Why is the dove a bird of peace?

[demnan]

All the ones I see around my place are fighters who are very territorial about their food. Yeah I know all the bible stuff - but were the doves of Noah's Ark the same species as my grey North American variety?

Anybody know?

[Longbaugh]

1. ..

The Dove came upon Jesus when he was baptized. The Dove symbolizes Christ. The Dove represents the Holy Spirit. When you get baptized the Holy Spirit is with you all your life. :) Thats what I found.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Welcome to DU Longbaugh!

:hi:

[demnan]

4. With all due respect

not how, but why?

[aquart]

13. Yeah, well, that's pretty recent symbolism.

Christianity has a light-fingered tendency to walk away with the symbols of other faiths and gods in its pocket.

The dove had a very nice association with a pleasant succession of goddesses before Jesus, such as Aphrodite, Venus, and Astarte.

[smirkymonkey]

3. It shouldn't be...

with that sharp, dangerous beak and all.

[olddem43]

5. The dove is the bird of peace, but what is the bird of true love?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

6. Should be cardinals...

Those things are so sweet and totally monogomous and mate for life with one partner.
Duckie

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. So do ducks!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

8. WOOHOO!! Forget what I said about cardinals then!

Ducks are the way to go!! :evilgrin:

Duckie

[olddem43]

9. come on - I know someone here knows the answer.

[olddem43]

14. And the answer is --------------------------------------------

The Swallow.

[greatauntoftriplets]

10. After the flood, a dove flew by with an olive branch....

then Noah knew everyting was okay. Olive branch represents peace.

[Bossy Monkey]

11. Here's a bunch of stuff, but it appears that the answer is "Because"

http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/magazine/magazine_home_peace.html

I looked it up at the various resources at Bartleby.com (Am. Her. Dictionary, Columbia Encyclopedia, etc.) but they just stated that it's a symbol of peace without going into why and how. Always pictured as a white dove, though; not a rock dove (ie pigeon) or mourning dove.

[sendero]

12. Doves seem to me...

... to be very gentle birds and very affectionate. They are not even that afraid of people, few birds will let you get within a few feet of themselves without fleeing.

I think it is an appropriate symbol. :7