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Religion in national symbols

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Religion in national symbols can often be found in national anthems or flags. This has led to controversy in some countries in regard to the separation of church and state, when the national symbol is officially sanctioned by a government. [1]

Flags which incorporate symbols of religion

Christianity

Flag Country Religious characteristics
Armenia Armenia (flag) The Red emblematizes the maintenance of the Christian faith.[2]
Andorra Andorra (flag) Includes a bishop's mitre, representing the Bishop of Urgell.[3]
Colombia Colombia (flag) blue represents the equality of all races and social classes before God and the law[4]
Denmark Denmark (flag) Nordic Cross Flag[5]
Dominica Dominica (flag) The cross represents the Trinity[6]
Dominican Republic Dominican Republic (flag) A Bible, the color white stands for salvation[7]
El Salvador El Salvador (flag) Dios, Unión, Libertad (God, Union, Liberty)
Finland Finland (flag) Nordic Cross Flag[5]
Greece Greece (flag) the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy[8]
Iceland Iceland (flag) Nordic Cross Flag[5]
Republic of Ireland Ireland (flag) The green symbolizes the Catholic population. The orange symbolizes the Protestants.[9]
Moldova Moldova (flag) Cross of the Moldovan Orthodox Church
Norway Norway (flag) Nordic Cross Flag[5]
Portugal Portugal (flag) Compound cross of five quinas, each one charged with five saltire-arranged bezants, representing the five wounds of Christ[10]
Sweden Sweden (flag) Nordic Cross Flag[5]
Slovakia Slovakia (flag) Patriarchal cross[11]
United Kingdom United Kingdom (flag) Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick[12]
Vatican City Vatican City (flag) The flag consists of two vertical bands, one of gold (hoist side) and one of white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the Papal Tiara centered in the white band

Islam

Flag Country Religious characteristics
Afghanistan Afghanistan (flag) Shahadah and a mosque, green may represent Islam[13]
Algeria Algeria (flag) Star and crescent, green color symbolizes Islam[14]
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (flag) Green stands for Islam, the crescent moon is also an Islamic symbol[15]
Bahrain Bahrain (flag) five points represent the five pillars of Islam[16]
Brunei Brunei (flag) Crescent moon[17]
Comoros Comoros (flag) Star and crescent and green color are traditional symbols of Islam[18]
Iran Iran (flag) The word "Allah" ("God"), the phrase "Allahu Akbar" is repeated on the edges of the red and green bands[19]
Iraq Iraq (flag) The phrase "Allah Akbar" ("God is Great")[20]
Jordan Jordan (flag) The seven-pointed star represents the seven verses of the Quran's first sura[21]
Malaysia Malaysia (flag) Crescent moon[22]
Maldives Maldives (flag) White crescent moon symbolizes Islam[23]
Mauritania Mauritania (flag) Star and crescent and green color symbolize Islam[24]
Pakistan Pakistan (flag) The dark green field symbolizes the Muslim majority of Pakistan.[25]
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (flag) Shahada (Muslim creed) on green, a color traditionally associated with Islam[26]
Senegal Senegal (flag) The green stripe and star represent Islam.[27][28]
Sudan Sudan (flag) Green represents Islam.[29]
Turkey Turkey (flag) Star and Crescent

Judaism

Flag Country Religious characteristics
Israel Israel (flag) The basic design is based on a Jewish prayer shawl, the Star of David is a symbol of Judaism[30]

Buddhism/Hinduism

Flag Country Religious characteristics
Bhutan Bhutan (flag) The orange half signifies Buddhist spiritual tradition[31]
Cambodia Cambodia (flag) Angkor Wat[32]
India India (flag) The Ashok Chakra represents the Laws of Dharma (righteousness).[33]
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (flag) The four bo leaves symbolize four Buddhist metaphysical concepts.[34]
Thailand Thailand (flag) white for Theravada Buddhism[35]

Traditional

Flag Country Religious characteristics
Argentina Argentina (flag) Sun of May's features are that of the Inca god Inti[36]
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan (flag) Blue represents the sky god Tengri
Uruguay Uruguay (flag) Sun of May's features are that of the Inca god Inti[37]

National anthems which incorporate religion

Old anthems

Coat of arms

Christianity

Coat of arms Country Religious characteristics
Andorra (Coat of arms) Includes a bishop's mitre, representing the Bishop of Urgell.
Armenia (Coat of arms) Mount Ararat with Noah's Ark sitting atop it.
Dominican Republic (Coat of arms) cross, Bible, 'Dios, Patria, Libertad' ('God, Fatherland, Liberty')
El Salvador (Coat of arms) Dios, Unión, Libertad (God, Union, Liberty)
Fiji (Coat of arms) 'Rerevaka na kalou ka doka na Tui' ('Fear God and honour the Queen')
Georgia (Coat of arms) St. George
Greece (Coat of arms) Greek cross
Hungary (Coat of arms) cross
Iceland (Coat of arms) Nordic cross
Moldova (Coat of arms) cross
Nauru (Coat of arms) 'God's Will First'
Nigeria (Coat of arms) 'Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress'
Norway (Coat of arms) A globus cruciger on top of the coat of arms as a Christian symbol of authority
Portugal (Coat of arms) Compound cross of five quinas, each one charged with five saltire-arranged bezants
Romania (Coat of arms) cross
Samoa (Coat of arms) 'Faavae i Le Atua Samoa' ('Samoa is founded on God'), cross
Serbia (Coat of arms) Serbian cross
Slovakia (Coat of arms) Patriarchal cross
Spain (Coat of arms) cross
Tonga (Coat of arms) cross, dove, 'Ko e ʻOtua mo Tonga ko hoku Tofiʻa' ('God and Tonga are my inheritance')
File:Coat of arms of the Republic of Uganda.svg Uganda (Coat of arms) For God and My Country
United Kingdom (Coat of arms) cross, 'Dieu et mon droit' ('God and my right')
Vatican City (Coat of arms) The crossed keys of Saint Peter and the Papal Tiara
Vanuatu (Coat of arms) 'Long God yumi stanap' ('In God we stand')

Islam

Coat of arms Country Religious characteristics
Afghanistan (Coat of arms) shahadah, mosque, mehrab, Prayer rug
File:Seal of Algeria.svg Algeria (Coat of arms) Crescent and star
Azerbaijan (Coat of arms) Calligraphic representation of the name Allah in the form of an Eternal Flame, green
Bahrain (Coat of arms) five points represent the five pillars of Islam
Brunei (Coat of arms) Crescent moon, الدائمون المحسنون بالهدى (Always in service with God's guidance)
Comoros (Coat of arms) Crescent and star
Iran (Coat of arms) Name of Allah
Iraq (Coat of arms) الله أكبر (God is Great)
Jordan (Coat of arms) Its colours of the eagle signifies the banner of the Prophet Mohammad, the globe signifies the emergence of Islamic civilisation, الراجي من الله التوفيق والعون (Who seeks support and guidance from God)
Malaysia (Coat of arms) Crescent moon
Maldives (Coat of arms) Crescent and star
Mali (Coat of arms) Great Mosque of Djenné, Un Peuple, Un But, Une Foi (One People, One Goal, One Faith)
Mauritania (Coat of arms) Crescent and star, green
Morocco (Coat of arms) إن تنصروا الله ينصركم (If you glorify God, he will glorify you)
Pakistan (Coat of arms) ایمان ، اتحاد ، نظم (Faith, Unity, Discipline), Crescent and star, green
Senegal (Coat of arms) Un, Peuple, Un But, Une Foi (One People, One Goal, One Faith)
Turkey (Coat of arms) Crescent and star
Tunisia (Cat of arms) Crescent and star
Uzbekistan (Coat of arms) Rub el Hizb, Crescent and star

Judaism

Coat of arms Country Religious characteristics
Israel (Coat of arms) Menorah, blue

Buddhism

Coat of arms Country Religious characteristics
Bhutan (Coat of arms) Durk, lotus
India (Coat of arms) Ashoka Chakra, Lion Capital of Asoka
Laos (Coat of arms) Pha That Luang
Mongolia (Coat of arms) Three Jewels, Wheel of Dharma
Sri Lanka (Coat of arms) Blue Lotus, Dharmacakra

Hinduism

Coat of arms Country Religious characteristics
Indonesia (Coat of arms) Garuda
Thailand (Coat of arms) Garuda

Taoism/Confucianism

Coat of arms Country Religious characteristics
South Korea (Coat of arms) yin and yang

Traditional

Coat of arms Country Religious characteristics
Argentina (Coat of arms) Sun of May
Uruguay (Coat of arms) Sun of May

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/11/25/64-countries-have-religious-symbols-on-their-national-flags/
  2. ^ "General Information on the government of Armenia's website". Gov.am. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  3. ^ Zartman, Rubin (2002). Power and Negotiation. p. 111. ISBN 0472089072.
  4. ^ "Flag of Colombia on CRW". Crwflags.com. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  5. ^ a b c d e Jeroen Temperman. State Religion Relationships and Human Rights Law. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. Retrieved 2007-12-31. Many predominantly Christian states show a cross, symbolising Christianity, on their national flag. Scandinavian crosses or Nordic crosses on the flags of the Nordic countries–Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden–also represent Christianity.
  6. ^ "Flag Description: Dominica". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  7. ^ "Flag Description: Dominican Republic". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  8. ^ "Flag Description: Greece". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  9. ^ Talocci, Mauro (1982). Guide to the Flags of the World. p. 271. ISBN 0688011411.
  10. ^ "A Bandeira de Portugal". Portugal (in Portuguese). Criar Mundos. August 2005. Retrieved 2007-02-19.
  11. ^ "O štátnej vlajke, štátnej zástave, štátnom znaku a štátnej pečati". Joint Czech–Slovak Digital Parliamentary Library. Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. June 1939. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
  12. ^ "Union Jack". The Royal Household. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
  13. ^ "Flag Description: Afghanistan". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  14. ^ "Flag Description: Algeria". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  15. ^ "Flag Description: Azerbaijan". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  16. ^ "Flag Description: Bahrain". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  17. ^ "Flag Description: Brunei". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  18. ^ "Flag Description: Comoros". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  19. ^ "Flag Description: Iran". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  20. ^ "Flag Description: Iraq". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  21. ^ "Flag Description: Jordan". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  22. ^ "Flag Description: Malaysia". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  23. ^ "Flag Description: Maldives". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  24. ^ "Flag Description: Mauritania". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  25. ^ "Pakistan Flag". Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  26. ^ "Flag Description: Saudi Arabia". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  27. ^ "Senegal on Flagspot". Flagspot.net. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  28. ^ Philip, George and Son (December 26, 2002). Encyclopedic World Atlas. Oxford University Press. p. 198. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  29. ^ World Flags 101. "Sudan Flag - World Flags 101". WorldFlags101.com. Moxy Media. Retrieved 2008-08-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ "Flag Description: Israel". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  31. ^ "The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan" (PDF). Government of Bhutan. 2008-07-18. Retrieved 2010-10-08. {{cite web}}: |chapter= ignored (help)
  32. ^ "Flag Description: Cambodia". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  33. ^ Flags of the world: an illustrated guide to contemporary flags Alfred Znamierowski – 2000, ISBN 1-84215-337-4
  34. ^ "The Sri Lankan Lion flag -how it came to be". Virtual Library Sri Lanka.
  35. ^ "Flag Description: Thailand". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  36. ^ "Flag Description: Argentina". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  37. ^ "Flag of Uruguay". All-flags-world.com. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
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