Can you tell me why Christian Scientists depict Christ as being nailed to a telephone pole and not a cross?
Thank You,
Roy Arvio
? ? ?
Dear Roy,
I’m not sure of what you mean by a “telephone pole” as being a standard Christian Science way of depicting the crucifixion. The movement started around 1875, before there was any such thing as a telephone. You may have seen some individual’s form of metaphoric modern art, but Christian Science’s approach to the crucifixion differs from conventional Christianity’s more in regard to the aftermath than the event—that Jesus did not actually die, but having mentally prepared for it in advance, had transcended death in the same way as the Christian Scientists believe that those of religiously pure mind can transcend disease.
Sincerely,
Jon Guttman
Research Director
World History Group
More Questions at Ask Mr. History
Don’t miss the next Ask Mr. History question! To receive notification whenever any new item is published on HistoryNet, just scroll down the column on the right and sign up for our RSS feed.