OK, first off, let me say that I couldn’t decide wether this should be a GD or a IMHO thread, so please feel free to move it to it’s appropriate place.
I am a 17 year old computer programer. I have been working with C++ for 3 years, and I have done lots of work with html and VB, other stuff that is pretty trivial at this point. I also, being a geek, run Linux on two of my boxes. I am a big fan of the OS, and I support it in everyway.
Now for the question. I have, on the back of my car, a Jesus fish-styled badge, with the word LINUX in the center. The badge has a large fin, so it is actually a shark, I suppose. I have lots of computer paraphenelia (man that was mispelled) on my car, from bumper stickes to stuffed penguins, and this shark is one of my favorites.
My dad just so happens to be a southern baptist. He noticed this shark the other day, and he ordered me to remove it. I have been successful in stalling, so it remains on the back of my car as we spea…errr…type. He tells me that, since this is a Jesus fish, it is sac-religious, and it suggests that I am an atheists. Now, I am not an atheist, nor am I sac-religious, as far as I am concerned. But, the question is, Is having a Jesus fish-esque badge with Linux in the center really bad? I am very hesitant to believe that it is, but I am willing to listen to both sides of the arguement.
It’s your car. Having that badge on it doesn’t violate any laws. If you want it to stay, let it stay, and nuts to anyone who tells you to remove it.
Personally, I can’t see how it can possibly be considered a sacrilige. If it were my dad, I’d tell him to worry about bigger and more important things.
It is considered sacreligious by your father, but that doesn’t mean it is sacreligious. The symbol is a parody, and while it may bother some, that is their opinion and perspective and not the fundamental reality of it.
You like Linux(and who doesn’t). Keep the fish and don’t worry about it. Some people love to make mountains out of molehils and take offense where it isn’t necessary.
For two, what is and is not sacrilegious varies so widely from person to person that it’s impossible to draw any absolutes. The fish logo has allegedly been associated with Christianity since its earliest days, and has existed in other forms in pre-Christian times. According to http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_symb.htm, which may not be a reliable source, the fish symbol fell into disuse after the cross caught on as the main symbol of Christianity, and only recently has the fish logo seen any kind of revival.
There are a lot of take-offs on the fish logo on cars these days. Only a few of them, such as the Darwin fish, are intended to be a direct affront to the Christian practice of displaying a fish outline. I suppose an overly sensitive Christian might think that all non-Christian fish logos are sacrilegious, and if said overly sensitive Chrisitan is your dad there may be nothing you can do about it. Except mount the Linux fish on one of those magnetic backing thingies and hide it whenever you park near your home.
I’m sure your father means best, and I’m sure that he truly sees your LINUX Shark ™ to be a horrible travesty of a Christian symbol. Still, be that as it may, having a car do-dad which may have had its origins in the shape of the Jesus Fish isn’t sacrilegious, at least not in my book. If you were, however to have a Jesus Fish with the Sign of the Beast inside it, that would be sacriligious.
Keep the LINUX Shark on your car, and maybe even try to explain to your father that it is not a mangled Jesus Fish, but rather a statement of your lifestyle and passion.
If your father is a Southern baptist, why is he worshipping idols? According to the Bible, according religious significance to a fish symbol (or any man-made symbol) is a sin.
I would read the Linux in a fish outline as a declaration that you are a Linux geek, and a Christian, and proud to be both. It doesn’t seem important to me, or sacrilegious.
There is a very hard thing to address as well. Today I am waiting for my father (I am 55 years old.) to pick me up. I will spend the day listening to his dissatisfaction to various aspects of my life, and my choices. I will have very little to say about any of it. I am doing this because my dad and mom need me to take care of them for a few days, and be there in the event (not unlikely enough, darn it) of a serious medical emergency.
I am very good at caring for people. I can do emergency medical things, and normal patient care things. The reason I can do these things is I didn’t follow any of my father’s career advice during my entire life. Now he needs what I can do, and he cannot, and he still wants to tell me what I should have done, and should do now. I listen, I don’t say much. I love my dad. I deal with it.
So, add your dad into the equation when you think about keeping or removing the bumper sticker. Don’t be afraid to tell him it isn’t a sacrilegious thing. But do count in the importance of your father, and his feelings.
Being Lutheran, I’ve never really understood all the rituals that other religions go through. I know we have our fair share too, but I always thought things like smells and bells (Catholic, I know) weren’t really needed. I’ve always felt religion is a very personal thing. I don’t agree with everything my mom or dad say, but that doesn’t make me wrong in my opinion. Their are lots of symbols out there, and it’s up to you to discern what’s wrong and what’s right. It’s all about your intentions. I’m sure you didn’t buy that Linux shark with the intent “Hey, I bet this’ll piss off daddy!”
BTW, what type of Linux? I’m thinking about putting Redhat 7.0 on my HP after I partition my HD which is currently Win98. I’d be more than happy to erase all of it and start over, but I’d hate to lose all my mp3’s. Any suggestions anyone?
burn those mp3s off, and that’ll be taken care of (losing all my mp3s has always been my biggest concern too). I am running Red Hat 7, and it is awesome. Get it on your hdd!
I had a Darwin fish with feet. Loved it. Got flack from fundies… one even asked why I have to do that (put it on my car). I asked him, “why do you have to have a Jesus fish?” Another felt it necessary to inform me that Charles Darwin is buried in a church, to which I replied, “believing in evolution isn’t incompatible with God.” (I believe in God).
I’ve found that the more zealotness in the believer, the more offense will be taken by anything that could even be remotely viewed as sacriligious. It’s a threat to their beliefs and their way of thinking, something very personal and private. For your own Father to see his son as doing anything that might be construed as being disrespectful to his beliefs might hurt him pretty bad.
However, your beliefs are yours alone. So is your relationship with your dad. Sometimes we need to make compromises and take a dose of humility out of respect.
Here lots of us have indicated that your Dad is incorrect and that the fish is no big deal. If it is no big deal, take it off! You’ll be glad you did. Think how honored he’d be – whether or not he admits it – if you said “I disagree but I respect your feelings.” Your relationship with Dad is much more important than your right to display the fish.
Tinker
P.S.
[can o’ worms]
Who paid for the car?
[/can o’ worms]
