Eastern Mind said:
"He isn't up there! This isn't the Catholic Church! They took him down! Now he's risen from the dead!"
I spent more time as a Protestant than as a Catholic-in fact, I was born into a Baptist home. And I would hear this all the time. Always wondered what they had against crucifixes. :laugh: No Catholic believes that Christ is still on the cross. Well, there may be some fringe groups out there. But other than that...oy vey. "Get my Jesus off that cross!" That kind of emotionalism was so awkward to watch.
I've examined in my own circles that the aversion to an image of the crucified Christ also tends to have a lot to do with an aversion to an imitation of His death. Usually there have been complimentary comments such as: "He suffered so that we don't have to." "Why dwell on something so terrible that is finished?"
There is almost no notion of participating in the crucifixion ourselves, taking up our cross, dying to self, potential of martyrdom, etc. When we see the crucified Christ, we should see a king on his throne of glory. The gospels have an entire mocking coronation, procession to the throne room (Golgotha), and enthronement. The Jews wanted a military leader and a Davidic Warrior King. What they saw instead was total self-emptying prophet who was executed by his enemies.
The image of the crucified Christ is a great mystery to contemplate. It's so layered and meaningful. Those who scorn the image often scorn human suffering and have no notion of its salvific properties: "Jesus died to save us from religion; Jesus payed the price so we don't have to; Jesus fasted in the wilderness so that we don't have to; God wants us to have long lives and to be wealthy and prosperous, blah blah etc." I've heard it all many times.