Is It OK for Christians to Wear an Ankh?
The ankh is often seen as a fashion statement or spiritual symbol—but does it conflict with Christian faith? Join the discussion in Crosswalk Forums.
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It’s been showing up on jewelry, clothing, and even tattoos—but what does the ankh really mean, and should Christians wear it?
The ankh—sometimes called the “Egyptian cross”—is an ancient symbol dating back to pharaonic Egypt. It resembles a cross with a loop at the top and was widely associated with concepts of eternal life, fertility, and divine power in Egyptian religion. You’ll see it in carvings held by gods and pharaohs alike, often tied to their belief in the afterlife and their pantheon of deities.
Today, some people wear it purely as an artistic or fashion choice. Others adopt it for its symbolic meanings—life, strength, even unity. But for Christians, the spiritual baggage can’t be ignored. The ankh’s roots are not just pre-Christian—they’re tied to a religious system built around multiple gods and spiritual beliefs that directly conflict with biblical teaching.
So where does that leave us?
Can a Christian wear an ankh as a cultural or artistic symbol without endorsing what it originally stood for?
Or is it a spiritual compromise—borrowing from pagan symbolism in a way that clouds the witness of our faith?
Some might argue that it’s no different than repurposing Roman crosses (once instruments of execution) as sacred Christian symbols. Others say the origins of the ankh make it incompatible with a faith that calls us to “have no other gods” and avoid even the appearance of idolatry.
What do you think?
Would you ever wear one—or does its meaning go too far against the grain of Christian belief?
“Not everything ancient is eternal—and not everything symbolic is sacred.”