Religious symbolism

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Religious symbolism is the use of symbols, including archetypes, acts, artwork, events, or natural phenomena, by a religion. Religions view religious texts, rituals, and works of art as symbols of compelling ideas or ideals. Symbols help create a resonant mythos expressing the moral values of the society or the teachings of the religion, foster solidarity among adherents, and bring adherents closer to their object of worship.

The study of religious symbolism is either universalist, as a component of comparative religion and mythology, or in localized scope, within the confines of a religion's limits and boundaries.

The cross of the war memorial and a menorah for Hanukkah coexist in Oxford.

Contents

[edit] Religious symbols

Religion or philosophy Name Symbol
Ancient Egyptian religion and Kemetism Ankh
Ankh.svg
Atheism and Agnosticism Atom
Atom of Atheism-Zanaq.svg
Question Mark
Question mark.svg
Circle A (Note the differences from the Anarchist Circle A)
Agnostic Circle A.PNG
Ayyavazhi Lotus Carrying Namam
Ayyavazhi Lotus outline.svg
Bahá'í Faith Nine Pointed Star
Bahai star.svg
Buddhism Wheel of Dharma
Dharmacakra.svg
Lotus Flower
Lotus.svg
Christianity Ichthys (fish)
Ichthus.svg
Fleur-de-lis (flower-lily)
Fleur-de-lis.svg
Christian cross
Christian cross.svg
Patriarchal cross
OrthodoxCross.svg
Discordianism The Sacred Chao
Sacred-Chao.svg
Ethnic religions, Polytheistic reconstructionism
Paganism, Neopaganism, Wicca
Ankh
Ankh.svg
Hands of God
HandsGod.svg
Mjolnir (Thor's Hammer)
Mjollnir.png
Pentagram (also used as a Christian symbol)
Pentagram green.svg
Sun cross
Simple crossed circle.svg
Triskele (Celtic Neopaganism)
Triskele-hollow-triangle.png
Gnosticism Sun cross
Simple crossed circle.svg
Ouroboros (also a symbol of Alchemy and Hermeticism)
Ouroboros-Zanaq.svg
Humanism Happy Human
Happyman.svg
Hinduism Omkar (Aum)
Aum.svg
Lotus Flower
Lotus.svg
Swastika
HinduSwastika.svg
Islam Kalima/Shahadah
Shahadah.png
Name of Allah
Allah.JPG
Star and crescent (Ottoman symbol)
IslamSymbol.svg
Rub el Hizb
ROUB EL HIZB 06DE.svg
Jainism Swastika
HinduSwastika.svg
Ahimsa Hand
Jain hand.svg
Judaism Star of David
Black Star of David.svg
Menorah
Menorah.svg
Pastafarianism Spaghethys
FSM Logo.svg
The Raëlian movement Star of David intertwined with a Swastika or Swirling Galaxy Star
Raelian symbols.svg
Rastafarianism Conquering Lion of Judah often shown upon the Imperial Ethiopian flag
Flag of Ethiopia (1897).svg
LaVeyan Satanism Sigil of Baphomet
Simple Seal of Baphomet.svg
Theistic Satanism Satanic Cross
Sulfur symbol 1.svg
Sigil of Lucifer (Satan's Seal)
Sigil of Lucifer.svg
Slavic neopaganism Hands of God
HandsGod.svg
Sikhism Khanda
Khanda1.svg
Ek Onkar
Ekonkar.normal.png
Shinto Torii
Torii.svg
Southeastern Ceremonial Complex Solar cross
Southern Cult Solar Cross.svg
Taoism (Daoism) Yin and yang (Taiji)
Yin yang.svg
Thelema Unicursal Hexagram
Unicursalhexigramcurved.svg
Universal Sufism Tughra Inayati
Wingedheart.svg
Unitarian Universalism Flaming chalice
Flaming Chalice.svg
Zoroastrianism Faravahar
Faravahar.svg

[edit] Evolutionary perspectives

Religious symbolism may have a long history that could be over 100,000 years old. Ritual burials with grave goods are often interpreted as early human use of religious symbolism.

[edit] References

[edit] See also