Stan Musial

Dr. Holland
Composition 2
9-17-14

The Darwinian Fish

As far as verbal arguments go, few strike a tone as much as the darwinian fish. This image is a
gag on the Jesus fish. It shows the fish growing little legs which symbolizes Charles Darwins theory of
evolution (the theory that all life forms evolve over time to better suit their neich in an ecosystem) while
taking a sarcastic stab at the thought that Jesus created all beings as is and nothing has changed since the
dawn of time. This image was first imagined in 1983 when a religious community in California started
harassing the local school board over the mandatory education of evolution in public schools. Two
atheists then proceeded to re imagined the Jesus fish as a form of silent protest.
The emblem has since been put on shirts and bumper stickers and has become quite common in
the national community. The image can be described and explained verbally but loses its enate humor
when done so. While i suppose only atheists, agnostics, and evolutionists will enjoy its humor, anyone
with a higher education or a theology background would see the stance the image is taking. The image
itself on the surface preaches evolutionism but upon reflection it poses an internal question of what do I
believe and why?
The rhetorical appeal is Pathos. The fish is the symbol of Christianity. Its derived from the fable
that Jesus fed five thousand people using only two fish and five loaves of bread. Jesus is also noted to
have called his followers fishers of men. This being the case, someone started using the fish instead of
the cross to symbolize their faith. It was done so as an act of subterfuge from people who sought out and
ridiculed the christian cross. Today, many people both young and old look upon the Jesus fish with as
much reverence as they do a cross. However, as it became more recognised as the religious symbol, the

symbol was reimagined with legs added to it as a way altering the message into a more philosophical
ponderance on the evolution of man. (I.E. if we can all accept that the earth is 4.5 billion years old, why is
it that some still cling to the bible's claim that God created all matter, both organic and inorganic, as little
as six thousand years ago?) I believe that the symbol is effective converver of pathos as it acts in such an
unusual way to start a philosophical conversation that many don't even realise that its happening. And this
is why its so perfect. When the general populous knows that youre trying to broach the subject of
religion, most clam up. However, this image is so tied into the background that many people see it
without ever seeing it. The Darwinian fish was never intended to be a direct link to atheism or realism. It
was intended to start a inner dialogue with yourself and make you question your beliefs; not to discredit
any one viewpoint over another. It forces you to study and find facts that will support your faith, or in the
absence of said facts, open your mind to new theories which in turn opens up the rhetorical appeal of
ethos and logos. Logically, you look at what the bible tells us and look at what science tells us and you
make your decision based on the evidence before you. Some will look at the bible believing that it is the
supreme source of truth while others look at scientist like darwin or hawking and after seeing their
credentials, make their decision based on fact rather than faith.
The image itself has only one word on it. Darwin. This is highly beneficial as its meaning will
shift from one person to another. Atheists like myself, think of Darwin as a pioneer in the scientific
community and his theory of evolution is the foundation of my ideals. I take evolution to be a direct
discredit to the generalized theory that God created all men and beasts as is in as little as six thousand
years ago. However, Darwin himself was a devout Christian and spent years looking for a way to link
God and evolution together. Its said the he went so far as to renounce evolution on his deathbed. This has
immortalized him in the religious community as a true man of faith who was led astray by an immoral
idea but ultimately returned to the light of faith. While the image of the fish and the word Darwin have
independent meanings, when joined together into a single image that culminates into a unique and thought
provoking ideal.

Images have a far reaching impact on todays society. They are everywhere, and have been
incorporated into every facet of our lives. The Darwinian fish is no different. Its pointed and
controversial, yet oddly simplistic and whimsical. The lack of color brings a higher level of sophistication
and academia to the image. It also helps mute the image which allows it to blend seamlessly into the
backdrop of our diverse society. We study this image to both strengthen our personal views while directly
challenging others. Everyone who encountered this symbol has had an opportunity to self reflect on their
personal views. This is quintessential for the general population to stop blindly following the most
prevalent viewpoint and form our own opinions. Modern society has only recently advocated for self
identity and this image is essential for carrying on that message.
The sheer imagination of this image is amazing. Its seamless blend of religious imagery with the
facetious undertone has set it up to be a long standing symbol in todays modern society. But more than
the image itself, the message it delivers is one that has been around as long as the human race itself. Its a
message that has no universal answer. Its a question that has started wars and unified long time enemies.
Its a question that will outlive time. What do I believe and why?

Works Cited

Darwin Fish. 1983. Ignitum-today. Web. 8 Oct. 2014.

<http://www.ignitumtoday.com/2012/12/19/science-vs-religion-part-i-of-ii/darwin-fish/>.