Darwin's Fish Decal

[KenRU]

I'm interested in both theist and atheist opinions.

Just purchased the Darwin's Fish decal from Amazon and was wondering what the popular consensus was. Do you find it offensive? Disrespectful?

I know its a light-weight topic and all, but nonetheless, they all don't have to center around quantum theory, right?

All the best,

-Ken

(my apologies if this has been discussed already in another post)

[Randall]

Actually, I am a big fan of those. I would love to buy a set of them to put on my cars...any links you can provide will be appreciated.

[KenRU]

offensive?[Replying to post 2 by Randall]

Here's the link to Amazon:

But you didn't answer my question. Do you consider them disrespectful or offensive?

[Randall]

I find it very offensive and highly disrespectful...which is why I want to buy one.


The only "person" who would be offended is god, and I believe that blasphemy is a victimless crime.

[Goat]

offensive?[Replying to post 2 by Randall]

Here's the link to Amazon:

But you didn't answer my question. Do you consider them disrespectful or offensive?

The Darwin fish, by itself, it as disrespectful and offensive as the Jesus fish. I wouldn't have one on my car if I planned to go to the bible belt, but most other places, it's just fine.

[wiploc]

I don't see them as disrespectful at all. It's a celebration of our position, the same as Christians celebrate theirs.

[Peter]

I believe for many theists it's offensive and while they might tolerate it they will probably put you in league with the devil. I would never put that on my car because my boss at NASA is a devout Christian that "knows every word of the bible is true" so it would probably be career limiting. You see for some strange reason religion deserves special respect that any similarly irrational belief does not. Go figure.

[Divine Lies]

[Replying to post 1 by KenRU]
As an atheist, I can't give you my opinion as a Biblical literalist but I can try to use the powers of empathy in attempt to map out the reason. Of course, I don't see anything offensive about it or the Jesus fish, even though I think it's a foolish belief, my understanding of the world is no way effected by someone else's belief. Particularly if I find that belief to be unreasonable or irrational.

A person with the Darwin fish clearly supports the theory of evolution. Right down to the idea that we evolved from fish and even more simple organism. If you believe that human beings have a common ancestor with other organism, then you do not support the literal Biblical account of creation where it is said that God created man as a separate and special being from the rest of his creation. To fundamentalists, anybody who believes differently is wrong. They don't just believe in God and Jesus or have faith that the Bible is his word, they know it beyond a reasonable doubt and anybody who doubts it are to be pitied for being condemned to hell or hated for being enemies of God.

To me it's deeply concerning that studies show that roughly 50% of those polled in the United States believed that God created the entire universe within the last 10,000 years in it's current form. About 30% believe that evolution occurred but that God had a hand in it and about 20% of us believe that evolution occurred only by means of nature with no direct influence by a God. Not that I would like all of us to fit into the 20% category but I wish so many people didn't discredit hundreds of years of scientific study on the account of a book they consider to be infallible without any or very limited investigation.

I will say though, that even though the Darwin fish isn't intentionally offensive, I do think the Darwin fish eating the Jesus fish emblem can be seen as intentionally offensive. Though not immoral and should be easy enough to brush off if you're confident enough in your beliefs.

Any fundamentalists or Biblical literalists are free to correct me if I'm wrong, but this is what I have concluded from my experience with people online and interactions with family and friends offline who hold these views.

Sorry that was so long. I have a tendency of doing that.

[ThePainefulTruth]

[Replying to post 1 by KenRU]

It's no more disrespectful than the "all Y'all that ain't been saved are going to hell" fish decal is.

But the way I feel about being offended is someone must let me offensive first. Anyway

[SailingCyclops]

The Darwin fish, by itself, it as disrespectful and offensive as the Jesus fish.

I don't relate to the symbol of the fish. I like fish, no disrespect there.

The words within the fish are another matter. Whenever I see the word "JESUS" (whether or not in the belly of a fish), I am offended, I cringe, and I associate ignorance and superstition with the person exhibiting the symbol.

When I see the term "DARWIN", I am reminded that some members of our species have working brains, and am encouraged that our species is finally emerging from the darkness of ignorance, superstition and violence. We are still a primitive, superstitious species, perhaps, somehow, through reason, we can avoid annihilating ourselves.

The symbols themselves are meaningless. That they irritate some people to think and talk, is a good sign.