What is the difference between a religious icon and a religious symbol?

Answer 1

One is a person, usually, the other is a visual representation. For example: Jesus Christ, Icon, the cross, symbol.

Answer 2

An icon is a religious artistic representation (usually a painting) of a saint, Biblical character, or event (such as the Crucifixion) that is used to enhance worship or to act as a focal point for one's devotions to God. A relic is either the remains of a saint's body (such as a piece of bone, mummified heart, lock of hair etc) or an inanimate object of veneration (such as the arrows that killed Saint Sebastian, a 'nail' from the original cross or some other object connected with Christ or a saint, again, used as a focus for devotion. Some church denominations, especially the protestant churches, regard veneration of icons and relics close to idolatry, especially as a great deal of superstition and corruption (such as medieval monasteries faking 'relics' to attract visitors - and their money) have grown up around them, and so do not regard icons or relics as part of their devotions as do the Orthodox Church (icons) and the Roman Catholics (relics).