to the dynastic Egyptians, lead to it being gradually adopted by the very early Christian church in Egypt (which eventually became the Coptic Church). This is highly significant, as it is almost certainly the genesis of the cross, as the central thematic symbol of the Christian religion. A kind of cross, the ankh, had long been a central religous symbol. It was non-anthropormorphic, not even animal-like. The gods had all been animal faced-human figures. Anknaton's benevolent su ...

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Ankh, Ankh - Origins, Ankh - Usage and importance of dynastic ankh, Ankh - Origin of the Christian Cross traces back to Ankh in Egypt, Ankh - The Ankh in pop culture

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The ankh (pronounced 'ahnk', symbol ☥) was the Egyptian hieroglyphic character that stood for the word ʿnḫ, which means life). Egyptian gods may carry it by the loop, or bear one in each hand crossed over their breast. Latinists interpreted the symbol as a crux ansata, "cross with a handle". Ankh - Origins. What it was intended to represent remains a mystery to Egyptologists, and no single hypothesis has yet been widely accepted. Some have speculated that it was a stylized womb. Si ...

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Ankh - Origins Ankh - Usage and importance of dynastic ankh Ankh - Origin of the Christian Cross traces back to Ankh in Egypt Ankh - The Ankh in pop culture

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The Rosicrucian Order is a legendary and secretive Order dating from the 15th or 17th century. It generally is associated with the symbol of the Rose Cross, which is also found in certain rituals beyond "Craft" or "Blue Lodge" Freemasonry. The Rosicrucian Order is viewed among earlier and many modern Rosicrucianists as an inner worlds Order, comprised of great "Adepts." When compared to human beings, the consciousness of these Adepts is like that of demi-gods. This "College of Invisibles" is regarded as the source permanently b ...

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Rosicrucian - Origins Rosicrucian - History Rosicrucian - Influence on Freemasonry Rosicrucian - Rose Cross: Alchemy and Divine Sciences of Healing & of the Stars Rosicrucian - The Manifestos Rosicrucian - Modern groups
Rosicrucian - Esoteric Christianity groups vs. Para-Masonic groups Rosicrucian - List of 'Para-Masonic' groups Rosicrucian - List of 'Esoteric Christianity' groups
Rosicrucian - Reference literature

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Belief in reincarnation is held by many Hindus, Buddhists, and Taoists but such beliefs are held by relatively few Christians, Jews, and Muslims. No mainstream Christian denomination includes reincarnation among their doctrines. The Christian creeds and confession have consistently proclaimed a belief in a single judgement of humanity and in the eschatological hope of the resurrection of the dead. Some small sects, such as the Liberal Cat ...

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Bible and reincarnation - Differences between conservative and liberal Christian views Bible and reincarnation - Judaism Bible and reincarnation - Supporting passages from a Christian point of view
Bible and reincarnation - Elijah became John the Baptist Bible and reincarnation - John 9:1-3 Bible and reincarnation - Galatians 6:7
Bible and reincarnation - New Testament passages seen to be in opposition
Bible and reincarnation - Hebrews 9:27 Bible and reincarnation - Luke 13 Bible and reincarnation - The thief on the cross Bible and reincarnation - Paul's teaching Bible and reincarnation - Apologetics
Bible and reincarnation - Origen Bible and reincarnation - History of Canonical and extra-biblical writings Bible and reincarnation - New Age views Bible and reincarnation - Reference literature
Bible and reincarnation - Positive Bible and reincarnation - Critical
Bible and reincarnation - Footnotes:

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The swastika (from Sanskrit svastika) is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles either left-facing (卍) or right-facing (卐). It is traditionally oriented so that a main line is horizontal, though it is occasionally rotated at forty-five degrees, and the Hindu version is often decorated with a dot in each quadrant. ...

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Swastika - Overview Swastika - Etymology and alternative names Swastika - History
Swastika - Adoption of the swastika in the West
Swastika - Geometry and symbolism
Swastika - Sauwastika
Swastika - Art and architecture Swastika - Religion and mythology
Swastika - Hinduism Swastika - Buddhism Swastika - Jainism Swastika - The Abrahamic religions Swastika - Other Asian traditions Swastika - Native American traditions Swastika - Pre-Christian European traditions Swastika - Asatru
Swastika - Early 20th century
Swastika - Europe Swastika - North America
Swastika - Nazi Germany Swastika - Taboo in Western countries Swastika - Apperance in Media

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Also known as the Key of the Nile, the Looped Tau Cross, and the Ansated Cross. It was an Ancient Egyptian symbol of life. Sometimes given a Latin name if it appears in specifically Christian contexts, such as the crux ansata ("handled cross"). Also known as the Latin cross or crux ordinaria. It is the most common symbol of Christianity, intended to represent the redeeming martyrdom of Jesus when he is c ...

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Cross, Cross - History, Cross - As markings, Cross - As emblems and symbols, Cross - In heraldry, Cross - In flags, Cross - Other noteworthy crosses

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The "Christian flag" is a flag designed to represent all of Christianity, but flown mainly by Protestant churches in North America, Africa, and Latin America. The flag has a white field, with a red Latin cross inside a blue canton. The shades of red and blue, and the dimensions of the flag and canton, have no official specifications. Christian flag - Origins. The Christian flag was first conceived on September 26, 1897, in Brighton Chapel on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York in the United States. The super ...

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Christian flag - Origins Christian flag - Symbolism Christian flag - Usage

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Christian meditation is a form of quiet (but not necessarily silent) contemplation often associated with prayer or scripture study. It is rooted in the Bible, which directs its readers to meditate. In Joshua 1:8, God commands his people to meditate on his word day and night to instill obedience. The psalmist says that "his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2). The Bible ...

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Christian meditation - History Christian meditation - Theology of Christian meditation Christian meditation - Christian meditation: many strands

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Esoteric Christianity refers to the occult study and the mystic living of the esoteric knowledge related to what adherents view as the "inner teachings" of early Christianity, seen as a Mystery religion. The term is thought by some to be originally associated with the Essenes and the Rosicrucians. Some modern-day practitioners believe that the foundational teachings of Esoteric Christianity were publicly presented to the world in the early 20th century (1) in an effort to establish a future universal religion as mankind, with a ...

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Esoteric Christianity - Biblical foundations Esoteric Christianity - Biblical counterpoints Esoteric Christianity - 20th century Writings

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A Celtic cross combines the cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. It is the characteristic symbol of Celtic Christianity, though it may have older, pre-Christian origins. Celtic cross - Origins. In Celtic regions of Britain and Ireland many free-standing upright crosses – or high crosses – were erected, beginning at least as early as the 8th Century. Some of these 'Celtic' crosses bear inscriptions in runes. There are surviving free-standing crosses in Cornwall and Wales, in the island ...

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Celtic cross - Origins Celtic cross - Political symbol

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The Cross of Tau, also called St. Anthony's Cross, is a Christian symbol. Tau is a symbol used from antiquity and is represented by a type of cross. Christ most likely died on a Tau cross, although the stem at the top of the cross has become the modern view, called the Latin cross. As with Christianity, other ancient societies who used the "Tau" symbol also evolved its use to represent life, resurrection, reincarnation and blood sacrifice. Other related archivesChrist, Christian, Tau,

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Also known as the Key of the Nile, the Looped Tau Cross, and the Ansated Cross. It was an Ancient Egyptian symbol of life. Sometimes given a Latin name if it appears in specifically Christian contexts, such as the crux ansata ("handled cross"). Also known as the Latin cross or crux ordinaria. It is the most common symbol of Christianity, intended to represent the redeeming martyrdom of Jesus when he is c ...

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Cross, Cross - History, Cross - As markings, Cross - As emblems and symbols, Cross - In heraldry, Cross - In flags, Cross - Other noteworthy crosses

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Eusebius describes in his Life of Constantine [1] how the site of the Holy Sepulchre, originally a site of veneration for the Christian community in Jerusalem, had been covered with earth and a temple of Venus had been built on top — although Eusebius does not say as much, this would probably have been done as part of Hadrian's reconstruction of Jerusalem as Aelia Capitolina in 135, following the destruction of the Jewish Revolt of 70 and Bar Kokhba's revolt of 132–135. Following his conversion to Christianity, Emperor Constantine ...

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True Cross, True Cross - Finding the True Cross, True Cross - Conservation of the relics, True Cross - Dispersal of relics of the True Cross, True Cross - Veneration of the Cross, True Cross - Movies

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Typically, the right hand is used. The thumb, index, and middle finger are brought to a point. They are then placed on the forehead, then moved down to the sternum. Western Rite Catholics, Anglicans and the Oriental Orthodox will then move the hand to the left shoulder or to the area of the left pectoral muscle, and then to the right; the Eastern Orthodox and most Eastern Catholics will do the opposite (i.e. right, then left). As one moves through the Sign, one recites, at the forehead, "In the name of the Father"; at the sternum, "and of th ...

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Sign of the cross, Sign of the cross - Ritual of the gesture, Sign of the cross - Use of the sign, Sign of the cross - Double-cross

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The basic sun cross is an unadorned cross inscribed within a plain circle. However, there are a variety of images incorporating crosses and circular patterns which have been given the label sun cross. Specific varieties of sun cross include: The simplest form of the sun cross, often called Odin's cross in North-West Europe. A bolded sun cross, with less negative space. A sun cross with the arms of the cross extended beyond the perimeter of the circle. This symbol was adop ...

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Sun cross, Sun cross - Design, Sun cross - Origins, Sun cross - Modern symbolism and political use, Sun cross - External link

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