Content deleted Content added
FSM |
Anachronist (talk | contribs) →Gallery: two more from an October 2014 revision of this article |
||
| (664 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{short description|Variation or parody of the Christian ichthys symbol}}
[[File:Ichthys C-Class.jpg|thumb|A modern ''ΙΧΘΥΣ'' ("ichthys") fish symbol on a car]]
[[File:Ichthus.svg|thumb|An empty modern fish symbol]]
The [[ichthys]] symbol (or "Jesus fish") is a sign typically used to proclaim an affiliation with or affinity for [[Christianity]]. The fish was originally adopted by [[early Christianity|early Christians]] as a secret symbol, but the many variations known today first appeared in the 1980s. Some of these are made by Christians in order to promote a specific doctrine or theological perspective, such as [[evolutionary creation]].
Both the traditional ichthys and its variations are found at [[Religious goods store|religious goods stores]] and are used to adorn the [[bumper (automobile)|bumpers]] or [[trunk (automobile)|trunks]] of [[automobile]]s, often in the form of adhesive badges made of [[chrome plating|chrome-colored plastic]].<ref name="Penny2009">{{cite book |last1=Penny |first1=Laura |title=Your Call Is Important To Us: The Truth About Bullshit |date=13 March 2009 |publisher=McClelland & Stewart |isbn=978-1-55199-288-4 |page=18 |language=en}}</ref>
Other variations are intended for the purpose of [[satire]] by non-Christian groups.
==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| total_width = 320
| image1 = Ephesus IchthysCrop.jpg
| width1 = 550
| height1 =
| alt1 = Ancient circular ichthys symbol
| caption1 = An ancient circular [[ichthys]] symbol, created by combining the Greek letters ''ΙΧΘΥΣ'', [[Ephesus]], 2nd century CE
| image2 = Eucharistic bread and fish.jpg
| width2 = 320
| height2 =
| blt2 = Eucharistic bread and fish, mural art, in Catacombe di San Callisto, Rom
| caption2 = [[Eucharist]]ic bread and fish, [[Catacomb of Callixtus|Catacombs of Rome]]
| footer =
| direction = vertical
}}
An ancient [[Hellenistic period#Hellenistic Middle East|Hellenistic]] Christian slogan espoused the Greek [[acronym]]/[[acrostic]]<ref>{{cite book|author1=Christian H. Bull|author2= Liv Ingeborg Lied|author3= John D. Turner|title=Mystery and Secrecy in the Nag Hammadi Collection and Other Ancient Literature: Ideas and Practices|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qCwaSTk5iEcC&pg=PA327 |isbn=978-90-04-21207-7|publisher=Koninklijke Brill NV|___location=Leiden, The Netherlands|year=2012|page=327}}</ref> {{lang|grc|ΙΧΘΥΣ}} ({{transliteration|grc|ichthys}}) for {{lang|grc|Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ}} ({{transliteration|grc|Iēsous Christos, Theou Yios, Sōtēr}}), which translates into English as '[[Jesus]] [[Christ]], [[Son of God]], [[Redeemer (Christianity)|Saviour]]'; the Greek word {{transliteration|grc|ichthys}} translating to 'fish' in English. The first appearances of fish symbols as adopted in Christian art and literature date to the 2nd century AD. Some fish symbol variations, called the ''Jesus fish'', contain the English word ''Jesus'' in the center, or are empty entirely.<ref name=Temperman/>
Jeroen Temperman, with regard to the Jesus Fish, writes that:
{{quotation|It stands for or represents something other than itself, that something else being Jesus Christ. It is directed primarily at some audience that knows how properly to interpret the symbol. It is on one level a reference to our invocation of Christ's invitation in Matthew to become "[[fishers of men]]". But it incorporates additional means as well. The fish symbol is a pictorial representation of the Greek word ''Ichthys'', which was itself used as an acronym for ''Iesous Christos, Theou Yios, Soter'', meaning "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior". This was a secret symbol used by early Christians to help them identify one another without exposing themselves to their enemies.<ref name="Temperman2012">{{cite book|last=Temperman|first=Jeroen|title=The Lautsi Papers: Multidisciplinary Reflections on Religious Symbols in the Public School Classroom|date=6 September 2012|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|language=English |isbn=9789004222519|page=43}}</ref>}}
In the [[early Church]], the Ichthys symbol held "the most sacred significance", and Christians used it to recognize churches and other believers through this symbol because they were [[Anti-Christian policies in the Roman Empire|persecuted by the Roman Empire]].<ref name="JowettO'Donnell2014">{{cite book|last1=Jowett|first1=Garth S.|last2=O'Donnell|first2=Victoria|title=Propaganda & Persuasion|date=11 March 2014|publisher=SAGE Publications|language=English |isbn=9781483323527|page=86|quote=Initially used as a secret sign during the time when Christians were persecuted by the Roman authorities, the fish symbolized the mission of the group it represented and did so simply and effectively.}}</ref> The Ichtus symbol is also a reference to "the [[Holy Eucharist]], with which the [[Feeding the multitude|miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes]] had such intimate connection both in point of time and significance."<ref>{{cite book|title=The Irish Monthly, Volume 12|year=1884|language=English |page=89|quote=It must, however, be born in mind that the "fish," specially in those early days, was a Christian symbol of the most sacred significance. The name ''ichthus'', which is the Greek word for fish, and the fish itself are of constant recurrence amongst the sacred symbols of the early Christians in the Catacombs. The letters of the Greek word formed the initial letters of this sentence: "Jesus Christ, of God the Son, our Saviour." The heavenly Ichthus, then, was Jesus Christ, and we are the smaller fishes, born in the waters of baptism, as Tertullian says, caught in the net of salvation, and thus made members of the heavenly kingdom. There is a reference to the same symbol to the Holy Eucharist, with which the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes had such intimate connection both in point of time and significance. }}</ref> While many Christians hang a [[cross necklace]] or [[rosary]] inside their vehicles, "the fish sticker on the car is a more conscious symbol of a [[evangelism|witnessing]] Christian--significantly, unlike the former, it is on the outside of the car for everyone to see".<ref name="Garbowski2014">{{cite book|last=Garbowski|first=Christopher|title=Religious Life in Poland: History, Diversity and Modern Issues|date=27 January 2014|publisher=McFarland|language=en-GB |isbn=9780786475896|page=222|quote=If folk religion is demonstrated by drivers with rosaries hanging from rearview mirrors or St. Christopher figures on the dashboard, still common enough in Poland, the fish sticker on the car is a more conscious symbol of a witnessing Christian--significantly, unlike the former, it is on the outside of the car for everyone to see. This stops some interested Catholics from placing the symbol on their cars, since they feel might not live up to the good driving practices that should accompany its presence.}}</ref>
Some [[Christian anarchism|Christian Anarchists]] use an ichthys combined with an anarchist [[Anarchist symbolism#Circle-A|Circle-A]] as a symbol of their beliefs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.anarchochristian.com/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=AnarchoChristian |language=en-US}}</ref><!-- Text did go to article [[Ichtys]] : no lemma doublettes -->
==
{{multiple image
| footer = The "Darwin fish" is a popular parody variant of the ichthys, often displayed by atheists (top), and a Christian variation designed to promote [[evolutionary creation]], the idea that biological evolution and a belief in a creator are compatible (bottom)
| width = 200
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| image1 = Darwin Fish 02.svg
| image2 = Jesus_Fish_variation_promoting_Evolutionary_Creation_-_Theistic_Evolution.jpg
}}
Jeroen Temperman states that there are "variations on this Ichthys symbol. Some variations add feet to the fish and inscribe 'Darwin' in the body. Others make reference to sushi, sharks, the food chain, fast food, the devil or death. How are we to interpret these variations? These adaptations are themselves susceptible to multiple interpretations, ranging from humour to critique, to mocking derision, to blasphemy."<ref name="Temperman">{{cite book|last=Temperman|first=Jeroen|title=The Lautsi Papers: Multidisciplinary Reflections on Religious Symbols in the Public School Classroom|date=6 September 2012|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|isbn=9789004222519|page=43|quote=It stands for or represents something other than itself, that something else being Jesus Christ. It is directed primarily at some audience that knows how properly to interpret the symbol. It is on one level a reference to our invocation of Christ's invitation in Matthew to become "[[fishers of men]]". But it incorporates additional means as well. The fish symbol is a pictorial representation of the Greek word ''Ichthys'', which was itself used as an acronym for ''Iesous Christos, Theou Yios, Soter'', meaning "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior". We also see variations on this Ichthys symbol. Some variations add feet to the fish and inscribe "Darwin" in the body. Others make reference to sushi, sharks, the food chain, fast food, the devil or death. How are we to interpret these variations? These adaptations are themselves susceptible to multiple interpretations, ranging from humour to critique, to mocking derision, to blasphemy.}}</ref> Among such parodies are the ''Darwin fish'' and the ''[[Gefilte fish]]'', often displayed by [[Atheism|atheists]] and Jews in the United States,<ref name="HooverClark2002">{{cite book |last1=Hoover |first1=Stewart M. |author-link=Stewart Hoover |url=https://archive.org/details/practicingreligi00hoov_681 |title=Practicing Religion in the Age of the Media: Explorations in Media, Religion, and Culture |last2=Clark |first2=Lynn Schofield |author-link2=Lynn Schofield Clark |date=January 2002 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=9780231120890 |page=[https://archive.org/details/practicingreligi00hoov_681/page/n289 277] |quote=Atheists and freethinkers have a visible presence in the United States. Many encounter them first through seeing a Darwin's Fish bumper sticker on a car. |url-access=limited}}</ref> and the "fish-hungry shark," displayed by [[Muslims]] in Egypt.<ref name="Michael">{{cite web |last=Michael |first=Maggie |date=30 November 2003 |title=Christian fish, Muslim shark swimming through Cairo traffic in war of stickers |url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/fish-and-sharks-fight-cairos-religious-wars-117859 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221005438/https://www.iol.co.za/news/world/fish-and-sharks-fight-cairos-religious-wars-117859 |archive-date=21 February 2017 |access-date=12 April 2015 |publisher=[[The Day (New London)|The Day]] |quote=First came the fish bumper stickers, imported from the United States and pasted on cars by members of Egypt's Coptic minority as a symbol of their Christianity. Before long, some Muslims responded with their own bumper stickers: fish-hungry sharks. The stickers are sold in Islamic bookshops and some also come plain or fancy – some with the Arabic phrase "No god but Allah" printed in the shark's body. Emad, a Muslim, laughed when asked about the competing symbols but was unapologetic about the two shark stickers on his car. "The Christians had the fish so we responded with the shark. If they want to portray themselves as weak fishes, OK. We are the strongest," said Emad who would only give his first name.}}</ref> People who see no conflict between Christian belief and the evidence of science regarding evolution have responded with decals from [[religious goods store]]s that depict a Jesus fish with feet representing ''[[theistic evolution|evolutionary creationism]]''.<ref name="HoltcampMcKenna2000">{{cite web |last1=Holtcamp |first1=Wendee |last2=McKenna |first2=Gene |title=The Fish Wars |url=https://www.asa3.org/ASA/topics/Youth%20Page/FishWars1.html |publisher=[[American Scientific Affiliation]] |access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref><ref>Borgeson, Phina (2009, February 13)."Evolution and faith in dialogue." Episcopal News Service. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/article/evolution-and-faith-dialogue</ref> The scientist Wendee Holtcamp has been among the more prominent promoters of this image.<ref name="HoltcampMcKenna2000" />
[[Image:Flying spaghetti monster emblem 2.jpg|framed|The Flying Spaghetti Monster emblem]]▼
===
[[File:Adler-fängt-fisch.jpg|thumbnail|The "[[Eagle catching Fish]]" symbol used by the ''[[Artgemeinschaft]]'' [[racism|racist]] anti-Christian [[neopaganism|neopagan]] group showing an eagle (representing paganism) catching an Ichthys (representing Christianity)]]
The German ''[[Artgemeinschaft]]'' group, promoting [[racism|racist]] [[neopaganism]], uses a registered symbol showing an eagle catching an ichthys fish.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://asatru.de/versand/picture/aufkleber/fischadler.jpg |title=Artgemeinschaft |access-date=2010-11-25 |archive-date=2011-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716191059/http://asatru.de/versand/picture/aufkleber/fischadler.jpg |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://register.dpma.de/DPMAregister/marke/register/28153/302381058/DE Registration]</ref> This symbol, known as "[[eagle catching fish]]" ({{Langx|de|Adler fängt Fisch}}), was later used by other racist groups such as [[neo-Nazism|neo-Nazis]] in Germany. While the symbol was created and used by [[esoteric Nazism|far-right pagan]] circles, not all groups that use it have far-right tendencies or are racist, though many do promote anti-Christian sentiment.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.confessio.de/faq/1113 | title=Adler fängt Fisch - Was bedeutet das Symbol? | date=20 February 2018 }}</ref> In 2012, a coat of arms for the new district of [[Mecklenburgische Seenplatte (district)|Mecklenburgische Seenplatte]] was proposed, including the depiction of the eagle catching a fish that was previously used in the coat of arms of the former district of [[Müritz (district)|Müritz]], which was one of the districts merged to create Mecklenburgische Seenplatte. The coat of arms was rejected for use after discovery of the fact that the "eagle catching fish" symbol was used by neo-Nazis, as they are treated with disdain in German public opinion with their symbols subsequently stigmatized ([[Strafgesetzbuch section 86a|and for some symbols, banned altogether]]).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nordkurier.de/cmlink/nordkurier/lokales/neubrandenburg/adler-backstein-welle-wappen-fur-die-seenplatte-1.450778 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130916074137/http://www.nordkurier.de/cmlink/nordkurier/lokales/neubrandenburg/adler-backstein-welle-wappen-fur-die-seenplatte-1.450778 | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 16, 2013 | title=Seite konnte nicht aufgerufen werden }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nordkurier.de/cmlink/nordkurier/lokales/neubrandenburg/auf-den-wappen-adler-fliegen-auch-die-neonazis-1.451924 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130916074123/http://www.nordkurier.de/cmlink/nordkurier/lokales/neubrandenburg/auf-den-wappen-adler-fliegen-auch-die-neonazis-1.451924 | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 16, 2013 | title=Seite konnte nicht aufgerufen werden }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nordkurier.de/cmlink/nordkurier/lokales/neubrandenburg/komplett-neue-entwurfe-fur-kreis-wappen-1.452503 | title=Seite konnte nicht aufgerufen werden }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
=== Fish-hungry sharks ===
[[Category:Symbols]]▼
In Egypt, many [[Coptic Orthodox Christian]]s display the fish symbol on their vehicles as a sign of their faith, and Islamic fundamentalists responded with "fish-hungry sharks", some including the phrase "[[No god but allah|no god but Allah]]" within the body of the shark.<ref name=Michael/> One Egyptian Muslim was quoted in [[The Day (New London)|''The Day'']] as saying "The Christians had the fish so we responded with the shark. If they want to portray themselves as weak fishes, OK. We are the strongest."<ref name=Michael/>
=== Criticism ===
Rhetorical scholar Thomas Lessl conducted a survey of users of the Darwin fish emblem. Based on their responses, he interprets the symbol as scientific "[[blackface]]", a parody that is one part mockery and one part imitation.<ref name="Lessl2007">{{cite journal|last1=Lessl|first1=Thomas M.|title=The Culture of Science and the Rhetoric of Scientism: From Francis Bacon to the Darwin Fish|journal=Quarterly Journal of Speech|volume=93|issue=2|year=2007|pages=123–149|issn=0033-5630|doi=10.1080/00335630701426785|s2cid=59016185}}</ref> Lessl suggests that the "various ideas that users plainly compress into this emblem are suggestive of [[scientism]]", and adds that the Darwin fish is an advertisement for the [[conflict thesis]], an idea, which according to Lessl, is "now thoroughly discredited by historians".<ref name="Lessl2007"/>
[[Jonah Goldberg]], in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' criticized the Darwin fish, stating that:
{{blockquote|I find the Darwin fish offensive. First there's the smugness. The undeniable message: Those Jesus fish people are less evolved, less sophisticated than we Darwin fishes. The hypocrisy is even more glaring. Darwin fish are often stuck next to bumper stickers promoting tolerance or admonishing random motorists that "hate is not a family value." But the whole point of the Darwin fish is intolerance; similar mockery of a cherished symbol would rightly be condemned if aimed at blacks or women or, yes, Muslims.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/la-oe-goldberg1apr01-column.html|title=Evolution of religious bigotry|last=Goldberg|first=Jonah|date=1 April 2008|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=12 April 2015}}</ref>}}
In the ''[[National Review]]'', Goldberg further stated that "one of the problems with the Darwin Fish is that it assumes all Jesus Fishers are Creationists. And I agree that this is one of the problems. But it is not the only one. The 'evolve' fish, I think has a double-meaning in that it suggests Christians should evolve from Christianity. I also think mucking about with the symbol of the fish is itself offensive because the symbol is sacred and has no secular counterpart."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/161092/jesus-fish-agonistes-jonah-goldberg|title=Jesus Fish Agonistes|last=Goldberg|first=Jonah|date=2 April 2008|publisher=[[National Review]]|access-date=12 April 2015}}</ref>
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Truth fish.jpg|An ichtys with the word "Truth" in it, eating a Darwin fish, portraying a version of [[Old Earth Creationism]] that rejects biological evolution
File:Science Ichthys.jpg|Science fish-rocket
File:Trekhtys.svg|"[[Star Trek|Trek]] Fish", reportedly designed by [[Rod Roddenberry|Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry Jr.]]
▲
File:Cthulhufish.jpg|[[Cthulhu]] depicted in a parody of the ichthys bumper ornament
File:Gefiltefish.JPG|"[[Gefilte fish]]" bumper ornament
File:Headless Ichthys.svg|Headless ichthys
File:Hanged Ichthys.svg|Hooked ichthys
</gallery>
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{Commonscatinline}}
[[Category:Pictograms|Ichthys, variations]]
[[Category:Religious symbols|Ichthys, variations]]
[[Category:Religious parodies and satire|Ichthys, variations]]
[[de:Fisch (Christentum)#Parodien und Polemik]]
| |||