Why is the fish a symbol of christianity? I thought idolatry was blasphemous?

Question

thanks every1, that cleared things up. There are a lot of good answers so I'll just let the yahooanswers community vote. Peace.

Answer 1

Idolatry is the worship of anything other than God. Christians do not worship a fish. Not long after the death and resurrection of Christ, the church experienced terrible persecution. In order to safeguard Christians from being caught during worship, they established a secret sign only true believers would be aware of. One of Jesus' greatest miracles was feeding the multitude with only five loaves and fishes. The early church thought this an appropriate sign, since they were hoping for a miracle, and if anyone entered the Church who didn't know the sign, they knew to be wary, for the person was probably an infiltrator. Today, the sign reminds us of the terrible suffering our early Christian Brethren experienced, but we in no way worship this sign and thus it is not idoltary.

Answer 2

That's two questions. I'll answer them separately if that's okay. There are a number of reasons for the use of the fish symbol, all different, and all of which probably have a small grain of truth. When Jesus called the disciples, he told them that he would make them "fishers of men." So that makes those of us who joined later, after 33 A.D... well, we'd be the fish, right? :-) Another reason: The initial letters of each word in the Greek phrase "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior" form the word ICHTHUS, which means "fish."

Lastly, in many places in the world, both in the past and present, being a Christian was not a popular thing. It could be downright dangerous, and that two-line symbol of the fish that you see on the backs of cars is easy to draw, and easy to erase. I had heard of this use long before John McCain's book came out. He tells of being tortured in Viet Nam. One of the tortures was to tie you up, very tightly, in an uncomfortable position, and then leave you there all night. By morning you'd be in agony. McCain tells of the time that a guard came into his cell just after this was done, and untied him. He spent the night untied. Then, just before dawn, the guard returned and tied him in the original position, so he would be found that way by his interrogators when they returned at dawn, and they would think he spent the night that way. McCain wondered why this guard would show him this kindness, at the risk of his own life. One day, he and the guard were standing in the yard out by the fence. Neither spoke. The guard traced two overlapping semi-circles in the dust with his foot-- the sign of the fish! Then he wiped out the sign, and walked away.

The answer to your second question is easy. You're right-- idolatry is blasphemy. So if you see anyone kneeling down and worshipping a fish, then they're probably committing blasphemy. But I don't hear about fish-worshipping ceremonies too much-- how about you? Using the symbol as a logo isn't really the same as worshipping it.

The fish isn't alone. Througout the ages Christianity has used a number of logos or symbols for decoration or for purposes of group identity: the lamb, the cross, the dove... the list goes on and on. Legend has it that Patrick used the shamrock to help explain the concept of the trinity. Nobody in Ireland prays to the shamrock, though. :-)

Answer 3

My donkey says:

As you probably know, the fish sign <'))<>< was a mark over secret meeting places in Rome.

The first letters of the Greek words Iesous CHristos THeou Uio Soter, "Jesus Christ God's Son and Savior," spell ICHTHUS, Greek for fish.

You will recall that Jesus said: "I will make you fishers of men" Thus christians adopted the symbol.

There were also symbols of angels on the curtain in God's holy temple. God told them to put them there, but, the Law prohibits calling them God, or bowing to them.

If you find a cult worshiping a fish, let me know. And, be certain to read further the secret Bible Code at http://abiblecode.tripod.com

Blessings, Balaam

Answer 4

The Christian fish emblem was a logo that Christians in the old days would draw with their feet, half way, in the sand, when meeting somone. To prove the person they were meeting with was a Christian, they would complete the image.

The fish comes from the verse "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

It is not idolatry because you are not worshipping a fish.

The fish emblem is called ichihus) and it stands for “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.”

Answer 5

this is because during the persecution of christianity by rome, the christians needed a way to meet in secret and not fall for many traps set for them. so as to direct them to the proper meeting place, this symbol and others were engraved on walls, buildings, whatever as signs. also when they met they also had to speak certain scriptures as passwords to enter. the idolatry that was blasphemous was the ones base upon non existing gods, whereas the fish, dove, wind, oil, wine, gold, silver, colors, number etc are all symbols of the trinity of GOD.

Answer 6

The fish became associated with Christianity as a secret code of sorts. "Icthus" is Greek for "fish." During the various persecutions that Christians suffered during the early years of the church, the ichtus was used to identify believers and places of worship.

For example, it was common for people to stop and greet one another along a road. During this conversation, a Christian would draw an arc in the dirt with his sandal or toe. If the other person he was greeting was a Christian, he would draw another arc from his side, with the tail intersecting. This resulted in the fish. If an authority figure were to pass by, they would see a couple of guys with a fish between them, and if he heard the word "ichtus," would likely think they were fishermen.

The Greek letters in the fish symbol you find on cars spell out the word "Ichtus" in the Greek, and each letter means something:

Iota: "Iesous" which means "Jesus"

Chi: "Christos" which means "Christ"

Theta: "Theos" which means "God"

Upsilon: "Uios" which means "Son"

Sigma: "Soter" which means "Savior"

It is not an idolatrous symbol, unless someone makes it out to be. I can't imagine anyone doing that these days, however.

Answer 7

I heard that in the beginnings of Christianity, Christians would draw the symbol of the fish in the sand to recognize each other.
It is idolatry if you worship the symbols. God would have contradicted Himself by having the Hebrews make the images of the cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant. They did not worship the images.

Answer 8

way back in the day, when jesus was still walking the earth, people were killed for being his followers. so, they came up with a plan, like a secret knock to find out if someone was also a follower. the "secret knock" was makeing half a fish sign with your toe in the sand. if the other person made the second half of the fish then they knew it was ok to talk freely.
i think that is why the fish symbol is one of the symbols of christianity

Answer 9

Jesus was said to be born in the age of Pisces and fish is its symbol. That is aside from calling his disciples fishers of men. The first apostle was a fisherman,Simon.
Do not worry about Idolatry using the symbol of fish. Calling God in the name of Jesus is already great blasphemy. The Catholics have many saints starting from Mary down to the latest Pope John Paul II (whom they are rushing for canonization) are also displayed in major altars in all their churches with people making novenas and parading on the streets, singing songs to everyone of them on bent knees.

Answer 10

Symbolism is not Idolism.

You don't worship the fish, you use it as a convenient pictorial representation of God. Its easier to draw a fish than a man (assuming that a picture of a man could be used to represent God).

As to why a fish...
The use of the Ichthys symbol appears to date from towards the end of the 1st century AD. Ichthus (ΙΧΘΥΣ, Greek for fish) is an acronym, which is a word formed from the initial letters of the several words in the name. It compiles to "Jesus Christ God's Son is Saviour" or "Jesus Christ God's Son Saviour", in ancient Greek "Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ"