Why is the fish a symbol of Christianity?
409896
because christians act fishy  or smell funny ps mr klaw youre so cool:D (gah im a suck up)
253030
I am an Orthodox Jew and did a quick check on a few of my books.  The one thing I cannot find is any link between that kind of symbol and Judaism.  It was not used by any of the 12 tribes or any of the various Kings of Israel.\n\nIt doesn't meant here isn't any (I am no authority on this matter), but I cannot find one.  Maybe something more local to you and the area though.  Another option is that it is merely decorative- especially if it is an oriental dragon, orientalism has come and gone in fashion.  (A sudden thought- he wasn't originally Welsh was he?  It is a slim chance, I know)
1130331
OMG!! That means "eat fat fish" in Flemish!! WE'RE DOOMED!!\n\nWhy did the Lord speak in the language of the devil?!
522200
The sign of the fish shows that we're to fish for men, that is to win souls for Christ.
904098
For one thing, the Old Testament prophets often performed symbolic acts to gain attention and convey their message. Jeremiah, for instance, was ordered to break a potter's flask in Israel's sight, as a symbol of how God will smash Israel (Jeremiah 19). \n\nThe Hebrew Scriptures often use figs or the fig tree as a symbol of Israel. In Hosea, for example, we find God saying, "Like grapes in the desert, I found Israel. Like the first fruits of the fig tree in its prime, I considered your fathers" (Hosea 9:10). \n\nFinally, we should put the Gospel incident back in context. Mark's story of the fig tree is sandwiched around his account of Jesus' cleansing of the Temple. \n\nIt is interesting to note that when Matthew tells of Jesus cursing the fig tree he omits the fact figs were not yet in season. Admittedly, this is a bothersome detail and something of a distraction. But it should not lead us away from the point. Whatever is to be said about figs being in season, Jesus wants to teach a lesson in the here and now. He can't wait around for two or three months until the fig crop is due! \n\nThe point, then, for the apostles is the fruitlessness of the Temple worship and piety at Jesus' time. Like the fig tree's abundance of green leaves, the activities of the Temple give the impression of religious vitality, but the Temple worship is barren. \n\nFrom a distance it appeared to be fruitful, but on close examination, it proved fuitless. The reality was different from appearance. This fig tree was in that context symbolic of Jerusalem, the center of Jewish nation. From a distance Jerusalem gave the impression of a fruitful people, but on close examination, they proved fruitless. \n\nJust like a fruitless tree, a fruitless people also will be removed from God's garden. \n\nRead the parable of the unfaithful stewards aong with this.
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The devil is identified as the goat enclosed within a downpointing pentagram.  This became the official sigil of the Church of Satan, but they did not invent this sign; nor is this sign ancient.\n\nThe idol of a winged goat-man with a reversed pentagram on its head is called Baphomet, etymologically deriving its name from eastern cultures (possible Arabic meaning "Father of Understanding" or Seat of Understanding").  It first became known thanks to the Knights Templars and their famous trial for idolatry.  \n\nThere have been some scholars who beleive Christianity co-opted the figure of Dionysus, Greek God of wine, ecstacy and divine life, to suppress his worship by likening him to Satan.  Be/c Dionysus was also known as Dionysus Soter, Dionysus Eleftherios, etc (Dionysus Savior, Dionysus Liberator) because he was the main figure int he Eleusinian Mysteries and his function was to grant salvation to the "soul"..... just as Jesus would come to pronounce in later centuries, early Christian circles co-opted the imagery of his known familiars (goats, namely satyrs, mythical half man-half goat figures) and likened it to a representation of Satan to crush the Dionysian worship.\n\nThe pentagram is an ancient symbol, best known from the Pythagoreans, but used by many cultures in antiquity....  Where the Pythagoreans used the words Hygeia in each of the quarters of the pentagram, meaning Good Health, or a loose form of the contemporary pagan "BLESSED BE", the Pentagram was reversed by Satanists to demonstrate the anti-world and all of the qualities advocated by their "reversing" or ridiculing or literally "turning the mainstream conception of things on its head".  They include other lettering in the place of HYGEIA....\n\nIn any event,\nFor a good article, read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baphomet
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The reversed cross, also known as the cross of St. Peter, has also been used as an emblem of Satanism, although more often by non-satanists than believers. Historically, it has been a symbol of humility, a symbol of Martyred St. Peter's refusal to be crucified in the manner of Christ, preferring to be hung upside down.\n\nToday, the symbol of an upturned cross may symbolize an opposition to Christian dogma, a concept borrowed from Christian writers who mistook the emblem of Peter for an anti-Christian symbol- a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy!\n\nThe inverted cross is also an esoteric symbol of reversal, and is related to the 12th key of the tarot, the hanged man.
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Why is there a cross? Well, it is a visual reminder each time I see it that Jesus carried my sins on the cross. (1 Peter 2:24) We know what love is because Jesus gave up His life for us on the cross. (1 John 3:16) His death on the cross was part of God's plan for our redemption. ( 1 Peter 1:20) Jesus was willing to die for OUR SIN. (Matt 26:53-54) He is perfect. ( Heb 7:25-26, 1 Peter 2:22) He died on the cross so I could be free. (Rom 6:6, Rom 6:18)When He died on the cross, Jesus said " It is finished" ( john 19:30) the actual word He used means "It is paid for." Our sins were paid for. When Christ rose from the dead, our sin remained buried. Since Jesus is risen, we can share in His glory! (Coll 1:22, Rom 3:22) The cross, once a symbol of torture and shame, is now a symbol of the victory of Christ! ( Heb 12:2) If you place your trust in Jesus, He will be your salvation. (John 14:1,23) Nothing can separate us from God's love. (Rom 8:39) He is with us always, even unto the end of time. (Rom 8:38, Matt 28:20)\n\nI wear a cross to remind me of what my Lord and Savior did for me. I recall His sacrifice and thank Him for loving me. I wear my cross as I follow Him.
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Let me share a sermon illustration with you that can be applied to any volunteer work and not just evangelism.\n\nThere was a man who went down to the beach after there had been a tidal wave and he saw another man already on the beach walking and picking something up and throwing it in the water. When he got closer he saw that there were tens of thousands of small silver fish that had been washed up on the beach and who were slowly dying.\n\nHe came up to the man just as he threw another fish back in the ocean and asked him why he was doing what he was doing since there were so many fish on the sand it was obvious he couldn't get to even one one hundredth of them before they died. He said to him "You're wasting your time. What difference is it going to make if you throw a few of these fish back in the water?"\n\nThe man answered him as he threw another one back in and said "to that fish there, it makes all of the difference in the world".\n\nSo it is with volunteer work. You can only help a few people but the help you give can make all of the difference in the world to those few people.
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First, it is only called Easter in Germanic language countries, in the rest of the world, it is called pascha which means passover from pesach.  Oestara had a celebration during the equinox and Pascha tends to fall near the equinox.  Gradually Christianity destroyed the religion of Oestara but the name remains as a vestige.\n\nSecond, eggs have nothing to do with Christianity, however eggs are a sign of life.  The original Easter eggs were called pysanki and had Christian images on them.  All animal products were banned during the Christian fast to replicate the pre-Noah period.  Easter was the first day Christians could eat eggs so they dedicated them to Christ through art.  The practice of decorating eggs preceeds Christianity but Christianity coopted it.  In fact, Easter basked with eggs, cheese and meat are blessed every Easter morning following the Resurrection services for the first meal of the day.\n\nRabbits reproduce at extraordinary rates, they are a symbol of life and innocence.  It also is the case that a handful of societies worshipped animals and Easter falling near the solstice happens to overlap many other observances.  Christianity co-opted other people symbols to destroy their religion.  They took the bunny over in the process.
441247
I've always pictured God more as Aquaman.\nGiven the way we behave, I think he'd rather help the fish.
753883
ha ha thats funny!! i got one for ya. \n\nok so theres a preacher dude at the fish market right, and he hears this boy yelling "dam fish.get yer dam fish here" so he walks over and asks y he has to curse about the fish. the boy telsl him he calls it "dam fish" bc he caught the fish in a dam. so teh preacher buys 3 for dinner. so he goes home and says to his wife "honey i got some dam fish for dinner" so she goes "!!yer a preacher yer not suppose to talk liek tht!!" so he expalins to her why their called dam fish and so she makes them and tehy have them for dinner. so at the dinner table the preacher goes, "hey guyz u liek this dam fish rite?" and his son goes \n\n\n"thats the spirit dad, now pass those effin potoes"
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The constellation resembles two roundish objects, each of which is tied to the same point by a long length of string [1]. Generally the objects have been considered as fish, although since by including fainter stars visible to the naked eye, the strings themself take on the appearance of stick-figure bodies (with the roundish objects thus becoming heads). Some forms of early Greek mythology viewed it as men bound to a point. It is generally thought that in earlier depictions, only the constellation Piscis Austrinus was considered to be a fish.\n\nAccording to one version in Greek mythology, this constellation represents fish into which Aphrodite and her son Eros transformed in order to escape the monstrous Typhon. The two fishes are often depicted tied together with a cord (or their tails), to make sure they do not lose one another.\n\nAccording to another version, since the binding point is below the ecliptic, and thus considered to represent being in the underworld, and that one of the figures (the one on the left) appears to escape, but the other (on the right) seems to head back toward the ecliptic, then, together with Cetus (another constellation in the Zodiac sign of Pisces), this may have formed the basis of the myth of the capture of Cerberus, one of The Twelve Labours of Herakles.\n\nThe Fishes.\nbulletPisces contains that point in the sky occupied by the Sun during Vernal Equinox, the day on which the hours of daylight and night are equal, which falls about March 21.  So Pisces claims the number one position of importance among the twelve constellations of the Zodiac.\nbulletAccording to Greek myth, there was a monstrous god named Typhon, who was determined to overthrow Zeus and his entire group of gods.  So terrifying and powerful was the evil god that he caused the immortal followers of Zeus to flee into Egypt in exile.  Zeus alone remained behind to do battle and eventually conquer Typhon.  We are told that one day Aphrodite and her son Eros were walking along a riverbank when they sensed the presence of the monstrous god Typhon.  Quickly they plunged into the river where they took the form of fishes and escaped.  To this day we see them as the Northern Fish and the Western Fish of Pisces.\nbulletPisces was known by the Babylonians as Nunu, by the Persians as Mahik, and the Turks as Balik, all meaning "Fish."\nbulletThe Arabs also knew Pisces as Al Samakatain, or "the Two Fishes."\nbulletThe Syrians regarded fish as holy animals and so refused to eat them.\nbulletThe Chinese called Pisces at various times the Dark Warrior, the Northern Emperor, and the Pig.  But after missionaries were established in that country the constellation became known popularly as the Two Fishes.\nbulletA German story illustrates the wealth-giving power of fishes and points out a moral for greedy humans. This story describes how Antenteh and his wife lived in very poor circumstances in a cabin by the sea. Their only possessions were a crude cabin and a tub. They had filled the tub with down and feathers from swans and geese so that they might, at least, have a place to sit and rest. One day Antenteh caught a fish, which pulled and tugged so vehemently at the net that he decided to let the fish go back to the sea again. To the amazement of Antenteh, the fish started to speak to him. The fish told Antenteh that he was an enchanted prince and, in return for his release, Antenteh could ask for anything he desired. But Antenteh was a simple soul and felt so honoured at having rescued a person of such nobility that he would not accept anything. However, when his wife heard the story, she became extremely angry with him for letting such an opportunity pass. She nagged Antenteh until he went back to the shore, where he called for the fish, who instantly came swimming towards him. Rather embarrassed, Antenteh told the fish of his wife's wish for a house with furniture in it. The fish told him to leave everything to him and
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Fish heads, fish heads, rolly polly fish heads....\n\nThe papal mitre is a fish head, originally it was worn by priests for the fish god Dagon.
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no, Christians, not everything is about you and your religion.\n-------------------------------------------\nThe Tree of Life is an important symbol in nearly every culture. With its branches reaching into the sky, and roots deep in the earth, it dwells in three worlds- a link between heaven, the earth, and the underworld, uniting above and below. It is both a feminine symbol, bearing sustenance, and a masculine, visibly phallic symbol- another union.\n\nIn Jewish and Christian mythology, a tree sits at the center of both the Heavenly and Earthly Edens. The Norse cosmic World Ash, Ygdrassil, has its roots in the underworld while its branches support the abode of the Gods. The Egyptian's Holy Sycamore stood on the threshold of life and death, connecting the worlds. To the Mayas, it is Yaxche, whose branches support the heavens.\n\nThe tree has other characteristics which lend easily to symbolism. Many trees take on the appearance of death in the winter- losing their leaves, only to sprout new growth with the return of spring. This aspect makes the tree a symbol of resurrection, and a stylized tree is the symbol of many resurrected Gods- Jesus, Attis, and Osirus all have crosses as their symbols. Most of these Gods are believed to have been crucified on trees, as well. The modern Christmas tree hearkens back to trees decorated to honor Attis, the crucified God of the Greeks.\n\nA tree also bears seeds or fruits, which contain the essence of the tree, and this continuous regeneration is a potent symbol of immortality. It is the fruit of a tree that confers immortality in the Jewish creation story. In Taoist tradition, it is a divine peach that gives the gift of immortality. In ancient Persia, the fruit of the haoma bears this essence. The apples of Idun give the Norse gods their powers, much like the Gods of the Greek pantheon and their reliance on Ambrosia. This aspect of the tree as a giver of gifts and spiritual wisdom is also quite common. It is while meditating under a Bodhi tree that Buddha received his enlightenment; the Norse God Odin received the gift of language while suspended upside down in the World Ash (an interesting parallel is the hanged man of the tarot). In Judeo-Christian mythology, the Tree of heaven is the source of the primordial rivers that water the earth- similar to the Tooba Tree of the Koran, from whose roots spring milk, honey, and wine.\n\nCeltic Tree of Life. The Tree was a central part of early Celtic spirituality.\n\nTo the Celts, the tree was a source of basic sustenance- a bearer of food, a provider of shelter and fuel for cooking and warmth. Without trees, life would have been extraordinarily difficult.\n\nWood from sacred trees had magickal properties, which was reflected in the Celtic Ogham alphabet, wherein each letter represents a particular sacred tree (modern Ogham divination is based on the uses and importance of these sacred trees to the Celtic people). Some trees provided food, some wood for making hunting weapons; others were sacred to the fairy-folk or to the Gods. In Celtic creation stories, trees were the ancestors of mankind, elder beings of wisdom who provided the alphabet, the calendar, and entrance to the realms of the Gods.\n\nTrees were also associated in the Shamanic beliefs of the Druids and other Celtic peoples with the supernatural world. Trees were a connection to the world of the spirits and the ancestors, living entities, and doorways into other worlds.\n\nThe most sacred tree of all was the Oak tree, which represented the axis mundi, the center of the world. The Celtic name for oak, daur, is the origin of the word door- the root of the oak was literally the doorway to the Otherworld, the realm of Fairy. The word Druid, the name of the Celtic Priestly class, is compounded from the words for oak and wise- a Druid was one who was "Oak Wise," meaning learned in Tree magick and guardian or the doorway.\n\nLong after the Druids of old have vanished into the mi
1012341
Capitalist represents freedom, and that's what Christianity's all about. As far as yor references, this is amongst willing Christians, to help each other out. Never forced. Never state-run.
648585
You know, I'm not a Christian, but I really liked this story.  \n\nIt really has nothing to do with the cross as a religious symbol, but as a symbol of burden.  Very nice.