i am confused...

[pupaphobia]

why is the symbol of Jesus Christ that fish-looking thing? Nobody has ever explained it to me.
For people who do not know what I am talking about it looks like this: <><  

[Manual Calavera]

The disciples, when spreading the teachings of Christ, drew one curved line in the sand (half the fish). If the person they were talking to knew what they meant (and thus have already had someone share the truth of life with them), they drew the other line, completing the fish.

It was a simple movement: The arch one's arm makes while moving makes that curved line, so artistic talent wasn't required.

On an aside: I much prefer this symbol to the cross, which was not just used on Jesus. It's like making the symbol of someone you love who was shot a handgun. Anywho: I hope that helped.

EDIT: To be fair, it also strikes me as an appropriate symbol for "fishers of men".  

[Sarcastic_Angel]

agreed. they used it to recognize each other, one drawing one half like with their foot when they were talking, and the other finishing it. They would also use it to mark meeting places since worshiping God was forbidden. Romans passing by would assume it was a childs drawing or something since it was so simple.  

[Manual Calavera]

And because it was so easily reproduced, it hasn't been forgotten, even after Rome adopted Christianity as its national religion.  

[AspergersKitty]

Wow, I never knew that! heart Thanks for sharing this!  

[Grayfriend]

I totally love the fish symbol, and the history behind it. I quite agree, it's much less morbid than the cross symbol.  

[pnai_pride777]

have you ever read
After Eden comics?? =]

http://www.answersingenesis.org/AfterEden/view.aspx?id=217
http://www.answersingenesis.org/AfterEden/view.aspx?id=201
http://www.answersingenesis.org/AfterEden/view.aspx?id=199
http://www.answersingenesis.org/AfterEden/view.aspx?id=188
http://www.answersingenesis.org/AfterEden/view.aspx?id=140
http://www.answersingenesis.org/AfterEden/view.aspx?id=117
http://www.answersingenesis.org/aftereden/view.aspx?id=34

sweatdrop just a thought...  

[dirtdevilgrunt13]

Some of the Dicisples were fish gathers as i was told..  

[Manual Calavera]

AspergersKitty

Wow, I never knew that! heart Thanks for sharing this!

You're welcome.  

[CrimsonDan]

i thought it had something to do with the miracle jesus did where he fed the five thousand.  

[w01f-k1tty]

o_O The Face says hi.

The disciples, when spreading the teachings of Christ, drew one curved line in the sand (half the fish). If the person they were talking to knew what they meant (and thus have already had someone share the truth of life with them), they drew the other line, completing the fish.

It was a simple movement: The arch one's arm makes while moving makes that curved line, so artistic talent wasn't required.

On an aside: I much prefer this symbol to the cross, which was not just used on Jesus. It's like making the symbol of someone you love who was shot a handgun. Anywho: I hope that helped.

EDIT: To be fair, it also strikes me as an appropriate symbol for "fishers of men".

It also had to do with the time period. The romans/jews (i'm not trying to be racist, it's just history) were on the war path against Christians. If u drew one half of the fish in the road, and the other finished it, then they were a Christian. That meant it was safe to talk about Christian teachings. It was kinda like a secret handshake. One that kept them from blabbing to the wrong person and getting killed.  

[Arachibutyrophobic]

ravenspi

I totally love the fish symbol, and the history behind it. I quite agree, it's much less morbid than the cross symbol.

blueprints for the black market...

♥
Take out the offensive and life is boring.
If you cast out the cross symbol,
You're prettymuch trying to cover up the fact that
He. Died.
And rose again.
So replacing the cross with the fish is...
outrageous.
We're not here to make Chritianity nicey-nicey,
We're here to spread the light.
there's nothing wrong with the fish,
It's just that the cross is everything we believe in.

...anberlin

Donate your extra tickets? Them's mighty appretiated!