I've been reading Hocus Pocus by Kurt Vonnegut and, this morning, I read a passage which struck me as very valid.
It goes "The most important message of a crucifix, for me anyway, was how unspeakably cruel supposedly sane human beings can be when under orders from a superior authority." given that those men who carried out the crucifixions would, more than likely, only do something so barbaric in order to satisfy a commanding authority.
I found it quite ironic.
What I find ironic is that a symbol that seems for all attempts and purposes designed to invoke fear and trepidation, a symbol which clearly demonstrates man's inhumanity to man, is interpreted by many as a symbol of . . . hope? :o/