Symbols of religion

symbols of religion ,

1. Culturology Seminar Assignment “Symbols Of Religion” From- Mohammed Abdul Rafe Group-3

2. Symbols Of Religion A  religious symbol  is an iconic representation intended to represent a specific  religion , or a specific concept within a given religion. Religious symbols  are  used  to convey concepts concerned with humanity's relationship to the sacred or holy (e.g., the cross in Christianity) and also to the social and material world (e.g., the dharmachakra , or wheel of the law, of Buddhism).

3. The Christian Cross The Christian Cross The cross is the most common symbol of Christianity. You see them all over the place. The cross symbolizes Christianity as a religion, as well as the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Another form of the cross you might see is the crucifix, which will include a figure of Jesus, nailed to the cross through both hands and feet, usually with a crown of thorns on his head.

4. The Star and Crescent The Star and Crescent The Star and Crescent is recognized as a symbol if the Islamic faith. This symbol, however, is older and was originally used by the people of Central Asia and Siberia as a symbol of their sky gods. The Star and Crescent were adopted as a symbol of Islam during the Ottoman Empire, when the Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453.

5. The “Om” ‘OM’ is a very important symbol of the Hindu religion. It is a mantra, uttered by many Hindus at the start of every day, and commonly written in the head of letters. Om, or Aum is made up of three Sanskrit letters, a, u and m. The syllables come together to make the sound, Om, meaning Brahman, the supreme God of Hinduism.

6. The Star of David The Star of David The Star of David is a common symbol of the Jewish faith. The two interlocking triangles represent to tribes of Judah and Benjamin. It is believed that this was the symbol of the line of David, and the star was represented on David's shield, though this has not been proven.

7. The Ahimsa Hand The Ahimsa Hand is a common symbol of Jainism, a religion born in India, known for non-violence. The Jains believe that all life is sacred, some go to extreme measures to avoid even stepping on a bug! This symbol represents the Jains vow of ahimsa (non- violence). The wheel in the palm represents dharma (see The Dharma Wheel), and in the centre of the wheel rests the word, ahimsa.

8. The Torii Gate The Torii Gate is a symbol of the Shito religion. The symbol of the Torii Gate represents the transition between our world and the world of the gods. A physical Torii Gate usually marks the entrance to a sacred Shinto shrine. By passing through the Torii Gate, you pass from the profane, to the sacred place.

9. The Khanda The Khanda is the symbol of Sikhism. The Khanda is made up of three important symbols; the double edged sword, a circle (the Chakkar ), and two crossed kirpans (curved swords). The double edged sword represents the belief on a single God. The Chakkar represents that God has no beginning or end. The two kirpans represent God's spiritual authority and his political power. The entire symbol is meant to represent God as a whole.

10. The Menorah The Menorah is another common symbol of Judaism. A menorah is a nine- branched candelabrum, used in the celebration of Hanukkah. The menorah made its first appearance in the book of Exodus, when God revealed its design to Moses. The original menorah was made from a single piece of gold and had only seven branches. It was used as a light for the temple. Today's menorah has nine branches, commemorating a miraculous event during the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The Jews only had enough oil to light the temple for one day, but somehow, it lasted eight days, allowing them enough light to finish their work.