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.

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]

Religious symbols

Religion or philosophy	Name	Symbol
Ayyavazhi Main article: Ayyavazhi symbolism	Lotus Carrying Namam
Armenian paganism, Hetanism, Armenian Christianity Main article: Arevakhach	Arevakhach
Bahá'í Faith Main article: Bahá'í symbols	Nine Pointed Star
	Ringstone
Buddhism Main article: Buddhist symbolism	Wheel of Dharma
	Lotus Flower
Christianity Main article: Christian symbolism	Christian cross
	Ichthys (fish)
	Alpha and Omega
	Chi Rho
	Angel Moroni (a popular symbol for the LDS Church)
Discordianism	The Sacred Chao
Miscellaneous: • Ethnic religions • Folk religions • Polytheistic reconstructionism • Paganism • Neopaganism • Natib Qadish • Wicca • Witchcraft	Ankh (Ancient Egyptian religion and Kemetism)
	Hands of God (Rodnovery a.k.a. Slavic Neopaganism)
	Mjolnir (Heathenism aka Germanic Neopaganism)
	Kappu ("palm of hand"), a symbol of Natib Qadish.
	Pentagram
	Pentacle (Wicca)
	Triskelion (Celtic Neopaganism)
	Triple Goddess (Neopaganism)
Gnosticism	Sun cross
	Ouroboros (also a symbol of Alchemy and Hermeticism)
Humanism	Happy Human
Hinduism Main article: Hindu iconography	Pranava
	Lotus Flower
	Swastika
Islam Main article: Symbols of Islam	Kalima/Shahadah
	Name of Allah
	Star and crescent (Ottoman symbol)
	Rub el Hizb
Jainism	Jain symbol
	Ahimsa Hand
Judaism Main article: Jewish symbolism	Star of David
	Menorah
The Raëlian movement	Star of David intertwined with a Swastika or Swirling Galaxy Star
Rastafari movement	Lion of Judah often shown upon the Imperial Ethiopian flag
Ravidassia	Harr Nishan
LaVeyan Satanism	Sigil of Baphomet
Theistic Satanism	Satanic Cross
	Sigil of Lucifer (Satan's Seal)
Serer religion	Yoonir
	Ndut
Slavic neopaganism	Hands of God
Sikhism	Khanda
	Ik Onkar
Shinto	Torii
Southeastern Ceremonial Complex	Solar cross
Taoism (Daoism)	Yin and yang (Taiji)
Thelema	Unicursal Hexagram
Universal Sufism	Tughra Inayati
Unitarian Universalism	Flaming chalice
Zoroastrianism	Faravahar

A number of these are represented in Unicode.

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.

See also

• French law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools
• Religious symbolism of unity of opposites
• Symbolism in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• United States military chaplain symbols

References

• United States Veteran's Administration approved religious symbols for graves

External links

Media related to Religious symbol at Wikimedia Commons