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The peace sign is not a religious symbol, but is included here as it is so often misinterpreted as a such. It is a common conceit in some evangelical Christian circles to refer to the symbol as anti-christian, and they refer to it as a 'broken cross' or 'Nero's cross,' referring back to the story of the upside-down crucifixion, supposedly at the hands of Emperor Nero. Thus, it is supposed to be a Satanic emblem- somehow, Satanists at the beginning of Christianity are supposed to have adopted the emblem of a Saint to somehow signify the defeat of Chriastianity. it makes no sense, but little in these convoluted conspiracy theories ever does.

(It is also fashionable to compare the symbol to the letter algiz in the Norse runic alphabet, and thus extract a further connection to the Nazi and Neonazi groups who use such symbolism. To make it work, they have to take the runic letter algiz, call it 'life' when in fact it means 'elk,' and then flip it over and call it 'death'. Make sense?)

The truth, as usual, is much more interesting, if less dramatic. The creator of the peace sign is Gerald Holtom, a leader in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Holtom, a Christian, originally used a Christian cross in his design, an idea that was rejected by religious leaders.

He relates that he settled on the final design, a combination of the semaphore letters ND (for Nuclear Disarmament) as an emblem of the despair that he felt, a representation of a gesture of pleading:

"I drew myself: the representative of an individual in despair, with hands palm outstretched outwards and downwards in the manner of Goya’s peasant before the firing squad. I formalised the drawing into a line and put a circle round it."

The design was a poular success, and almost transcended its original intent, first adopted by the American Civil rights movement, then the anti-war movement, eventually becoming the ubiquitous emblem of peace.

The inspiration: Goya's "Execution of the Defenders of Madrid."

Related Symbols:

Related Resources:

• Pentacle/Pentagram Gallery
• Occult Image Gallery
• Druidry/ Neopaganism
• Ritual Magick
  Ritual Magick, also known as Ceremonial Magick, one of the most mysterious and misunderstood spiritual traditions, dates back in various forms to the beginnings of human culture, and has been continually practiced through to the present day.
• Satanic Organizations
  Various self-identified Satanic organizations, including the official Church of Satan, the Temple of Set, and other "Left Hand path" organizations.