Religious symbols have been adopted as a way in which different religions identify and represent their beliefs. While symbology has existed for over a thousand years, it is not surprising that there are so many religious symbols around the world and that many of us meet them without knowing their meaning.
However, beyond being images that look great, they are also loaded with history, truths, ideals and virtues that are inspiring, so it is valuable for us to know the religious symbols that surround us. Therefore, we will take a closer look at the 5 most important ones and what they mean.
The 5 most important religious symbols
1. The Christian cross: Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion that is based on the teachings and life of Jesus. It arose as a religion from Judaism when considering that Jesus Christ was the Messiah who had been announced in the Old Testament, being the Christian cross not only its main symbol, but also one of the most recognizable religious symbols in the entire world.
It is also one of the oldest symbols that have been used since it was very common among previous religions and civilizations. Although it is a symbol formed by two intersecting lines, in the Christian cross the vertical line is slightly longer than the horizontal one. It is specifically used to remember the death of Jesus Christ since it is a reference to the cross where he was crucified.
However, it was not used among early Christians due to its direct reference to the methods of execution that were used at that time, therefore, the use of symbols such as the ichthys was more common, being from the second and third centuries when the cross began to be associated with Christianity. However, there are some variations of this cross that represent different branches within Christianity; for example, the Orthodox Church uses an eight-armed cross.
2. The crescent and the star: Islamism
Among the religions with the most followers, Islam is the second after Christianity since according to estimates, it currently has an approximate of 1.3 billion. It is a monotheistic religion that recognizes Allah as its only God and that began in 622 AD under the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
Although this religion has no official religious symbols and the words “Allah” in Arabic characters are considered to visually represent Islam as a symbol, the star with the crescent is the best known symbol used to represent it, and consists of a crescent moon and a five-pointed star. However, it is not a symbol of Muslim origin, but according to historians, it gained importance historically as a symbol of the Ottoman Empire, although from the 19th century, during the expansion of Islam, it came to directly represent the Muslim world.
The crescent is believed to be the early phase of the moon and represents progress, while the star means the enlightenment that is obtained with the light of knowledge.
3. The Star of David: Judaism
Among the three major monotheistic religions in the world that include Christianity and Islam, Judaism is the oldest. This religion currently has an approximate 15 million followers, and the laws which it is based on are contained in a holy book called the Torah. It is also known as the Pentateuch and that in the Christian religion it is part of the Old Testament.
Although Judaism is full of religious symbols related to its rites, the Star of David is its most important symbol. This is a six-pointed star that is formed by two equilateral triangles, which currently also appears on the flag of Israel.
This symbol is attributed to King David who, according to the Bible, was the first king set by God who faced the giant Goliath and defeated him, thus becoming a warrior king and conqueror. As its main element, the Star of David has the triangle, which means wisdom and divinity, the desire to reach something high. In general, it symbolizes the conjunction of the energy of heaven together with the energy of the earth. It is also known as a protective and magical talisman and as an alchemical symbol because it is the emblem of fire and water.
The upper triangle is also said to represent the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) pointing upwards, while the lower triangle represents the human trinity (spirit, soul and body) which points downwards.
4. The Om: Hinduism
Considered one of the oldest religions in history, this polytheistic religion originating in India is the fusion of beliefs, cults and traditions in which it is important to follow the Vedas or sacred texts and certain behaviour rules. Although there are different variants within Hinduism, they all share the fact of believing in the existence of Brahma as the Supreme God and in reincarnation.
With approximately 1.5 billion followers mainly in South Asia, it is currently the third largest religion in number of followers behind Christianity and Islam. Although there are many symbols related to Hinduism and that in some cases it shares with other Eastern religions, perhaps the most important is the Om.
Also called Aum since it is a transcription of the Sanskrit language, this symbol is also called onkara, omkara and pranava. It is the closest verbal expression of Brahman, the universal essence of the soul, and represents the most sacred mantra of Hinduism. It means the unity with the supreme and the fusion between the physical and the spiritual thing. It is said to be the sacred syllable, the first sound of the Almighty and which all other sounds emerge from.
5. Wheel of Dharma: Buddhism
Buddhism is a non-theistic philosophical and spiritual doctrine (it does not mention the belief in a creator or absolute God) whose origin is located in India between the 4th and 6th centuries BC. Its traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices are based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha who is said to be an example of individual peace, and that speak of the end of suffering through enlightenment. Currently, it is estimated that it has an estimated 500 million followers worldwide, being the fourth religion in the world with the most followers.
Among the most prominent religious symbols of Buddhism, the most representative is the Wheel of Dharma also known as dharmachakra, a symbol consisting of an eight-spoke wheel that symbolizes the different types of life (the eightfold path) that lead to a peaceful existence in the world.
There are many interpretations that have been given to the possible meaning of this symbol. One of them, perhaps the most widespread, says that the circle of the wheel represents the uniqueness and perfection of Buddhist teachings, while the centre of the wheel represents the discipline necessary to carry out a correct meditation. And for their part, the spokes of the wheel represent the link between meditation and Buddhist teachings.
According to Buddhist tradition, the Wheel of Dharma was set in motion on the day that Buddha delivered his first sermon, and this myth causes the Wheel of Dharma to be occasionally interpreted as a symbol of the Buddha himself.
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