I am Jewish, so I am clearly not an involved party, but personally the cross never bothered me, but the cross with Jesus on it always struck me as a “graven image” (idol).
Same with the statutes of saints/angels/etc.
I file it under “none of my business,” but it is a bit odd for any religion to have those that deems itself a Judaism-offspring.
Do the words "כרובים" and "שׂרפים" mean anything to you?
Although not often pictured for purposes of Jewish worship in these days, in older times they were displayed.
You just happen to live in an age where the main thrust of Judaism is to discount the use of images.
Having lived and traveled extensively in the Balkans, I visited many very old Catholic and Orthodox churches in obscure locations. Often the graphic and gruesome nearly life-size statues of an emaciated Christ at the altars inspired disgust more than reverence. But maybe that’s just me.
I am a Christian, but I wore a small gold Star of David necklace in college. I believe that I am a “child of Abraham” by faith in the Messiah, Jesus Chriat. I still have it, too.
My objection to the crucifix was because it portrayed Jesus as still on the cross and not resurrected.
1 Corinthians 15:12-20 (King James Version)
12Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
I am Jewish, so I am clearly not an involved party, but personally the cross never bothered me, but the cross with Jesus on it always struck me as a “graven image” (idol). You understand what the writer of this essay doesn't. The cross with Jesus on it is commonly called a crucifix and is strongly associated with the Catholic church. Because the crucifix is so strongly associated with the Catholic church (and as you noted, some believe it crosses the line as a graven image) the crucifx has been rejected by most protestant churches.
The plain cross (two lines intersecting) is different. It has alwasy been accpeted by protestant churches and has been fully embraced as the primary symbol of Christiantiy.
The images below show the difference between a crucifix and a cross.
