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. The symbols helps create a resonant mythos that expresses the moral values of the society, the teachings of the religion, creates a sense of solidarity between religious adherents, or functions as a way to bring an adherent closer to their god or gods. Archetype is defined as the first original model of which all other similar persons, objects, or concepts are merely derivative, copied, patterned, or emulated. ... For other uses, see Phenomena (disambiguation). ... A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value, which is prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. ... This article is about resonance in physics. ... Look up muthos in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A moral is a one sentence remark made at the end of many childrens stories that expresses the intended meaning, or the moral message, of the tale. ... For other uses, see Society (disambiguation). ...

The study of religious symbols 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. In comparative religion, a universalist religion is one that holds itself true for all people; it thus allows all to join, regardless of ethnicity. ... The Major religious groups of the world. ... The word mythology (from the Greek μυολογία mythología, from mythologein to relate myths, from mythos, meaning a narrative, and logos, meaning speech or argument) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use the supernatural to interpret natural events and...

The cross of the war memorial and a menorah for Hanukkah coexist in Oxford.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1168x1760, 313 KB) Summary The cross of the war memorial and a menorah for Hanukkah coexist in Oxford. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1168x1760, 313 KB) Summary The cross of the war memorial and a menorah for Hanukkah coexist in Oxford. ... A reliquary in the form of an ornate Christian Cross Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope... This memorial in England lists the names of soldiers who died in the First World War. ... A coin issued by Mattathias Antigonus, c. ... Grand Rabbi Israel Abraham Portugal of the Hasidic group Skullen lighting Hanukkah lights Hanukkah (‎, also spelled Chanukah), also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday beginning on the 25th day of the month of Kislev, which may fall anytime from late November to late December. ... Oxford is a city and local government district in Oxfordshire, England, with a population of 134,248 (2001 census). ... Ayyavazhi (IPA: )(Tamil:அய்யாவழி [1] -Path of the father) is a dharmic belief system[2] which originated in South India in the 19th century. ... Ayyavazhi (IPA: )(Tamil:அய்யாவழி [1] -Path of the father) is a dharmic belief system[2] which originated in South India in the 19th century. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 562 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (571 × 609 pixel, file size: 26 KB, MIME type: image/png) (All user names refer to en. ... This article is about the generally-recognized global Baháí community. ... The official symbol of the Baháí Faith is the five-pointed star, as mentioned by Shoghi Effendi: Strictly speaking the 5-pointed star is the symbol of our Faith, as used by the Báb and explained by Him. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... A silhouette of a Buddha statue at Ayutthaya, Thailand. ... The Dharmacakra (Sanskrit) or Dhammacakka (Pāli), Tibetan , Chinese fălún 法轮, Wheel of Dharma is an auspicious Buddhist symbol representing a Buddhas teaching of the path to enlightenment. ... Image File history File links Wheel_of_life_1. ... Binomial name Gaertn. ... Image File history File links Lotus. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... The ichthys has been used to represent a number of ideas. ... Image File history File links Ichthus2. ... A reliquary in the form of an ornate Christian Cross Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope... Image File history File links Christian_cross. ... Patriarchal cross The Patriarchal cross is a variant of the Christian cross, the universal religious symbol of Christendom. ... Image File history File links OrthodoxCross. ... Romuva Spring JorÄ— festival in Kulionys, Lithuania in 2006. ... Pagan and heathen redirect here. ... Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is any of a heterogeneous group of new religious movements, particularly those influenced by ancient, primarily pre-Christian and sometimes pre-Judaic religions. ... For other uses, see Wicca (disambiguation). ... Vandals and Slavic solar symbol The Hands of God (RÄ™ce Boga), allegedly an old pre-Christian God symbol. ... Image File history File links HandsGod. ... Drawing of an archeological find of a gold plated hammer in silver. ... Image File history File links Mjollnir. ... A pentagram A pentagram (sometimes known as a pentalpha or pentangle or, more formally, as a star pentagon) is the shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes. ... Image File history File links Pentagram_green. ... A Caddo solar cross, to Southeastern Native Americans a symbol of both the sun and fire. ... Image File history File links Crossed_circle. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... A Caddo solar cross, to Southeastern Native Americans a symbol of both the sun and fire. ... Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is any of a heterogeneous group of new religious movements, particularly those influenced by ancient, primarily pre-Christian and sometimes pre-Judaic religions. ... Image File history File links Southern_Cult_Solar_Cross. ... For other uses, see Ouroboros (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Alchemy (disambiguation). ... Hermeticism should not be confused with the concept of a hermit. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (666x688, 58 KB) Summary Ouroboros by Zanaq. ... See also the specific life stance known as Humanism For the Renaissance liberal arts movement, see Renaissance humanism Humanism is a broad category of ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appeal to universal human qualities... The Happy Human For the non-theistic humanistic life stance in a broader sense, please see Humanism (life stance). ... Image File history File links Humanism. ... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... “Om” redirects here. ... Image File history File links Oum. ... Binomial name Gaertn. ... This article is about the symbol. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Kalima does not render you a Muslim- it is a bunch of words meaning nothing. ... White flag featuring the Shahada text as used by the Taliban. ... A typical presentation of the star and crescent The star and crescent is a symbol consisting of a crescent with a star at the concave side. ... “Ottoman” redirects here. ... Image File history File links Star_and_Crescent. ... Jain and Jaina redirect here. ... This article is about the symbol. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about a Jewish symbol. ... Image File history File links Star_of_David. ... Slavic Neo-Pagans, Heathens or Reconstructionists are religious groups or individuals who consider themselves to be the legitimate continuation of pre-Christian Slavic religion. ... Vandals and Slavic solar symbol The Hands of God (RÄ™ce Boga), allegedly an old pre-Christian God symbol. ... Image File history File links Receboga. ... Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is a religion that began in fifteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. ... The Khanda Sikh Khanda on Stamp designed by Stacey Zabolotney Issued By Canada Post in November 2000 . ... Image File history File links Khanda. ... A torii at Itsukushima Shrine Shinto (神道 Shintō) (sometimes called Shintoism) is a native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. ... A famous floating torii at Itsukushima Shrine Multiple torii at Fushimi Inari-taisha, Kyoto Torii are widespread in Japan, to the extent that modern architecture sometimes emulates their form, such as at Kanazawa Station. ... Image File history File links Torii. ... The Southeastern Ceremonial Complex (sometimes called the Southern Cult) is the name given to a broad, regional similarity of artifacts, iconography, ceremonies and mythology of the Mississippian culture that accompanied their adoption of maize agriculture. ... A Caddo solar cross, to Southeastern Native Americans a symbol of both the sun and fire. ... Image File history File links Southern_Cult_Solar_Cross. ... Taoism (Daoism) is the English name referring to a variety of related Chinese philosophical and religious traditions and concepts. ... Japanese name Kanji: Hiragana: Yin and yang (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) are generalizations of the antithesis or mutual correlation between certain objects or phenomena in the natural world, combining to create a unity of opposites. ... This article is about a concept in Taoism. ... Image File history File links Yin_yang. ... Thelema is the English transliteration of the Ancient Greek noun : will, from the verb θέλω: to will, wish, purpose. ... The Traditional Unicursal Hexagram The Unicursal Hexagram is a hexagram or six sided and six pointed star that is unique in that it can be traced or drawn as one complete symbol, rather than two overlaid triangles. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Universal Sufism is a spiritual and universalist movement founded by Hazrat Inayat Khan in the early 20th century. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The flaming chalice is the universally recognized symbol for Unitarian Universalism. ... The most widely used symbol of Unitarian Universalism, and the official logo of the UUA, is a flaming chalice. ... Image File history File links Flaming_Chalice. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Faravahar, The depiction of the Human soul before birth and after death. ...

See also

• Eye of Providence
• Heart in Hand ha ha

This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Heart in Hand or Heart-in-Hand is a symbol of a heart in an open palm,[1] and is symbolic of charity, given from the heart. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Religious symbols

• A Religious Symbol Dictionary
• Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs