Graphic Depiction of Torture - the Crucifix

[Kirbmarc]

I personally don't like the image of the cross as a depiction of Christianity. I don't like it because we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, not the crucifixion of Christ. The method of his execution is irrelevant, he would still be the same Saviour whether he died on the gallows or in front of a firing squad

The resurrrection would be much harder to turn into a symbol, though. Religions need symbols to ground their philosophical assumptions and make them accepted by the general population.

A while back I read an article about the shock experienced by Europeans who found graphic depictions of torture "ornamenting" everyday objects used by the Aztec natives in America and how gruesome that civilization apeared to them. But hey: when you think about it, there is another civilization where people put graphic depictions of torture over their doors, hang them as pendants on their mirror in their cars or even on their neck. It is OUR civilization.

Mutilations and gruesome imagery have had a symbolic meaning since the dawn of time. We find the symbols of other cultures offensive simly because we're not used to them.

I personally have no problems with the crucifix or other violent imagery, as long as they're not too explicitly graphic (and even in that case, only until you're mature enough not to suffer from the exposure): violence is an aspect of life, denying it is not a good education strategy.