Am I being a Schmuck?

Several weeks ago we had people visit one of the shuls I attend. We get a lot of xtians who come by because often they claim they are going to school for theology or something and need to do a paper on religions of the world or something like that. Well these three girls come in, each of them wearing crucifixes. While I didn't say anything to them, I told one of my friends later that I found it offensive that someone would wear what is basically an equivalent of an idol into a place of Jewish worship. My friend and I got into a discussion about beliefs and he was like "well, that's their religion, I guess they are just proud of it."
My way of thinking was it was no different than a person wearing a symbol of b*phomet into a catholic church. Would they not expect those people to be offended? I look at it pretty much the same way.. Or am I just being a little too hard on them?

The Rav should have asked them nicely to either tuck them in, or leave.

We had a situation where a Kollel Rabbi was giving Hebrew classes (to anyone who would come). So we had some black ladies come, they were a hoot, and totally inappropriately dressed.

He didn't know what to do. So the Rav asked them nicely to come back next week dressed more appropriately. They did.

It's all in the delivery.

In a long journey from Christian to Atheist, to Agnostic, to just a plain Believer, I've learned not to be offended by others' displays of religion. In addition, judging from what I have experienced as and observed of Christians, they have next to no concept of Judaism or what might be offensive in that context. They believe, in general anyway, the OT is a prequel to the NT and that the only difference is Jesus.

That said, I think a polite explanation of why it is disrespectful to display the cross in that location would be cool. If they get all uppity about ask them to leave. If they get it they would acquiesce and I would take as a sign that they were actually there to learn something.

ETA I have a guess from context but what is a shul?

Synagogue.

No you're not being a schmuck. As a Catholic we wear the crucifix as a symbol of our faith (note true Catholics will tend to stay away from a cross as the true symbol of Christianity is a a crucifix which shows the suffering Jesus). But they a symbols and that is that. I am sure that if it had been explained to them they would have respected your request. However, I had once asked a Christian friend of mine to genuflect before sitting in a pew in my church and she just laughed and said 'ha, I'm not Catholic! I don't believe what you believe.' and I left it as that because she's one of my dearest friends and I love her despite her 'flaws' lol

CatholicGirl wrote:No you're not being a schmuck. As a Catholic we wear the crucifix as a symbol of our faith (note true Catholics will tend to stay away from a cross as the true symbol of Christianity is a a crucifix which shows the suffering Jesus). But they a symbols and that is that. I am sure that if it had been explained to them they would have respected your request. However, I had once asked a Christian friend of mine to genuflect before sitting in a pew in my church and she just laughed and said 'ha, I'm not Catholic! I don't believe what you believe.' and I left it as that because she's one of my dearest friends and I love her despite her 'flaws' lol

We have to remember that we are all human, G-ds' creation FIRST.

So, if a friend of mine were at my Shul, and he decided not to put on a tallis or tefillin, or daven with us.... I'd have to inform him that what he does in his Shul is fine, but while visiting other folks' Shul, you should 'do as the romans do'.

If I got pushback... I'd be fine with that, what he does at that point is between he and G-d....