Does the Cross Represent a Specific Religious Denomination?

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A statue of a cross erected in the Mojave Desert on federal land in 1934 by the Veterans of Foreign War to honor all those military killed in the service of the country is ruled a violation of the First Amendment. If this is upheld by the Supreme Court does that mean the thousands of crosses on graves at Arlington National Cemetery and throughout the nation and world have to be removed?



What nonsense. The First Amendment said no religious denomination could be favored. How does showing a cross constitute favoring a specific religious denomination? The Jewish lawyer arguing to get rid of the cross said Jews do not honor the cross.

Two questions arise. Does the Cross represent a specific religious denomination? What are religions? There are five major religions recognized by everyone who keeps track of religion. Here they are with estimates of their membership worldwide.

1. Christianity: 2.1 billion
2. Islam: 1.5 billion
3. Hinduism: 900 million
4. Buddhism: 376 million
5. Judaism: 14 million



Within the Christianity category there are estimated to be 34,000 to 38,000 denominations, with the largest being Roman Catholic with 1.3 billion members. Thousands of denominations reference the Cross as a symbol. In the Islam category the main groups are the Shiite and Sunni with 85% being Sunni. Clearly there are a lot of religious denominations.



Here in Maryland we are proud that the first colonists came to the original thirteen colonies and landed at St. Clements Island in 1634 with the first charter guaranteeing religious freedom in the New World. Not Jamestown nor Plymouth can say the same. How was this historic religious toleration moment celebrated, honoring an act that would eventually be incorporated into the Constitution in the Bill of Rights? The colonists erected a giant cross on St. Clements Island.

The Cross as a religious symbol may be recognized by many religions denominations but it was also accepted as the symbol of religious freedom in America 375 years ago. The Maryland colony was the only one guaranteeing religious freedom. So I say the Cross is a secular symbol of our Bill of Rights, the freedom of religion, all religions in America. The Cross does not reflect any one denomination of Christianity.



If the Cross as a secular symbol of America is abandoned in all of America that is public, whether federal, state, or local including schools, then the Star of David and the hechsher symbols, very specific religious symbols to Judaism, should also be banned from all public places.



The Star of David appears on the back of a one dollar bill while the hechsher, the circled-U symbol is on the labels of many commercial and consumer food products found in schools, the Capitol dining room, public auditoriums, and on and on.



Of course any symbols reflecting the original thirteen colonies including the Official US Seal, the Seal of the Office of President, money and flags could represent the 12 tribes of Israel plus Levi, the thirteen tribes of Israel. That is also a religious (Judaism) symbol, they all have to go as well. Do you see how foolish this can become?



Since the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) is prosecuting this case and they have been in the forefront of making sure God has no role in America then they should see that if they get rid of the Cross which is a 375 year old secular symbol more so than a symbol of a specific religious denomination, then it is their responsibility to get rid of the far more religious symbols like the Star of David, anything that denotes the tribes of Israel and even the hechsher, the religious Hebrew symbol on food products.

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