Do you wear religious jewelry?
By Leca
@lecanis (16647)
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
January 26, 2007 8:51pm CST
Do you wear religious jewelry? If so, how subtle is it? Do you wear it to work?
I'm a little curious about this issue because I've had some conflict in my own life about the wearing of religious jewelry. It has caused trouble for me at a previous job, and in my personal life. I was hoping to hear about some other people's experiences and thoughts on the issue.
9 people like this
49 responses
@kesfylstra (1868)
• United States
27 Jan 07
I have had a cross pendant that I have worn pretty much every day for... years. I don't even know how many. It is quite small and inconspicuous, just because that is my taste in jewelry, but it is always there as a silent symbol that this is who I am. And, a little less conspicuous when I am wearing a tank top or bathing suit, is the tattoo of a cross with the sunrise on my shoulder blade. That's my symbol that Christians can do crazy things too. While the tattoo has surprised people, I have never run into any problems with either.
@emarie (5442)
• United States
27 Jan 07
i used to. maybe just a small golden cross around my neck. i though it used to look nice and also for a feeling of protection. i really don't know how small religous jewelry can cause conflit, unless you have this huge cross or something else that can't be conceled easily.
4 people like this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
27 Jan 07
For me it's been a problem because I'm not the same religion as most of the people where I live, so while others around me often wear religious jewelry, I am considered offensive when I do so. And I'm not talking something HUGE here, just small items.
3 people like this
@SageMother (2277)
• United States
27 Jan 07
I usually wear my pentagram when I am doing readings of working at home. I don't wear it when working with kids, mainly because they could use it to choke me during a fit of rage.
Years ago I was accosted by a woman who swore it was a start of David, which it is not.
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
27 Jan 07
That's really funny about the star of David thing!
2 people like this
@Raevyn1972 (275)
• Canada
27 Jan 07
LOL I had that same problem when I first started wearing my pentacles to work. I was like "Um, lady, count the points... one too few for a Star of David, there, luv."
3 people like this
@mohammed4444 (363)
• Egypt
27 Jan 07
i'm muslim boy .. and i think that there is no islamic jewelry maybe there is islamic wear but there is no jewelry like cross in chiristains :)
3 people like this
@cyntrow (8523)
• United States
27 Jan 07
I have in my time worn a large onyx on a chain, I wore a pentagram ring, a white crystal braclet. I've never worn a cross or crucifix despite my identifying as christian. The others that I have adorned are symbols of religious sects. Although I don't practice paganism, I respect the faith. I tend to wear adornments to show my respect. Strange, huh.
3 people like this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
27 Jan 07
That is strange but I think it's a great thing you are so open minded :) We need more people like you in the world.
2 people like this
@Raevyn1972 (275)
• Canada
27 Jan 07
I agree with GG. Thank you for proving the point that you don't have to be a certain religion to openly respect it!
3 people like this
@Chiang_Mai_boy (3882)
• Thailand
27 Jan 07
I waear a small Buddha image on a chain around my neck. It helps to keep me centred on what I am and reminds me how I should deal with other people in my day to day life.
3 people like this
@sachin_sachin (1544)
• India
27 Jan 07
no i don't wear any relegious jewellery. but i would like to wear a cross made of gold if i get a decent design
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
27 Jan 07
I do but it's very subtle. I thought about wearing a Pentacle to work but people make too many comments and I'd constantly be defending myself. Instead I wear a triquetra. Most people have no idea what it stands for or think it soley has to do with Charmed. But I have a manager at work who never goes without wearing her Pentacle. I'm not really sure if she gets any flack about it or not though. I think you should wear it unless (like me) don't want to answer questions and defend yourself all day.
2 people like this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
30 Jan 07
I think so too. I connect with it more. But I love all things celtic too. Depending on my mood at work on the occasion I am asked about it I just tell them it means different things in different religons. But my mother-in-law really enjoyed the meaning. Funny though that my family has never asked me (except maybe my sister).
@Raevyn1972 (275)
• Canada
27 Jan 07
What a GREAT question, Lecanis!
I wore a crucifix until I was about 15 or so (because until I got married, I was Catholic), but after I entered my junior year of high school, I stopped wearing it. When I was in my early 20's, I discovered after years of being Christian that I was actually a closet pagan, so when I came out of the closet, I started wearing pentacles. They're not in-your-face or anything like that but I don't hide them from the world either. Anyone who knows me knows that I am pagan and accepts it. It's never prevented me from keeping my job (thank the Gods!). It's just a part of who I am. I think it's because I don't make a big deal of it (ie shoving my religion in other people's faces) that it has yet to cause problems in my everyday life. :) B*B
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
27 Jan 07
Thanks Raevyn!
Wow. I'm amazed at the number of people that have stated they wear pentacles to work and it doesn't cause them any problems.
At the job I had before my current one, I had customers who spotted my pentacle and claimed they couldn't shop there anymore. I also had one tell me that she was going to call the customer service line for my company and complain about me. Sure enough, I got a call from the district management with a complaint. But what the complaint said was the most amazing thing: it didn't mention religion at all. It did say I had cursed at her and given her terrible service, none of which was true. *shakes her head*
I've also, outside of work, had a little old lady hit me with her purse and tell me I was going to hell.
Maybe I just attract all the wackos or something.
I'm a little gunshy about it now. While all of my coworkers know I am pagan, I'm a little worried about the reaction customers could have when I wear such jewelry. There's already one person who won't come to my window at the bank anymore because she saw me out shopping wearing a pentacle. Bleh.
On the upside, I do have a necklace portraying a goddess in Celtic knotwork, and I've only had one person figure out what it meant and comment on it so far.
@kritipen (4082)
• United States
27 Jan 07
I do wear religious jewelry all the time. But most of the time it is not visible to any one (My religious chain I wear is not visible to any one as I wear neck tie everyday to work). Outside it is visible when I wear t-shirts and I never wear T-shirts to work.
1 person likes this
@slanderson52 (542)
• United States
28 Jan 07
I wear jewelry because I like it not for what it might stand for. I think religion should be seen by the person you are and I can say for you lecanis that you are a beautiful person and that whatever relgion you are must be good because of the type of person you are in your heart and soul. Religions were started mostly by men and who is to say that one is right or wrong, each person has to choose what is right for themselves. Jewelry is just an embellishment that we adorn ourselves with.
@Alexc123 (126)
•
28 Jan 07
no i dont because i do not feel i need to try to impose my own religion on others in any way. i do not like it when i see people totally covered up because of their religion because it makes me feel like they have something to hide and it is impossible to see who you are talking too, so why should i wear a ross or anything like that?
i act the way i would like others to act, i i didnt i would feel like a hypocrit.
1 person likes this
@Pus2Meong (94)
• Indonesia
27 Jan 07
i'm not wearing any religious jewelry because i can't afford to buy it (T_T). And i don't have intention to wear it also, why? because i never wear any jewelry at all (^_^), jewelery not my style, regadless religious or not.
1 person likes this
@euniceeleanor (5966)
• Singapore
27 Jan 07
i used to wear a crucifix but now that my bf has given me a small diamond cross, i wore that instead...and i will never leave the house without my saint bracelet...so far there's no problem, but i will have people asking me whether 'are you a christian?'
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
27 Jan 07
Yea I usually wear my Pentagram all the time and have for yrs now...in fact for the most part the only time I take it off is when I am feeling sick (I take all my jewelry off then) or when I am having a cranky/angry day..then I switch it out for my amber necklace...
1 person likes this
@cuddleme01 (2725)
• Philippines
27 Jan 07
i dont have any religious jewelry.but i would love to have a cross as a necklace pendant. my brother used to own one and i really like it.
1 person likes this
@ananyaainka (380)
• India
27 Jan 07
yea we wear thali. am a tamilian
yea i also ways wear that. we should not remove it.
why are feeling uneasy with that?what bis your jewely?
an d v used to wear meti also its call toerings,
@steerpyke (396)
•
27 Jan 07
I wear a small catholicstyle crucifix, not for any religious reasons but as a memory of someone from my past. I am not religious in the conventional sense, but I am spiritual and well read on all religions but from a historical and philosophical standpoint. I don't see a problem with religious imagary, people have tattoos, peircings, weirdo hair, odd clothes and fashion accesseries inspired by music, football, trend or what ever, why should religious imagary be any different. The sooner people stop acting tribally and just embrace the spiritual side of things the sooner we get rid of the problem all together.
1 person likes this
