We all find ourselves waiting at red lights and sometimes encounter unique bumper stickers – some that surprise us; others that make us think, laugh, agree, and disagree. If you look closely, you may have discovered one on the rear bumper of a car in front of you that reads, “Coexist.” Do you know the meaning of it? In the original 2001 version, Polish graphic designer, Piotr Mlodozeniec, has all three of the great Abrahamic religions featured in the word, “coexist.” The letter “C” stands for the crescent moon, a symbol of Islam. The “x” is substituted with the Star of David which signifies Judaism, and the letter “t” refers to the “cross” + of Christianity (Source: http://www.thedailybeast.com/coexists-bonehead-bumper-sticker-politics).
A more recent version of each of the letters in the word, “coexist” is found in the image above and reads as follows:
C – Crescent moon that represents Islam
O – Peace symbol or pagan/Wiccan pentacle.
E – Male/female symbol or a scientific equation.
X – Star of David that represents Judaism.
I – Pagan/Wiccan symbol (i.e. pentagram for the dot of the “i”)
S – Chinese yin-yang symbol (Taoism)
T – The cross used to represent Christianity.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coexist_(image)
https://coexistbumpersticker.wordpress.com
One could interpret this message as harmless. “Can we all get along?” said Rodney King, a victim of police brutality, who once made this famous remark after the verdict in his court case having been beaten by four LAPD police officers during the Los Angeles riots in 1991. Can’t people in all of the major religions of the world get along, live together, and peacefully coexist too? That would seem to be the desired ideal and a worthy human goal. Who’s this bumper sticker hurting anyway? No one, or is it? Let me share with you four arguments that oppose the “coexist” bumper sticker.
1. We already co-exist! We already live with each other as a human family on the same planet. Whether we like it or not, we are stuck with each other :), already living amongst one another and co-existing in the same communities. This bumper sticker isn’t anything new. It’s a truism. It states something that is already implied to be true.
2. There are some pagan, “New-Age” symbols associated with word, “coexist” when artfully constructed as seen in the image above. The “o” in the word, “coexist” is referenced with a pagan/wiccan pentacle. Also, the letter, “i” is also a pagan/wiccan symbol when one observes that the pentagram is used to dot the “i.” These pagan, “New-Age” symbols are rooted in the satanic and demonic and contradict our Catholic faith. But Jesus assured us that the “gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18).
3. Religious relativism – Another message that the “coexist” bumper sticker communicates is that there is not a true religion. Therefore, all other religions come down to the same level equally in which there is no absolute religion, and the Catholic Church is just one church among many. This is false. I will address that in the next point.
4. Law of non-contradiction – All of the religions characterized by each letter in the word, “coexist” can’t be right. They all can’t be equal. Rather, only one is right. The law of non-contradiction is a principle and rule of logic that states something can’t be “A” and “non-A” at the same time. In other words, something in the physical realm can’t be both cold and hot at the same time. Nor can something in the moral law be good and evil at the same time. It has to be either one or the other. Furthermore, either the Catholic Church is the right Church and the other churches and religions are wrong, or the Catholic Church is wrong, and all the other churches and religions are right. Which is it? The truth is that the Catholic Church is the one true church in the religion of Christianity. That could be interpreted as a pretty bold and arrogant statement. What about the other religions and other Christian denominations? While other religions and branches of Christianity have elements of truth and grace which the Catholic Church recognizes and respects, the Catholic Church has the fullness of truth and grace, because Jesus Christ himself instituted it through the apostle Peter, our first pope. “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church” (Mt. 16:18). In addition, the one, true church has the identity of four marks: 1) One – unified, 2) Holy – of God, 3) Catholic – universal, and 4) Apostolic – handed on through Tradition by Jesus’ first and closest disciples. The Catholic Church fits the bill in meeting all four criteria.
While we already coexist and while we desire to live peacefully with each other in this sometimes violent world characterized by terrorism and media violence in an era of uncertainty, one thing that is certain and constant, and that is Jesus Christ is victorious! You may respond to the four arguments and say I am intolerant. But I say this with faith and confidence in speaking the truth with love that Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead for your sins and mine, and he has established the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church in the Catholic Church as the one true Church amidst all of the other churches and religions in the world. May we strive to live peacefully with one another, and with God’s grace, continue to discover and learn about the truth and love of Jesus Christ.
-Fr. Jeff
Resources:
Sheen, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. “Prophecy of Stalin’s and America’s Death.”
"Speak The Truth with Love," A Catholic Blog by Fr. Jeff Allan 
Thank you Father Jeff. Well written.
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Thank you for this, Father. It’s helpful — respectful, polite, and to the point. Just what I need for certain situations where I hadn’t been sure how to respond in a loving way 🙂
I recently learned that the “chickenfoot” symbol I grew up with is derived from a ritual where an initiate breaks a cross, turns it upside-down, then recites the opposite of our Baptismal formula. (I admit that I privately reaffirmed my Baptismal vows when I read that, renouncing every “chickenfoot” I ever drew or displayed, along with Satan and all his works).
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are most in need of Thy mercy!
P.S. I’m praying the Novena to St. John Vianney for all priests and especially on your behalf.
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Good to know more on this subject. Knew it was somehow connected to satanism somehow but didnt know exactly. Something evil made to look like ‘good’.
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You’re welcome Kimberly. I had never heard of the chicken foot ritual. Thank you for the prayers!
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I was corrected! Sorry about that! It turns out it’s a rumor started by the John Birch Society (the actual chickenfoot symbol is based on semaphore letters “N” and “D” for “Nuclear Disarmament”). But it didn’t hurt to reaffirm my baptismal vows privately 🙂
I’m happy to pray for you, and I return thanks to you for your prayers. I think your prayers through St. Michael are very efficacious… I got the call to sail for about 30 days give or take, covering for one of the regular crew who is going on vacation. Looks like I’ll catch the boat this weekend on the Rouge. St. Michael is a patron of sailors 🙂 I’ll look forward to catching up on your blog when I’m back on “the beach”!
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First of all you have not educated them on anything. The pentacle does not symbolize satanism. The pentacle actually stands for the wiccan religion. Satanic worshipers use the pentagram as their symbol. However, my 2nd point is that, this way of thinking; that the Catholic religion is the superior religion or the only religion that matters is exactly why others choose to use the coexist symbol.
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Chellee – Thanks for replying. I respectfully disagree. The pentacle, like the pentagram, psychics, and “magical powers” are objects and activities that lead us back down a deceptive, dark and evil path and have their roots in Satan. Wicca is a pagan religion involving witchcraft and it is also part of the New Age Movement. Most importantly, it is not of God. Since that is the case, these things which initially involve an unhealthy curiosity, are in opposition to God, and therefore against His will and plan for our lives, because it’s “all about me” and “my powers” (selfish and narcissistic) and what I want to do > (Adam’s first sin in the Garden tempted by the serpent was pride) versus trusting, believing, “asking, seeking, and knocking” (Mt. 7:7-8). Two other Scripture passages come to mind…St. Paul says in Rom. 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Jesus says, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Mt. 12:30).
Peace.
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Respectful? It belittles all other religions! You are Catholic because someone told you to be, that’s it. In other parts of the world, out this country, etc people are what they were born into as well.
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I became Catholic, because after a thorough investigation, I discovered it to be true.
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As you stated, there is no other name given by which we may be saved. Theregore, any church that preaches that Jesus (and only Jesus) is the only way to be saved, should be considered the right church. There may be other things we disagree on, but as long as we can agree on Jesus, we should live as brothers and sisters in the faith.
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You are totally wrong when you say the Catholic Church is the one true church of Christianity. Jesus only supported the teachings of two churches in his day, and those were the churches of Philadelphia and Smyrna because they taught, rightfully so, that the antichrist comes first. I was born and raised in the Catholic Church, and believe me, I never learned anything about the antichrist in the Catholic Church. Not to mention the pedophile priests, but that’s another story. Jesus did not found the Catholic Church, and if you believe that, and if you are pushing that believe onto others, remember that judgment begins at the pulpit.
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My. 16:18-19. Have a blessed, joyful, and Happy Easter!!!
🙏💪☝️📿
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Mt., not My
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Fr. Allan, I rather look at “Coexist” for the simplicity of its namesake, get along with others regardless of their faith. I see it more as a simple message of acceptance, respect and tolerance of other’s faith and beliefs. I grew up Catholic and the older I became and the more I experienced life, and the more I learned, Ive come to realize that religion categorize, separate and divide people. While they might preach and promote the opposite, at the same time, most promote the belief that theirs is the perfect religion over the others, and only theirs is the only path to their respective promised land when you die. From what I’ve learned and witnessed, The Christian, Islamic, and Jewish religions heads, whether directly or indirectly, are responsible for thousands of years or death, destruction, famine and disease to other human beings, all in the name of the Almighty. Today, as it was then, it is still used as the preferred weapon to enforce control and compliance and take other peoples possessions. Religious and history books are full of examples. The Almighty, however named, never needed our help to gain anything, fight for, protect, or keep anything, its already owned. Its not the religion itself that is bad, its how it is used. I can take your four arguments to any other religious group and find multiple counter-arguments, all valid from their own point of view, as demonstrated here in your article. But at the end of the day, I guess as long as we keep talking, we still have a chance to “coexist”. Thank you, I learned from you today.
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Sadly you have taken this way beyond the realm of reality and placed the idea of coexisting as a thing that must be either right or wrong. Yes or no. of course we co exist already physically .. duh .. what this is trying to assert is about the mind…how we see the world around us and hope for all of us to live in harmony together through our beliefs and values –and your words are proof of the evils of religion. I was raised Catholic and have been to the Vatican.. I love the religion but you don’t get it. Jesus didn’t die for our sins he died because some evil leader in Rome refused to coexist. God is the golden mean and very few get this. Men created these ideas that you espouse around original sin and other perverted concepts that do nothing but separate humans from Jesus’ messages — to Love Each Other.
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If Jesus didn’t die for our sins, then whose sins did He die for?
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The quest to COEXIST is something Jesus would’ve pushed for
The sticker is all about trying to find tolerance, unity and peace through our many contradictory religions
Arguments against it ONLY promote disagreement and anguish
You don’t have to change who you are – or others – in order to simply COEXIST peacefully
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I’m not a Catholic but a Protestant Baptist. I appreciate your explanations on refuting the coexist movement and/or bumper stickers. This movement calls for me as a believer to embrace beliefs that are unbilblical and against my convictions based on the Work of God. Jesus gave us the two greatest commandments to Live Him with all our hearts and our neighbor as ourself but he did not teach to accept heresy. Thank you
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