The Peace
Symbol
The Peace Symbol, the logo for the English movement, Campaign for Nuclear
Disarmament, founded in 1958, was designed in 1958 by Gerald Holtom. It became widespread outside of Britain
The peace symbol is based on the international semaphore symbols
for "N" and "D" (for Nuclear Disarmament) enclosed within a
circle. It may also be seen as a cross with lowered arms. There is a common misconception
that Bertrand Russell designed the logo.
This probably stems from his being president of the organization at the
time (1958-1960), though there is no documentation of his direct influencing of
its design.
Some ChristiansÕ critiques of the peace symbol claim it was
purposefully representative of an upside down and broken cross, symbolizing
hatred for Christianity. They say
itÕs just something like what a publicly confessed atheist such as Russell
would have had designed.
All of this is subtle and subject to debate. The fact that the semaphore symbols for
N and D (Nuclear Disarmament, the whole purpose of that organization) and the
similarity to anti-Christian use of the cross can be coincidental. Then, again, it can be the subtle
devises of Satan to trick humankind into doing something evil when it thinks it
is doing something good.
So, it cannot be documented that the Peace Symbol is directly
anti-Christian, but its surroundings certain flirt with the idea.
Comments and research by
D. A. Sharpe, Aurora, TX