by Sepka » Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:13 pm
<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr> like isnt the fish a symbol of christianity?<br>And isnt a reptile the christian symbol for satan?<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br><br>The fish is a symbol of Christianity dating from the first century AD. There's controversy as to exactly why. Wiki has a good discussion of this at <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_fish">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_fish</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br><br>I'm unaware of alligators in particular or reptiles in general having any special Christian significance. Snakes have often been used as the symbol of Satan, but have also seen lesser use as symbols of Christ or His followers, because of their habit of shedding their skins and thus being 'reborn'.<br><br>In general, though, so many different sects have used so many different symbols over the years that nothing would really surprise me. It's important as well to remember that symbols are chosen for their spiritual meaning to an individual or congregation, and have no inherent meaning apart from that assigned to them. Symbols need to be standardized only when they're to be used (as the fish once was) as part of a "secret language". Personal symbols of devotion can, and probably should, be all over the map, reflecting the psychology of that particular adherent.<br><br>-Sepka the Space Weasel<br><br>Editted for spelling. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=sepka>Sepka</A> at: 7/21/06 1:14 pm<br></i>