Have you heard of Alfred Paul Seckel? An American raised in a Jewish household, Seckel wrote multiple books about optical illusions. He was also the founder of a group called the Southern California Skeptics.  

You may never have heard of Mr. Seckel, but you are probably familiar with one of his creations. In 1983 he cocreated the Darwin fish symbol—a parody of the ancient Christian fish symbol, the ichthus. Seckel’s version has “evolved” legs and feet that protrude from the fish, with the name Darwin replacing that of Jesus.

The Darwin fish has been cast into sticky plastic and slapped on countless vehicles. There’s even a website devoted entirely to its purchase in various forms. 

Seckel created the symbol in response to the proliferation of the Christian fish symbol. As a proponent of reason and free thought, he wanted to promote alternatives to belief in God, the Creator of the universe. Seckel was an avowed atheist. 

Do you have a Jesus fish on your vehicle? Display it proudly. Take courage from the example of the apostle Paul, a former persecutor of Christians whose heart was changed by Jesus: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

Maybe that little fish symbol will start a conversation about Christ. You might be ridiculed or mocked. That’s okay. So was Jesus. He endured that—and even death—for you. He loves you that much.