Do You Cross Yourself?

[Æmilia Gratia]

Pax tibi!

Fellow Christians, do you cross yourselves? If so, do you use the "Old Believer" style, i.e, two fingers crossed and thumb over bent last fingers, or do you use the more common thumb-to- first-fingers? Also, left or right shoulder first?

"Old Believer"

More common

I tend to use the more common thumb-to-fingers method and go right shoulder first, as in the Orthodox tradition. Do you pray as you do this?

 

[StevePame]

I don't do it often, and never while praying, but I'm an 'old believer' and go left shoulder first. However, for about five years I went right shoulder first. Not sure what elicited the change or why I went back to the left shoulder, but it did catch me a little off guard.

 

[wil]

Isn't one cross Catholic, the other Eastern Orthodox? Which denominations cross themselves... (obviously not me).

 

[Æmilia Gratia]

Isn't one cross Catholic, the other Eastern Orthodox? Which denominations cross themselves... (obviously not me).

Both cross themselves, I know Anglicans who do it too. The EO's tend to go right-to-left shoulder, while the Roman Catholics left-to-right shoulder. I think some Orthodox, mostly in the Middle East, use the crossed-finger method; while most use the more common three-finger method.

 

[Namaste Jesus]

Fellow Christians, do you cross yourselves? If so, do you use the "Old Believer" style, i.e, two fingers crossed and thumb over bent last fingers, or do you use the more common thumb-to- first-fingers? Also, left or right shoulder first?

I do not belong to any particular Christian denomination nor do I practice my faith in an orthodox manner. I'm not even sure where or when I picked up the habit, but I do make the sign of the cross on a regular basis.

How I make the sign varies depending on the situation, but my usual method is to lightly touch my forehead, abdomen, left shoulder then right with the fingertips of my right hand. I almost always recite, "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost" as I do. I do this as part of religious observance, when entering unfamiliar or potentially dangerous situations and at times for no reason at all.

 

[wil]

and at times for no reason at all.

ya don't make free throws if you don't practice shootin hoops... I believe there is an underlying reason...keepin prayed up.

 

[waggindraggin]

I've never been through formation classes and do not know what it means.

 

[Namaste Jesus]

ya don't make free throws if you don't practice shootin hoops... I believe there is an underlying reason...keepin prayed up.

Except where religion is concerned, practice doesn't always make perfect....

 

[wil]

Except where religion is concerned, practice doesn't always make perfect....

nah it doesn't make perfect....and there ain't no telling where we'd be if we did differently....

 

[Richard Pickett]

Both cross themselves, I know Anglicans who do it too. The EO's tend to go right-to-left shoulder, while the Roman Catholics left-to-right shoulder. I think some Orthodox, mostly in the Middle East, use the crossed-finger method; while most use the more common three-finger method.

I am Episcopalian/ Anglican and I cross myself mostly in the most common method. When I pray and during communion.

 

[waggindraggin]

I once heard a rumor that it was the sign of the antichrist and was actually an upside-down cross. I am not kidding. That is what someone told me.

 

[wil]

I once heard a rumor that it was the sign of the antichrist and was actually an upside-down cross. I am not kidding. That is what someone told me.

The anti catholic sentiment ran strong at one time...Illuminati and world domination...big stink about Kennedy running for President as a Catholic....we are slowly ridding ourselves of our prejudices.

 

[BigJoeNobody]

The anti catholic sentiment ran strong at one time...Illuminati and world domination...big stink about Kennedy running for President as a Catholic....we are slowly ridding ourselves of our prejudices.

or are our corporate domineers just directing the hate to other groups?

 

[Richard Pickett]

or are our corporate domineers just directing the hate to other groups?

I believe the Media is one of the biggest culprits. As a business it loves the big juicy anti religion story. The media started the whole Christians hate gays crap, and will be the first to print or air that puts the " Church" in a bad light. Publishing anything positive about faith would promote hope. The media wants to promote fear, fear keeps viewers.. People visibly crossing themselves also promotes hope, yet with the growing " Me" generation and the decline of morality world wide crossing oneself is deemed offensive, but touting a big fat Nazi tattoo is alright....

 

[wil]

or are our corporate domineers just directing the hate to other groups?

oh yeah...islam is certainly the problem dujour... that and illegal aliens...

 

[Richard Pickett]

I don't think Islam in and of itself is a problem. Radical Islam is. The perversion of the religion by groups that wish to keep the believers of Islam enslaved by laws meant to enslave certain people, mainly women is the problem. Illegal aliens, now that is a subject for another discussion..

 

[A Cup Of Tea]

Yeah ET, go home!

 

[rstrats]

If the method of execution had been the electric chair, I wonder how one would make the sign of the electric chair? And would there be electric chairs on top of churches?

 

[waggindraggin]

The anti catholic sentiment ran strong at one time...Illuminati and world domination...big stink about Kennedy running for President as a Catholic....we are slowly ridding ourselves of our prejudices.

True, although the RCC did earn a lot of dislike from USA, particularly in the early 20th century.