Contemplating the Cross

[aefenglommung]

The earliest Christian iconography -- floor mosaics, tomb inscriptions, frescoes, graffiti -- did not include the Cross. This seems odd to modern Christians, I suppose. The history of the presentation of that symbol deserves a little thought expended on it

Comments

[xxxbarnes]

I am struck by your observation that the new Protestants thought the Crucifix too garish. I rather think so, but I have wondered if I was just squeamish. I would be interested to know what backs up this statement.

I have done a bit of reflective theorizing (without any foundational text to back it up, I haste to add) as to why the shift from Catholic Crucifix to Protestant Plain & Stark. I theorized that Catholics were fixated (no pun intended) on the suffering of Christ to emphasize his agony for us. He hung on the cross before the Resurrection; whereas, Protestants chose to emphasize an empty cross to focus on the Victory of Resurrection over the preceeding agony. We Christians now had a victory to focus our lives, not a martyr. Joy cometh in the morning.
This is only my own speculation as to the change in the desplay of the cross, but I thought it had more ofva message than squeamishness. I guess I read more into this tha you. Please comment.

[aefenglommung]

I've heard Protestant clergy talk about "the resurrection cross" as opposed that (Catholic) "suffering cross," but I think the ideology came later to explain the aesthetic rejection of the crucifix. That's the way these things go, usually.

Puritanism, which comes and goes and is always some part of Protestant makeup, reached its apogee in England, but began under Henry VIII as a rejection of all things "Catholic": relics, pictures, statues, stained glass, all the gaudy presentational aspects of medieval devotion. Several generations later, you have the simple, unadorned "meeting halls" of New England, as well as Baptist churches with plain walls and pews.

In order to explain so drastic a changeover in style, apologists came up with a theological rationale. Anyway, that's my opinion.