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Re: Darwin in a Fish Decal
JOHN LANGDON (LANGDON@GANDLF.UINDY.EDU)
Tue, 16 May 1995 09:47:24 -0400
In message Thomas Love writes:
> I'd be interested in people's reactions/reflections on the appropriation
> of this meaningful Christian symbol. No flames, please. As a Christian
> anthropologist, I'm partly amused by this, partly offended by the
> misappropriation of a meaningful symbol, and fascinated by the
> social/cultural/political dynamics involved. Cheers.
>
I placed a Darwin fish on my office door last week. Since the semester is over,
I don't expect any reactions (except amused ones from my colleagues) until next
year. What I would like to see is a bit of cognitive dissonance on the part of
my students who often need, more than anything else, a little awakening from a
provincial rural Indiana society. Certainly the symbol is chock full of possible
interpretations:
Since Darwin's name is inside the fish, is he replacing God -- certainly an
offensive idea to a Christian?
Is this simply an innocent pun that analogizes the Christian symbol without
actually defacing it?
Does this represent a melding of the two ideas, that Darwinism is a tool of
God's creation?
Clearly the symbol means all of these things at once, and if it can initiate a
discussion, so much the better.
JOHN H. LANGDON email LANGDON@GANDLF.UINDY.EDU
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY FAX (317) 788-3569
UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS PHONE (317) 788-3447
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46227
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