Religions that are not
Hello Rabbi,
What is our practical consequence as Jews from defining any religion as non-Jewish?
For example, what is the ruling regarding “sacred objects” of religions that are not defined as sacred objects? For example, a cross according to the opinion that Christianity is not sacred objects. After all, from their perspective, it is a “sacred object” even if no divinity is attributed to it. Or statues of Christian saints that are not worshipped but rather are used to represent exemplary figures (as opposed to images of rabbis for smuggling mice…? And I am aware of the Rabbi’s opinion that this is also sacred objects 🙂 And yet I have not heard that the aforementioned image is prohibited from being possessed or enjoyed…)
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In other words, is it permissible for a Jew to possess a cross or a Christian icon?
If Christianity is not a halachah, there is no prohibition. As is known, the poskim disagree on this. However, even if Christianity is a halachah, a cross that is kept at home and not in a church is not used for worship, and therefore the poskim disagreed on whether it is considered a halachah. See for example here: https://halachayomit.co.il/he/default.aspx?HalachaID=1237
See also the responsa of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zetzil (Responsa Yabia Umer Ch. Y, Yod Siyyid 14) who dealt with this.
If the ancient Romans' method of execution was on a torture wheel, rather than on the cross as Jesus experienced, the question would be asked: Are we allowed to keep a spare tire in our car?
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