THE MEANING OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS

AHMED HAMIDOUCH

REDA EL CHATTAHI

INTRODUCTION:

• A SYMBOL IS AN OBJECT THAT REPRESENTS, STANDS FOR, OR SUGGESTS AN IDEA,

VISUAL IMAGE, BELIEF, ACTION, OR MATERIAL ENTITY.

• A RELIGIOUS SYMBOL IS AN ICONIC REPRESENTATION INTENDED TO REPRESENT A

SPECIFIC RELIGION, OR A SPECIFIC CONCEPT WITHIN A GIVEN RELIGION.

HINDUISM

• THE OM

• THE OM IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS TO HINDUS.

• IT REPRESENTS ; THE THREE MAJOR HINDU GODS. EARTH, ATMOSPHERE, AND

HEAVEN

BUDDHISM

• WHEEL OF DHARMA

• SOME BUDDHISTS REGARD THE THE WHEEL'S THREE BASIC PARTS AS

SYMBOLS OF THE "THREE TRAININGS" IN BUDDHIST PRACTICE:

1- THE HUB

2- THE SPOKES

3- THE RIM

BAHÁI

• NINE POINTED

STAR LOGO

• THE NUMBER "NINE" IS SIGNIFICANT FOR BAHÁ'ÍS FOR SEVERAL REASONS:

- NINE, AS THE HIGHEST SINGLE-DIGIT NUMBER, SYMBOLIZES

COMPLETENESS

- BAHAI FAITH REFLECTS THE SENSE OF FULFILLMENT AND COMPLETENESS.

TAOISM

• YIN AND YANG

• THE SYMBOL REPRESENT PERFECT HARMONIC BALANCE.

CHRISTIANITY

• THE CROSS

• BEST KNOWN RELIGIOUS SYMBOL

• CROSS ON WHICH JESUS CHRIST DIED

• UNITY OR FIRE

JUDAISM

• THE STAR OF DAVID

• USED ON THE SHIELD OF DAVID

• SYMBOL OF STRENGTH

• IMPRESSION OF CONNECTION

ISLAM

• THE STAR AND CRESCENT

• STRENGTH

• CELESTIAL SYMBOLS: THE STAR AND MOON SUGGEST THE PRESENCE OF A

DEITY

SHINTOISM

• THE SHINTO TORII

• APPEARS AS A GATE, ENTRY OF SHINTO TEMPLES

• LINE BETWEEN SECULAR AND SPIRITUAL

• NEW AUTHORITY, NEW RULES

• THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!