Why don't Jehovah's want the crucifix around?

Answer 1

It is because of the real origin of the cross. Contrary to what most people believe the cross does not have Biblical origins. The original Greek words that denote the instrument upon which Jesus was put to death (stauros and xylon) indicate an upright pole or stake. So where did the idea of a "cross" or a pole with a cross piece attached come from? According to a note in the The Companion Bible, "crosses were used as symbols of the Babylonian Sun-god...It should be stated that Constantine was a Sun-god worshipper...The evidence is thus complete, that the Lord was put to death upon and upright stake, and not on two pieces of timber placed at any angle." Rev. Alexander Hislop, author of the book, The Two Babylons frankly calls the cross "this Pagan symbol...the Tau, the sign of the cross, the indisputable sign of Tammuz, the false Messiah...the mystic Tau of the Chaldeans (Babylonians) and Egyptians--the true original form of the letter T--the initial of the name of Tammus...the Babylonian cross was the recognized emblem of Tammuz." The Encyclopedia Britannica in the 11th edition, vol. 14, p. 273, we read, "In the Egyptian churches the cross was a pagan symbol of life borrowed by the Christians and interpreted in the pagan manner." The use of the cross in jewelry such as necklaces can be traced as far back as the Egyptians of 1500 B.C. The word "crux" (cross) does not appear in the oldest manuscripts of The Bible. Crux was a word that was used in later translations some time after Jesus was put to death. What does appear is the word "stauros." What does the word stauros mean? According to Greek dictionaries, the primary meaning of stauros is an upright pale, pole or stake. They do add a secondary meaning as "cross," but they indicate that this is a "later" meaning. At least two of them do not even mention "cross," and only render the meaning as "pole or stake." So, at the time of Jesus and the apostles, stauros meant "pole, pale, or stake." We believe that the cross is not a christian symbol, therefore we do not accept it in our homes or places of worship. But, further, we believe that to worship any symbol of the instrument that Jesus died on, whether that was a cross or not, defies logic. Consider if you had a good friend who was murdered. Would you make a symbol of the murder weapon, make it into a piece of jewelry to wear around your neck, or a plaque to hang on your wall at home? Would you cherish it, hold it in high esteem, even worship it? It doesn't make sence at all. Our friend and leader Jesus was murdered by his enemies some 2000 years ago. Any instrument that was used in his murder is accursed. Not to be cherished. Not to be worshipped. That is how we feel about it, and why we will not venerate the cross.