What dose the fish decal stand for that I see on most cars?

Question

I know that it has to do with Christianity but what is its origin

Answer 1

The Greek word for fish is "ixthus" or "icthus." The Christian fish symbol that many Christians place on their car is known as the “ixthus.” Five Greek letters form the word “ixthus,” and those letters inside the fish form an acrostic which is a message that Christians clearly identified with. The first letter represented the word Jesus. The second letter represented the word Christ, the next two, God Son, and the final letter represented the word Savior. This adds up to “Jesus Christ is God’s Son, the Savior.” During early Christianity, Christians were often put to death for practicing their faith, so they worshiped in secret places. A fish painted on the outside door of a house let other Christians know that they would be safe and welcome inside. The Christian fish symbol is now often used to identify Christians and/or Christian businesses.

Answer 2

Back in early times, Christians were persecuted and so in order to identify themselves to one another ~ they would draw a fish decal...(in the sand, or whatever...) Or, at least that's what I've heard...

Next question: What does "fish" have to do with Christianity?

I don't really know. But I have my own association for it:

Christians are called to be "fishers" of men. (But again, that's just my own personal symbolization --- not an actual fact.) Neat though, isn't it??

Am I right in assuming that you're Wicca?

Answer 3

Glenn 3 is right.

I am a christian & understand the beginnign of why christans used it under Roman rule.
But that isn't the root of the symbol, it is indeed a pagan fertility godess vagina.
Neither is the cross originally a christian symbol: it was used for thousands of years by sun worshipping cultures & represented the 4 directions the sun shined on.
The bible tells us to be knowledgable, to not use symbols to show who we are & it warns of the spiritual law that anything that has unholy roots cannot have holy branches. Add those 3 things up: christians should research for themselves the origins of the traditions & practices they participate in & they shouldn't be using symbols & or practicing traditions that were pagan in origin

Answer 4

It is a vagina.


"Well before Christianity, the fish symbol was known as "the Great Mother," a pointed oval sign, the "vesica piscis" or Vessel of the Fish. "Fish" and "womb" were synonymous terms in ancient Greek,"delphos." Its link to fertility, birth, feminine sexuality and the natural force of women was acknowledged also by the Celts, as well as pagan cultures throughout northern Europe. Eleanor Gaddon traces a "Cult of the Fish Mother" as far back as the hunting and fishing people of the Danube River Basin in the sixth millennium B.C.E. Over fifty shrines have been found throughout the region which depict a fishlike deity, a female creature who "incorporates aspects of an egg, a fish and a woman which could have been a primeval creator or a mythical ancestress..." The "Great Goddess" was portrayed elsewhere with pendulous breasts, accentuated buttocks and a conspicuous vaginal orifice, the upright "vesica piscis" which Christians later adopted and rotated 90-degrees to serve as their symbol."

Answer 5

It was a sign for christians to meet other christians. When it was bad to be a christian under the roman government. They would draw half of the fish in the sand. If the other person finished the fish you new they were a christian. I stems from the story of jesus feeding the masses with the fish and bread.

Answer 6

Jesus taught his disciples to be "fishers of men", and so the fish symbol was a secret code when Christians met since they feared the Romans. The first one would scratch in either the top half or the bottom half of the fish, and the next one would complete it by scratching in the other half. It was a great security method. God Bless you.

Answer 7

This classic Christion Fish design features Greek letters in the middle. The letters spell out the word fish and also stand for a Greek phrase which translates to 'Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior'

Answer 8

It is secret symbol for early Christians. People could not profess their faith for fear of persecution but they used the fish sign as a way to identify one another. Now the the word fish is greek has the letters the a stands for Jesus Christ Son Savoir.... I can not remember the exact thing...sorry.

Answer 9

It stems from the miracle of the fishes and loaves. Later (whether true or not, I can't verify) Christians in ancient Rome fearing persecution (becoming a lion's appetizer) would only reveal themselves to one another while casually talking to one another by sweeping their toe in the dirt to create an arc. If the other person was a Christian, they would reveal it by sweeping their foot in a similar arc to finish the fish figure you see on the backs of cars.

Answer 10

Most people who put those fish on their car don't know what it means. They are just going along with the herd. Become a christian. Carry a bible. Put a fish on your bumber. Listen to christian rock. Follow the herd. Follow the herd. Follow the herd. That's what being a christian is all about -- being part of a herd.