While scrolling through Facebook this morning, I read a friend’s post and the comments written regarding a 40 ft. memorial in the shape of a cross built in 1925 honoring 49 local servicemen who lost their lives in WWI that an atheist group wants removed. So rather than commenting on the post, I am writing this blog. There is a lot of talk about this symbol being a representation of Christianity/religion. Although it was adopted as such, it is NOT the origin of this symbol. This sign (symbol) is much older than even the earliest example found from Crete dating back to the 15th century BC. It is “ancient beyond proper reckoning”. Many signs (symbols) have been adopted throughout history to represent ideologies or movements with these representations leaving the origin forgotten or not researched.

Let’s start with the components of this symbol.

1. The Vertical Line

Man stands upright so this represents the physical symbol of the number One, man striving toward Spirit.

2. The Horizontal Line

The vertical line and the horizontal line are used to form a cross.

It symbolizes the union of the material and the spiritual.

The four points of the cross represent the four elements (earth, air, fire & water) as well as the four directions (east, west, north & south). Whereas the number 4 is related to the cross in the West, in China it is related to the number 5 as it includes the dot where the two lines meet. The cross is recognized as a symbol of protection all around the world.