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 Religion Studies at Alaska Pacific UniversitySymbols of World ReligionBahaism (9 Point Star) Baha'u'llah, the founder of Bahai faith, taught that God is the Creator of the universe and its Absolute Ruler. Being Limitless, Infinite and All-Powerful, it is difficult for mortals, with their limited intellect and finite capacities, to comprehend him and his ways. That is why He has chosen to make Himself known to humanity through a number of Divine Messengers who have been the founder of the world's greatest religions: Moses, Krishna, Zoroaster, Buddha, Christ, Muhammad, and Baha'u'llah, the latest. Bahaism thus believes in the essential unity of all religions. The messengers, in Baha'u'llah's words, are "manifestations of God" who mirror God's attributes and perfection, providing a channel for the communication of God's message. These manifestations, on the one hand, are divine beings reflecting perfectly God's will. On the other hand, they are humans, subject to birth, disease, suffering and death. They have different physical identities and address humanity at different stages of history, which sometimes gives rise to cultural distinctions between religions concealing their inherent unity. Fundamentally, however, all of God's messengers have given the same message, that of promoting universal good, love for God, obedience to his will, and love for humanity. For Bahai's the true purpose of life is to know and love God and to progress spiritually through prayers and meditation. The 9-point star, taken from the Golden Lotus, symbolizes this essential unity of all religions and of entire humanity. Buddhism (The Dhammachakka) The Dhammachakka (The Wheel of Dhamma or Dharma) is the symbol of Buddhism. It is said that Lord Buddha (Gautama Buddha) himself drew the wheel on the earth with grains of rice. The central portion of the wheel symbolizes the three causes of suffering (dukka)- malice, ignorance and desire. Its eight spokes stand for the Eightfold path of Buddhism -- Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. Just as a wheel has no existence without the spokes, similarly a person's identity can be retained only by following the Eightfold Path which enables a person to achieve an ideal state of equanimity and compassion. In ancient India, the wheel was already well known as the "Wheel of life and death" set in motion by one's Karma (action). It later became popular as the symbol of Buddhism. Christianity (The Holy Cross) The Holy Cross represents the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in whom Christians find an ideal model and guide for right living and a saviour who can transform their lives. The cross had religious and spiritual connotations much before the age of Christ when slaves and those in the lower sections of society were punished for their evil actions by tying them on the cross and nailing their hands and feet to it, leaving them to die. In this way, a crucified man could often suffer for several days. Since Jesus was placed on the Cross, it became a sacred symbol for Christians (including Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, Pentacostal, Anglican, Monophysite, Africa Indipendent Churches, Latter-Day Saints, Evangelical, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehova's Wittnesses, Quakers, Assembly Of God, etc.). There are references to it in the four Gospels of the New Testament. According to Christianity, the Cross on which Christ was crucified, was found by St. Helena (A.D. 248-328), the Empress of Rome and the mother of Constantine the Great, during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 326 A.D. The tradition of using the sign of the Cross has come down to the followers of Christianity from the Third Century. Confucianism (The Trigram) The most comprehensive virtue in the Confucian tradition is "Jen" or "humaneness". As comprehensive compassion, it is like a vital energy that nourishes the life force in all things. The Trigram, used in divination, is contained in the classic texts that Confucius upheld. It represents the way to a harmonious society through correct human relationship. The symbol seeks to direct the followers to live in harmony with all neighbors and be at peace with the environment. Druidism (Awen)
Heathenism (Valknut) * The Valknut symbol plays a role in modern Germanic neopagan faiths drawn from Germanic paganism, particularly Heathenism and Ásatrú, where numerous explanations and interpretations of the symbol are given. The most common is that the three triangles represent the three realms (underworld, heavens and earth) with each point representing one of the nine worlds of Yggdrasil (the world tree). The symbol is also called "heart of the slain," "heart of Vala," "Hrungnir's heart," "Odin's knot," or "Star of Wotan." Hinduism (OM)
Aum is said to be the essence of all mantras, the highest of all matras or divine word (shabda), brahman (ultimate reality) itself. Aum is said to be the essence of the Vedas. By sound and form, AUM symbolizes the infinite Brahman (ultimate reality) and the entire universe. A stands for Creation This is representative of the Trinity of God in Hindu dharma (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) The three portions of AUM relate to the states of waking, dream and deep sleep and the three gunas (rajas, satva, tamas) The three letters also indicates three planes of existence, heaven (swarga), earth (martya) and netherworld (patala) All the words produced by the human vocal organ can be represented by AUM. A is produced by the throat, U & M by the lips In the Vedas, AUM is the sound of the Sun, the sound of Light. It is the sound of assent (affirmation) and ascent (it has an upwards movement and uplifts the soul, as the sound of the divine eagle or falcon. Humanism (The Happy Human) The Happy Human (originally the Happy Man) is the official symbol of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), a world body for Humanism, and has been adopted by many Humanist organisations and individuals worldwide. This symbol was chosen in the 1960s after a competition organised by the British Humanist Association. The winning design was created by Denis Barrington. The trademark is held by the British Humanist Association, which freely licenses use of the symbol by bona fide Humanist organisations worldwide. A great many Humanist organisations use the symbol or an adapted version of it. Indigenous Religions (The Quartered Circle) The term "indigenous" is currently used by the United Nations to represent native cultures and religions that share a long-standing and profound connection to land, a sense of the kinship of all life and intimate relationship with ancestors, the spiritual world, and the Creator or the Sources of life. According to many indigenous traditions, the entire cosmos is infused with the Divine. The quartered circle pictures the whole of reality as the site of the holy. The traditional art of the indigenous people embodies the presence of ancestors and the spiritual powers of the universe. Islam (Crescent and Star) Islam prohibits the use of any symbol or sign, or the making of idols, pictures or images to portray "Allah" or "Islam" in any form. However, for centuries the mosques of some South-Asian countries have been decorated with a crescent and star. Yet, it is only the Kaba that remains the sacred site which is revered and referred by one and all in the Islamic world. From A.D. 395 to 1453, the Byzantines worshipped the "half moon and the star" because the increasing dimensions of the half moon provided the tired and worn out travellers in the deserts of Arabia with a feeling of peace and the star indicated the direction of their path. This interpretation goes with the Islamic scheme of thought which also provides peace to man in his worldly path and gives him guidance for his journey through life. Jainism (The Swastik Chakra) The Swastika and the Chakra are symbols frequently used in Jainsim. The open hand of the symbol represents the ideal of peace and non-violence (ahimsa) which is the focal point of Jain teachings. The symbol, in effect, means that the denizens of the three worlds, who are suffering from the miseries of transmigratory existence, can have recourse to the true path shown by the Tirthankaras, ensuring auspiciousness and perfection, and making it possible for them to live for ever in the world of perfect beings. Jainas also use another symbol, recently adopted during the 2500th anniversary of Lord Mahavira, which is more comprehensive. It consists of a digit of the moon, three dots, the Swastika and the palm of a hand with the Chakra inset which also represents the fundamentals of the Jaina doctrine - peace and non-violence. Judaism (The Magen David) * The "Magen David" (The Star of David), a six-point star, is the symbol of Judaism, the religion of the Hebrews or Jews.
Another equally important symbol used by Jews is "The Menorah" or the seven-limbed candelabrum. The Menorah represents the creation of the world by God. According to the Genesis of the Old Testament, God created the world in Six days and rested on the seventh day. The middle light indicates the Sabbath (last day of the week, a holy day and a day of rest). The seven branches may also represent the seven heavens created by God. For the Jews, the Menorah, with its golden branches and flaming candles, signifies the undying and inexhaustible spirit of Judaism. Shinto (Mitsu Domoe)
The Shinto followers also use the symbol of the Torii (gate-frames of the temple) to mark their shrines. These gate-frames, in their simplest form, consist of two vertical posts supporting two horizontal ones. Sikhism (Sword, Dagger and Shield) Swords, Dagger and Shield constitute the symbol of Sikhism, the youngest of the world religions, founded by Shri Guru Nanak Dev. Sikhism teaches unity of the Godhead and obedience and submission to the Guru that shall bring release from transmigratory existence. In Sikh beliefs, being in harmony with God implies that all human endeavors must be directed to live in peace with all of God's creation. The emphasis is on discovery and mastery of the self, not mastery over Nature. The crossed swords in the symbol represent Sikh strength, the central sword represents Sikh understanding of the unity of Divine Nature, while the circle in the background shows the connection of the Sikh community with the Divine. Taoism (Tao, Yin-Yang) All things in this phenomenal world result from the interaction of two opposite but complementary principles, viz., the Yin and the Yang. The former is the negative, passive, destructive principle considered to be feminine. The latter is the positive, active, constructive principle considered to be masculine. The Tao or "the Great Ultimate" is pictured as a circle comprising two parts, one dark, representing Yin, and the other white, representing Yang. The dark area contains a white spot and the white area contains a black spot, indicating that no element is absolutely positive or negative, and each inheres in the other. A circle representing Tao, the unchanging reality underlying the changing plurality surrounds the entire diagram. Thelema (Unicursal Hexagram)
Although the modern Thelemic movements trace their origins to the works of François Rabelais and Aleister Crowley, the latter pointed to important antecedents to his use of the term, and other instances are apparent from research. The word is of some consequence in the original Greek Christian scriptures, referring to divine and human will. One well-known example is from "The Lord's Prayer" in Matthew 6:10, "Your kingdom come. Your will (Θελημα) be done, On earth as it is in heaven." Unitarian Universalism (The Flaming Chalice) The chalice symbol is often shown surrounded by two linked rings. The two linked rings were used as an early symbol for the Unitarian Universalist Association, signifying the joining of Unitarianism and Universalism. In August 1962, the newsletter of the Midwestern Unitarian Universalist Association began using a chalice symbol drawn inside the two interlocking rings, as drawn by Betty King. There is no orthodox interpretation of the flaming chalice symbol. In one interpretation, the chalice is a symbol of religion freedom from the impositions of doctrine by a hierarchy and open to participation by all; the flame is interpreted as a memorial to those throughout history who sacrificed their lives for the cause of religious liberty. In another interpretation, the flaming chalice resembles a cross, symbolic of the Christian roots of Unitarian Universalism. Later, associations were made between this symbol and the Hussites religious sect. Czech reformer Jan Hus (1369-1415) began reading the Bible to his congregations in their native language, while the Catholic Church demanded that the Bible only be read in Latin. Also, during communion, the chalice was reserved for the clergy; the laity only received bread. When a church council condemned the practice of priests who were giving the chalice to their congregants, Hus refused to support the condemnation. After his execution by burning in 1415, followers of Hus adopted the "lay chalice" as an important symbol of their movement. Today, some depictions of the chalice incorporate a pink triangle and/or rainbow to symbolize Unitarian Universalists' support of the LGBT community. Wicca (The Pentacle)
According to Steve Wohlberg, Christian researcher and author of the book Hour of the Witch, the United States is now at a turning point, and Wicca will emerge as the third largest faith in America. Pagan leader and researcher, Phyliss Currott stated in 2005 that the Wiccan community is doubling in size every 18 months, for a predicted future community of twenty million or more adherents in the U.S. by 2012. Zoroastrianism (Ahura Mazda)
When Ahura Mazda revealed Himself to Zoroaster and gave him the teachings and the command, Zoroaster asked Him to give him a symbol. Fire was the symbol given since it burns away all evils and can never be made impure. This led to the development of the symbol "The Cauldron of Fire" which is manifest as a sacred fire maintained in Fire Temples called Atar-Beheram that is not allowed to be extinguished. Ash taken from this sacred fire is applied on the forehead by devout worshippers. Fire, to the Zoroastrians, represents God and typifies the divine spark within. Ahura Mazda is often pictorially represented as an old man with a cap and a beard, and also wings. This winged symbol represents a fravashi (or fravahar or farohar) or guardian spirit. It represents the essence of God within people, as well as the "spiritual self" or Ahura Mazda. All information on this page not linked to an outside source with Information confirmed and/or corrected by clergy/practitioners of a given faith noted with an asterisk *. |
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