Posted by C.J.
Right off, let me say that I am not a Jesus-fisher. I would never put a Jesus fish or any other Jesus-people bumper sticker on my car, mainly because I occasionally speed (honest), roll through a stop sign (truly), or stick my head out my sunroof to yell maniacally at the guy who’s driving 45 mph in the passing lane (no, only joking). Why would I give someone the opportunity to say something like, “Hey, look at that jackass rolling through a stop sign. Oh it figures, it’s one of those Jesus-fish freaks”?
That said, I can’t quite get my arms around why politically-correct, multi-culturally minded, let’s-all-get-along-ish people think it’s perfectly okay to mock the Jesus fish. Folks that would never think of making fun of the Star of David or the star and crescent of Islam don’t think twice about tacking a Darwin fish on their car.
Why is that? It doesn’t stop there, though. Bumper stickers like
have become commonplace and broadly accepted as well.
Keep in mind that I don’t have a martyr complex and I’m not feeling discriminated against. (I’m a well-educated, white male in America, for goodness sakes.) I just don’t understand how folks can decorate their vehicles with mocking and hateful stickers, chock it up to humor, and everyone seems to be okay with it. Something’s not quite right.
Am I wrong?
5 responses so far ↓
morsec0de // January 8, 2009 at 11:53 pm |
“Folks that would never think of making fun of the Star of David or the star and crescent of Islam don’t think twice about tacking a Darwin fish on their car.”
Sure we would.
The second that a star of david or an islamic crescent appears on a car, someone will come up with something to mock them.
“become commonplace and broadly accepted as well.”
If you consider “accepted” to mean “getting your car scraped with keys”, perhaps…
It comes down to relativity. Which has the more hateful message: a Darwin fish, or a bumper sticker saying that if you don’t accept Jesus you burn in hell for all eternity?
Colm // January 9, 2009 at 12:35 am |
It seems to me that the bumper stickers are a form of dissent against the James Dobsons, the Pat Robertsons, the Jerry Falwells and the many other preachers around the US who have tried to force their beliefs on the rest of the country.
If it were a case of Christians being satisfied to leave well enough alone and tolerate people of other faiths and none, and where Christian belief opened itself more to scientific discovery and the unbiased pursuit of knowledge – no matter where it might lead, then the symbols of Christian faith would probably get an easier ride.
Christians in the US have been badly served by their leaders over the past 10 years. In an attempt to influence the political agenda they have alienated many people who don’t share their beliefs.
Drew // April 14, 2009 at 6:15 pm |
“It comes down to relativity. Which has the more hateful message: a Darwin fish, or a bumper sticker saying that if you don’t accept Jesus you burn in hell for all eternity?”
Bingo. This is exactly right. People are criticizing religion (including Christianity) more and more as reason and rationality become more mainstream.
Christianity is simply immoral and worthy of distain.
Tommer // June 4, 2009 at 7:53 pm |
it’s just a form a protest, and anything questionable, people will make fun of.
Brent Dixon // June 30, 2009 at 6:30 pm |
Sadly, the Jesus fish now represents something different than Christianity to most people. I’d wager that to a lot of folks it represents a smiling detachment that plays itself as a cosmetic back-pat rather than love and reality.
The ichthus represents this a lot more than it represents spirituality.
…which is easy to laugh at.
…and that big-hair lady on TBN doesn’t help.
(PS: I’m a Christian and love Jesus. Religion is funny though.)