Here's one for you, right from the Reasoning Book. This is what did it for us. pg 89 under subheading 'Cross'. In that first paragraph you will notice a quote from the IMPERIAL BIBLE Dictionary. There a few [...] in there. When you go to the ACTUAL source. Link below. The IBD says something quite differently that what is quoted in the Reasoning Book and is actually pro-cross.
Why
doWatchTowerpublicationsshowJesusonastakewithhandsoverhisheadinsteadofonthetraditionalcross?
The Greek word rendered “cross” in many modern Bible versions (“torture stake” in NW) is stau·ros
′ . In classical Greek, this word meant merely an upright stake, or pale. Later it also came to be used for an execution stake having a crosspiece. TheImperialBible-Dictionary acknowledges this, saying: “The Greek word for cross, [ stau·ros ′ ], properly signified a stake, an upright pole, or piece of paling, on which anything might be hung, or which might be used in impaling [fencing in] a piece of ground. . . . Even amongst the Romans the crux (from which our cross is derived) appears to have been originally an upright pole.”—Edited by P. Fairbairn (London, 1874), Vol. I, p. 376
What the IBD actually says:
The Greek word for cross, (stauros), properly signified a stake, an upright pole, or piece of paling, on which anything might be hung, or which might be used in impaling (fencing in) a piece of ground. But a modification was introduced as the dominion and usages of Rome extended themselves through Greek-speaking countries. Even amongst the Romans, the crux (from which the word cross is derived) appears to have been originally an upright pole, and always remained the more prominent part. But from the time that it began to be used as an instrument of punishment, a traverse piece of wood was commonly added: not however always then. … There can be no doubt, however, that the later sort was the more common, and that about the period of the Gospel Age, crucifixion was usually accomplished by suspending the criminal on a cross piece of wood.
… But the commonest form, it is understood, was that in which the upright piece of wood was crossed by another near the top, but not precisely at it, the upright pole running above the other, thus "a cross" and so making four, not merely two right angles. It was on a cross of this form, according to the general voice of tradition, that our Lord suffered.
... It may be added that crucifixion was abolished around the time of Constantine, in consequence of the sacred associations which the cross had now gathered around it."
Imperial Bible Dictionary pg 376
http://archive.org/stream/theimperialbible01unknuoft#page/376/mode/1up
