The peace sign, also known as the peace symbol, is one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. It depicts a circular design with three distinct lines inside – one vertical line and two sloping lines that meet at the bottom. This simple but powerful image has come to represent the ideals of pacifism, harmony and passive resistance. But where did this iconic emblem come from and what is its history?
The origins of the modern peace sign can be traced back to the late 1950s when British artist and designer Gerald Holtom created it for use by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). The CND was established in 1958 amid rising Cold War tensions as an organized effort to push for nuclear disarmament and oppose further nuclear weapons testing by Great Britain. To promote their cause, the CND needed a visual symbol that could be easily reproduced at protests and on badges or banners. This led Holtom to design the now-famous peace sign.
Holtom’s initial design concept incorporated the semaphore signals for the letters “N” and “D” which stood for the campaign’s Nuclear Disarmament name. In semaphore flag signaling, these two letters use angular downwards strokes and an upright line. Holtom then further stylized and simplified this into a circular emblem encompassing the three lines. His thought was that the circle represented the concept of total or complete peace. The symbol soon gained traction with anti-nuclear protesters in 1958 who called it the peace symbol and who popularized its use in demonstrations calling for disarmament and peace.
The theological meaning behind the peace sign can be interpreted from a Christian perspective in a few important ways. First, the circle reflects unity, wholeness and inclusion – bringing people together in harmony. Ephesians 4:3 says “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Second, the vertical line can represent connection between humanity and the higher power of God. Isaiah 26:3 reads “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Finally, the angled lines mirror the biblical concept of reconciliation between people and nations. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Though initially designed for a specific political purpose, the peace sign went on to take on wider cultural meaning and significance in the 1960s and 70s. During the American civil rights movement, the Vietnam War era, and the rise of the hippie subculture, the peace sign became prominently associated with pacifist ideology, anti-war protests and the growing counterculture movement. Young people in particular embraced it as a symbol of hopes for a more peaceful and inclusive society.
Because of its fairly simple and graphic bold lines in a concise circular composition, the peace emblem naturally lent itself to easy reproducibility. This opened the floodgates to mass printing and manufacturing of the peace sign on everything from jewelry, clothing and posters to murals, books and more. Reporting on growing popularity of the peace symbol in 1970, the New York Times noted that it had become “almost as prevalent as the Stars and Stripes” in American culture.
Given its genesis as an anti-nuclear weapons and anti-war symbol, the peace sign has unsurprisingly seen resurgences during times of military conflict around the world. Protesters brought it out it droves again during rallies against the Iraq War in early 2000s. Even in the present day, the peace sign continues to appear on posters and banners calling for peace in places experiencing violence and military aggression, demonstrating its enduring and recognizable connection to pacifism.
In an ironic twist, some began rejecting the peace symbol as it become ever more mainstream and commercialized in the 70s. The fear was that overuse had watered down and made light of its original solemn meaning. For example, it became common to see the peace sign frivolously plastered on things like flashy clothes, campers, and zippo lighters. Critics derided this as representing the shallow hipster mentality and lack of real commitment to the substantive values of peace. Nevertheless, the sign’s ubiquity and global recognition has preserved its relevance.
The peace sign remains a resonant emblem that evokes a powerful anti-war sentiment rooted historically in the nuclear disarmament movement. It continues to appear anywhere from pop culture to political protests as a familiar shorthand appealing for harmony. For Christians, it can exemplify ideals such as the unity of mankind under God and the task of reconciling humanity through spiritual peace. The peace symbol retains an extraordinary reach and ability to transcend borders, languages and cultures in communicating a simple but profound message – give peace a chance.
Going back in biblical history, there are some examples that can be seen as early symbolic precursors to the modern peace sign. In the Old Testament, the rainbow after the Flood served as a sign of God’s covenant of peace with the world. Genesis 9:13 states that the rainbow was “the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit manifested as tongues of fire over the heads of the apostles at Pentecost. Acts 2:3 describes how “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” This sign of the Holy Spirit marked a new era of God’s peaceful presence now accessible to all through Christ.
These biblical accounts point to God using signs to represent ideals of divine peace, unity and reconciliation. While the peace sign as we know it today was created in a specific context in 1958, its core meaning taps into a much older and universally understood yearning. The desire for harmony and human fellowship regardless of ethnicity, politics or creed is one that transcends any single culture or period of history. In this sense, though the peace sign is only a twentieth century creation, its resonating aspiration is one rooted in a timeless and shared hope within human hearts and souls.
When one delves into the life of Jesus Christ in the gospels, his entire ministry can be viewed through the lens of preaching and enacting spiritual peace. Jesus pronounced blessings on those who make peace, exemplified peaceful ways in his actions, and ultimately enabled peace between God and humanity through his sacrifice on the cross. In this light, Jesus can be seen as the ultimate “peace sign” – a divine sign of grace, reconciliation and peace from God.
Several key moments in the gospels reveal how central the theme of peace was to Jesus’s life and teachings:
– In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared great blessings on the peacemakers, elevating those who promote peace and harmony. (Matthew 5:9)
– When his disciples wanted to call down judgement and punishment on a town, Jesus rebuked them saying “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” (Luke 9:55)
– Jesus advised leaving one’s gift at the altar to go and seek reconciliation with any brother who has something against you – emphasizing peaceful relationships. (Matthew 5:23-24)
– On Palm Sunday Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, dramatizing his mission as a humble King of Peace in contrast to warlike rulers. (Luke 19:38)
– In instituting the Lord’s Supper as a remembrance of him, Jesus spoke of the wine as “my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” – a profoundly peaceful reconciliation between God and man. (Matthew 26:28)
– Moments before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus told Pontius Pilate that “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36) again emphasizing his spiritual peace.
These and many other examples demonstrate how Jesus was the walking embodiment of the peace of God coming to dwell among humanity. Though the specific peace sign logo would not appear until 1958, the entire crux of Jesus’s ministry revealed him as the ultimate sign of peace from above. From birth to death, Jesus bridged the divide between divinity and humanity, providing a means to find inner peace through God’s salvation.
The peace sign’s association with broader social justice reform in addition to peace also connects deeply with biblical values. Efforts such as civil rights, social equity, non-violence, and human dignity align with many Christian imperatives for justice and human compassion. Promotion of progressive reforms towards peace often aims to address these same goals of justice.
Isaiah 32:17 describes one of the godly purposes of righteousness being to ensure “its product will be peace and its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.” The biblical prophet Zechariah also called for people to “administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.” (Zechariah 7:9) Similarly, the peace sign represents reacting to injustice and violence, not with more of the same, but with elevated peaceful activism rooted in justice, compassion and affirmation of human worth. This modeled the example of Christ who embodied the peace of God in deed and action.
The peace sign’s visual depiction itself also connects to biblical concepts and imagery in ways Gerald Holtom may not have even realized when designing it in the late 1950s.
The circle evokes imagery of unity, wholeness, and eternity that appears in scripture. Psalm 133 celebrates brotherly unity by noting that “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity…For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” And Jesus prayed in John 17:21 that his followers “may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You; that they also may be one in Us.” The encircling lines of the peace sign symbolically depict this spirit of harmony.
The vertical line rising up in the peace emblem can represent humanity’s connection to the divine through the reconciliation made possible by Jesus Christ. Jesus is described in scripture as the “great high priest” whose sacrifice and mediation enables peace with God. Hebrews 4:14-16 describes that “Since we have a great high priest…Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess…Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.” The straight vertical line rising heavenward in the peace sign reflects this holy connection opened between God and man.
Finally, the angled lines moving downward to meet together illustrate common ground, cooperation, and unity among people – coming together through Christ’s peace. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:14 that Christ makes peace between divided groups, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” The converging lines of the peace sign creatively depict this motion of drawing people into harmonious accord.
The peace sign’s longevity and perseverance as a meaningful symbol over the past 60+ years speaks to the power of its resonant messaging. Despite short bouts of commercialization and trivialization, it endures in representing the deep longing for harmony, compassion, unity and reconciliation. These biblical values gave the message of Christ Jesus power over 2,000 years ago – and continue speaking through symbols like the peace sign in the present day.
The peace sign remains a globally recognized emblem that carries multivalent layers of meaning. To some, it represents the 20th century nuclear disarmament and anti-war movements. To others, it signifies youth counterculture liberation. More broadly, it has come to universally symbolize hope for a future of non-violence, tolerance and harmony. For Christians, the peace sign connects to the gospel messages of reconciliation, mercy, justice and interpersonal as well as spiritual peace. While originating in a specific political context, this simple but thoughtfully designed emblem continues to resonate widely as shorthand for peace on earth across cultures and generations.