86730@LAWRENCE (Bill Sklar) (01/15/90)
> "The peace symbol, even worn by many Christians today, has a very >long history. It was used on Hitler's Nazi death notices and as part of >the official inscription on the gravestones of Nazi officers of the SS, >the leaders of which, incidentally, were Satanists. The Nazi's considered themselves to be Christian, however, and at least claimed to be working not in Satan's name but in Christ's. This is not to say that they weren't working for satan, but that the *did*, like Nazi's in this country tody, consider themselves to be Christians. In relationship to the peace symbol, I still insist that it no longer has such meaning. If no one recognizes it as a symbol of Nazism, then it is no longer a symbol of Nazism. >During the Middle >Ages as well as today, it has been the favorite sign of Satanists. I've not once seen any indication of it being used as a sign of satan. I'd appreciate an example. >It is >also known as Nero's cross, because when Peter was crucified, he asked >to be crucified upside down since he was not worthy to die as his Master >had. Nero is said to have granted the request and constructed the cross >like the peace symbol. Question: Was not Peter a great man? Would it not be an honorable thing for us to wear the symbol of his Crucifixion as well as Christs, or does the fact that he was Crucified upside down mean that he is currently rotting in hell? Personally, I still wear it proudly. --Bill P.S. Keith-- yes, I *did* make a mistake earlier-- I somehow got it mixed up with the Chrysler symbol. :-)
DEVOSCM@RUG.NL (Marco de Vos, Kapteyn Lab Groningen) (01/15/90)
>>During the Middle >>Ages as well as today, it has been the favorite sign of Satanists. > > I've not once seen any indication of it being used as a sign >of satan. I'd appreciate an example. And references, please. This is just the kind of subject that is easily confused by personal opinions, and (at least to me) it has some importance. >>It is >>also known as Nero's cross, because when Peter was crucified, he asked >>to be crucified upside down since he was not worthy to die as his Master >>had. Nero is said to have granted the request and constructed the cross >>like the peace symbol. > > Question: Was not Peter a great man? Would it not be an honorable >thing for us to wear the symbol of his Crucifixion as well as Christs, > > --Bill I know of a symbol called "Peter's cross", which is indeed just an upside-down cross. It's often used in heraldic pictures, and never had (as far as I know) any connection with Nero, or evil things. So, my big questions: (a) is there a distinction between Nero's cross and Peter's cross (b) are there any reasons for the simple upside-down cross to be transformed into the "peace-symbol", and when did this happen? (c) why is Peter's cross being connected with the evilness of Nero, and tunred into a symbol of evil, wheras Jesus' cross is used as a symbol of grace and salvation? And a minor thing: saying Nero "constructed the cross like a peace symbol" implies the symbol already existed at that time in some form. Is that really meant (I wouldn't think so, but one never knows). Marco.