Is it true that the symbol for christianity used to be a fish?

Question

If the symbol used to be a fish then why was it switched to a cross, I know it was the enemy of Christ that named his followers. Under whose rule was this switched and why. The fish was used because Jesus was a fisher of souls. If we can switch symbols that easy then what does it all mean?

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

The symbols were never switched. The cross has been a symbol for Christianity for almost the same time. The fish is still used today as a symbol for Christ.

Answer 3

Christianity, and particularly Catholicism is very rich in symbolism.

The Catholic Church exists in every country, all around the world, yet maintains exactly the same beliefs and practices.

Properly used, symbols allow people of different languages and cultures to share the exact same understandings, without encountering translation problems.

The early Christians first used the fish symbol, and later, once Christianity was no longer officially persecuted, the cross.

Both the fish and the cross continue to symbolize Christianity today.

There are a number of other well known symbols, too.

Answer 4

Symbols are just that...symbols. They really mean only what the person choosing it chooses it to mean. The cross signifies the fact that Jesus died for us.. but his death could have been on a tree or on a post or whatever. The Catholic cross has Jesus actually hanging on it. For most of the other Christian faiths, Jesus has been removed and only the cross itself remains as a symbol. Like most things that differ from religion to religion, it is all about what the people in charge want to do.

I wish I could give you the historical answer but I am afraid that I do not know when exactly the switch took place.

Answer 5

Actually both symbols can and are used today as symbols of Christianity.

The fish started in the early church by the Christians who lived in sever persecution. If the Romans found out that they were Christians they would most likely be put to death because of it. Therefore, in order to show others you were a Christian in those days you would draw the fish symbol on the ground so you wouldn't have to say it out load and risk the possibility of being arrested. They did this to show others that they were Christians.

Answer 6

In the early days a symbol called the Vesica Pisces (today known as a Jesus Fish) was used for christians to identify each other. One would make one side of the Jesus fish in the sand and the other would complete it - and they would know they were talking to a kindred. The cross was more a banner, the vesica pisces a secret handshake.

Peace!

Answer 7

There has never been an official symbol of Christianity.
The fish symbol is still very common,and you will see many fish stickers on the backs of cars,for example.
Another sybol that used to be used was the anchor.
No one ruled a symbol to be used.It's completely up to the person as to what symbol they may want to use.It says nothing about Christianity.

Answer 8

During the Roman persecution of the Church, the "fish" was used as a sort of "password" among believers. It was innocuous, but those who were Christians understood it meant "fishers of men." Much as the "masonic" orders use secret greetings amongst themselves and to identify each other.

It was only after the persecution of the Church ended that the Cross became the more "public" icon of the Church.

Answer 9

No
It is a secret symbol for Christianity, It was used before the cross, and is still in use today. The empty cross is still the symbol of a risen savior.

Answer 10

The fish (ICHTHUS) was an early sign....but so was the Cross. The ICHTHUS was used for identifying fellow Christians....one person would draw half of the sign of the fish on the dirt with his foot....the other person would complete it.

These were dark days....the days of real persecution and martyrdom.