As George Carlin said:
"I leave symbols to the symbol minded"
A Chess King Without A Cross Is Neutral
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"we"??
how about this set then?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/MAN-RAY-CHESS-MEN-CLASSIC-MODERN-20th-C-SET-MADE-IN-GERMANY-709/222735432625?hash=item33dc10fbb1:g:47cAAMXQLQJREo~4
Or the BCE set? Or the FIDE set? Your board, knock yourself out...
Just because there's some guy named Jhon Bishop Koala doesn't mean Koalas are associated with bishops...
Should we also do away with the Knight as a symbol of elitism so we can represent chess as a game for people of all backgrounds? Or maybe the pawn, since it represents a weak stereotypical infantryman (or infantry-person, because representation is important) who is sacrificed to protect the upper classes?
Me? I can't be sick. I'm a tomato.
scorpion2a wrote:
I don't mean this in an anti-christian way. But since chess is a global game that originated in India and Persia then spread through the Islamic countries to the Western world, then we should abolish all religious symbols. Without the cross, it'll be neutral, and more representative of the millions over the globe who play the game.
Who said that chess was originated in India?
Wikipedia?
Dec 19, 2022
0
#10
History of Chess: The Basics
https://www.chess.com › Articles › Fun & Trivia
May 15, 2018 — Today we know that chess originated from the Gupta Empire (600CE), of India
why i have to play with crossed king if i am a Muslim , We should make a king with Islamic symbol too right?!!!!!!!!!!!! is that what they want !!!!
Jan 18, 2025
0
#11
Monie49 wrote:
Rename the Bishop?!
It's already taken care of, In many countries including Iran (Persia), and India they call it 'elephant'.
x-9761561849 wrote:
History of Chess: The Basics
https://www.chess.com › Articles › Fun & Trivia
May 15, 2018 — Today we know that chess originated from the Gupta Empire (600CE), of India
why i have to play with crossed king if i am a Muslim , We should make a king with Islamic symbol too right?!!!!!!!!!!!! is that what they want !!!!
as a Muslim I don't agree with this, why would I like to have religious symbol in a "game"?
Jan 24, 2026
0
#13
Technically speaking the pieces don't have a religion, they were made that way because it was brought to Europe and was refined there there was even a brief ban of chess in France (source: Bing Videos) thus the cross and bishop. Simply because the King has a cross (more of a plus sign + rather than an actual crucifix) or the fact there is a bishop doesn't mean it isn't intended for Non-Christians or is biased (I'm a Muslim and my fav piece is the Bishop) it was just how it was made over the centuries and became the standard and has no symbolism or meaning other than history that shaped the game. Also, saying that the knight represents elitism doesn't really make much sense because a game entire purpose is for people to have fun, and not really to represent anything other than to be a banner for its community. So, we shouldn't really make much fuss about petty things that wouldn't make a difference at all. =D
I don't mean this in an anti-christian way. But since chess is a global game that originated in India and Persia then spread through the Islamic countries to the Western world, then we should abolish all religious symbols. Without the cross, it'll be neutral, and more representative of the millions over the globe who play the game.