Religious symbolism

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Symbols from twelve world religious movements.
Row 1: Bahá'í Faith, Buddhism
Row 2: Christianity, Chinese folk religion, Hinduism, Islam
Row 3: Jainism, Judaism, Paganism, Shinto
Row 4: Sikhism, Taoism

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.

Religious symbolism is effective when it appeals to both the intellect and the emotions. The choice of suitable acts and objects for symbolism is narrow enough that it would not be easy to avoid the appearance of an imitation of other traditions, even if there had been a deliberate attempt to invent an entirely new ritual.[1]

Contents

Religious symbols[edit]

Religion or philosophy Name Symbol
Ayyavazhi Lotus Carrying Namam
Ayyavazhi Lotus outline.svg
Bahá'í Faith Nine Pointed Star
Bahai star.svg
Ringstone
Ringstone.svg
Buddhism Wheel of Dharma
Dharmacakra.svg
Lotus Flower
Lotus.svg
Christianity Christian cross
Christian cross.svg
Ichthys (fish)
Ichthys symbol.svg
Alpha and Omega
Alpha-omega.png
Chi Rho
Simple Labarum2.svg
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Angel Moroni (a popular symbol for Mormonism)
USVA headstone emb-11.svg
Cao Dai Eye of Providence
Cao Dai white.png
Contemporary Paganism Ankh (Ancient Egyptian religion and Kemetism)
Ankh-Symbol.svg
Arevakhach (Armenian, Hetanism)
Hetanism SYMBOL.png
Hands of God (Rodnovery a.k.a. Slavic Neopaganism)
HandsGod.svg
Mjolnir (Heathenism aka Germanic Neopaganism)
Mjollnir.png
Pentagram
Pentagram.svg
Pentacle (Wicca)
Pentacle 1.svg
Triskelion (Celtic Neopaganism)
Triskele-hollow-triangle.png
Triple Goddess (Neopaganism)
Triple-Goddess-Waxing-Full-Waning-Symbol.svg
Discordianism The Sacred Chao
Sacred-Chao.svg
Eckankar Eckankar symbol
USVA headstone emb-28.svg
Gnosticism Sun cross
Simple crossed circle.svg
Ouroboros (also a symbol of Alchemy and Hermeticism)
Ouroboros-Zanaq.svg
Humanism Happy Human
Happyman.svg
Hinduism Pranava
Aum.svg
Lotus Flower
Lotus.svg
Swastika
HinduSwastika.svg
Islam Six Kalimas/Shahadah
Shahadah.png
Name of Allah
Allah.svg
Crescent ("alem", symbol used on top of a minaret)
IslamSymbol.svg
Rub el Hizb
ROUB EL HIZB 06DE.svg
Jainism Jain symbol
Jain Prateek Chihna.svg
Ahimsa Hand
Jain hand.svg
Judaism Star of David
Black Star of David.svg
Menorah
Menorah.svg
The Raëlian movement Star of David intertwined with a Swastika or Swirling Galaxy Star
Raelian symbol.svg
Rastafari movement Lion of Judah often shown upon the Imperial Ethiopian flag
Flag of Ethiopia (1897-1936; 1941-1974).svg
Ravidassia Harr Nishan
HarrNishaan.png
LaVeyan Satanism Sigil of Baphomet
Simple Seal of Baphomet.svg
Theistic Satanism Satanic Cross
Sulfur symbol 1 2.svg
Sigil of Lucifer (Satan's Seal)
Sigil of Lucifer.svg
Serer religion Yoonir
Yoonir-Symbole de l'Univers.jpg
Ndut
Serer Religious Ceremony.jpg
Sikhism Khanda
Khanda1.svg
Ik 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
Crowley unicursal hexagram.svg
Universal Sufism Tughra Inayati
Wingedheart.svg
Unitarian Universalism Flaming chalice
Flaming Chalice.svg
Zoroastrianism Faravahar
Faravahar.svg

A number of these are represented in Unicode.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Baer, Hans A. (1998). William H. Swatos, Jr, ed. Encyclopedia of Religion and Society - Entry for Symbols. Walnut Creek, CA, USA: AltaMira Press. p. 504. ISBN 0761989560. Retrieved 31 October 2008. 

External links[edit]

Media related to Religious symbol at Wikimedia Commons