BAHÁ'Í
The Symbol
The 9-pointed star is a symbol of faith. The Bahá'í Faith is founded on the teachings
of Bahá'u'lláh. In the 19th century, while imprisoned, he received the revelation of
his mission nine years after The Bab, the holy messenger, announced the prophecy.
Nine symbolizes completeness. Since the Bahá'í Faith claims to be the fulfillment of
the expectations of all prior religions, this symbol reflects that sense of fulfillment.
The Beliefs
There is a single personal creator/God, who is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient and
omnipresent and who created everything and controls all phenomena that modern
science reveals about the origins of the universe and life. God has sent, and will
continue to send, great prophets to humanity. Literal interpretations of heaven, hell
and resurrection are rejected. See http://www.religioustolerance.org/bahai3.htm.
BUDDHISM
The Symbol
The Wheel of Dharma (or Wheel of Law) represents the Buddha’s teaching of the
Path to Enlightenment. It has three elements: the rim represents the element of
limitation; the hub is the axis of the world; the eight spokes are the Eightfold Path
set down by the Buddha, which leads to the cessation of all suffering. See
http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/symbols.htm.
The Beliefs
Buddhism is a philosophical system that has many traditions and sects. Buddhists
believe that the world is a place of suffering and that as we release our
attachments (to desire and to the form of things), we can attain Nirvana—a state of
liberation and freedom from suffering. Buddhists commonly believe in
reincarnation, the repetitive cycles of birth, living, dying and rebirth in which we
take with us from one lifetime to another the lessons and mistakes from each past
life. See http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism1.htm.
CHRISTIANITY
The Symbol
The fish was chosen because it is common to the many, many denominations or
branches of Christianity. The cross on the other hand is expressed differently from
one denomination to the other — how to choose one?
Also, the fish stands for the community of Christ; early believers, who, facing
persecution, wanted a safe or private way to tell others of their affiliation. For more
on the symbol, see http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/symbols/fish.htm.
The Beliefs
As with other faiths, there are a wide variety of beliefs in the Christian tradition.
All believe that there is one God, and that God created the entire Universe and
everything that is in it and that Jesus is the Son of God. Within these beliefs there
is variation on how much of his actions and teachings were representative of a firstcentury Jewish teacher (rabbi) and how much went beyond.
Most hold belief in the Holy Spirit, which refers to God’s presence with us and with
the rest of His creation. See http://geneva.rutgers.edu/src/christianity/index.html.
CONFUCIANISM
The Beliefs
Confucianism is an ethical, moral and philosophical system teaching a basic set of
principles and values so that one’s behavior is self-regulating and reflecting the
highest human potential. It teaches that harmony, in one’s personal, family, social
and political relationships, is found by following the right actions of piety and
respect, ritual and righteousness.
The Symbol
No images are used to represent Confucius, only a plaque on which is written his
name. The symbol chosen to represent Confucianism on this website is the Chinese
ideogram for water, which is seen as a source of life in Chinese philosophy.
HINDUISM
The Beliefs
Hindus share a belief in the authority of the Vedas (the oldest Indian sacred texts)
and the Brahmans (priests); reincarnation (the soul is reborn into another body
after death); karma (the effect in each lifetime of the choices and decisions from
past lives. Most Hindus venerate one or more deities, but regard these as
manifestations of Ultimate Reality, Brahman (known as the Source, Cause, and
ground of all things). It is not a deistic term. "Brahman is of the nature of truth,
knowledge and infinity." … a necessary reality, eternal (i.e., beyond the purview of
temporality). Brahman is both immanently present in the realm of materiality,
interpenetrating the whole of reality as the sustaining essence that gives it
structure, meaning and existential being, yet Brahman is simultaneously the
transcendent origin of all things (thus, pantheistic). … Brahman is the Source, the
Final Goal, and the Final Cause. See
http://hinduism.about.com/od/basics/a/brahman.htm.
The Symbol
The Om, or Aum, is a mystical or sacred syllable in the Indian religions including
Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism, and Bön (a Tibetan tradition). The
symbol represents both the un-manifest and manifest aspects of God, encompasses
all ... it represents Brahman, the impersonal Absolute of Hinduism — omnipotent,
omnipresent, and the source of all manifest existence. See Beliefs.
ISLAM
THE BELIEFS
Islam is the monotheistic religion based on the living habits and sayings of Prophet
Muhammad, who lived in the 7th century. The word Islam means “submission to
God”. An adherent of Islam is called a Muslim, meaning one who submits wholly to
the will of Allah, the Arabic word for God. Muslims believe that their sacred text,
The Qur’an, (Koran) is the verbatim word of Allah. Muslims believe that, over time,
previous messages and revelations have been changed and corrupted, but the
Qur’an is God’s final and unaltered revelation.
Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable. They also believe that Islam is
the completed and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed at many
times and places before, including through the prophets Abraham, Moses and
Jesus. Religious practices are defined by the Five Pillars of Islam (five obligatory
acts of worship), and by following Islamic law which touches on virtually every
aspect of life and society, encompassing everything from banking and welfare to
warfare and the environment. Central to Islamic belief is that only Allah is divine
and worthy of being worshipped.
The Symbol
Arabic script or characters can be regarded as visually representing Islam, such as
the word for Allah, which is the symbol used by this web site. Islam itself has few
traditional symbols. The star and crescent moon symbol, perhaps the best-known
symbol used to represent Islam, are not recognized as a traditional symbols by
Muslim. The crescent was not a symbol used for Islam by Muhammad or any other
early Muslim rulers, as the Islamic religion is, in fact, against appointing "Holy
Symbols". Early Islamic coins therefore were covered with Arabic writing, but
contained no visual symbols. See http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/symbols.htm.
JAINISM
The Symbol
The hand often has several intricate aspects and appears with other symbols. The
palm of the hand is for assurance and to encourage mindfulness (to stop and think
before speaking or acting so that all possible violence is avoided).
A wheel in the center of the hand symbolizes the cycles of reincarnation, helping us
remember the cyclic consequences of not being mindful. The 24 spokes represent
the wisdom of 24 enlightened souls, which can liberate a soul from reincarnation.
The word Ahimsa (non-violence) appears in the center of the wheel. Ahimsa is seen
as the first of the five great vows, prescribed by Jain religion. See Beliefs for the
others.
The Beliefs
Jains believe that the universe and everything in it is eternal. Nothing that exists
now was ever created, nor will it be destroyed. The universe consists of three
realms: the heavens, the earthly realm and the hells. They believe in a perfect
universal presence, and multiple deities who dwell in the heavens.
The Five Great Vows are: Ahimsa (do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, torment,
insult, torture, or kill any creature or living being); Satya (wholesome and pleasant
truthfulness); Achaurya or Asteya (no stealing … taking or touching only what
belongs to you, and when accepting as gifts or alms, taking only what is
necessary… also, honest in thought, word, and action); Brahmacharya
(celibacy/chastity [householders must limit their relationship with the spouse]); and
Aparigraha (renouncing all attachments to anything that pleases the five senses).
More at http://www.hinduwebsite.com/jainism/jainbeliefs.asp.
JUDAISM
The Symbol
The six-pointed Star of David is said to symbolize God's rule over the universe in all
six directions: north, south, east, west, up and down. The use of the star is
relatively new in the history of the Jews.
http://judaism.about.com/od/judaismbasics/a/starofdavid.htm.
The Beliefs
Ultimate reality is a single, all-powerful God. This belief made the Jews unique
among other ancient Semitic peoples and became the legacy Judaism has passed
on to the entire Western world. In Jewish belief, God is The First Being (brought
everything into existence and continues to sustain them), infinite (beyond space),
boundless, omnipresent, eternal (no beginning, no ending, God transcends time),
incorporeal (non-physical), just, merciful and forgiving, omniscient, omnipotent, the
Author of truth, goodness, purity and holiness. God's name in Hebrew is YHWH,
which means, "I am." More at http://judaism.about.com/od/beliefs/a/god.htm.
NATIVE AFRICAN
The Symbol
GYE NYAME, which means “Except for God", is an Adinkra symbol of the
omnipotence and supremacy of God, and is ubiquitous in Ghana. Other translations
of the word include “Except for what God allows to happen" or "Unless God allows it
to happen". Currently, it is by far the most popular for use in decoration, a
reflection on the deeply religious character of the Ghanaian people. See
http://calltoactionquilt.org/africansymbols.html
The Beliefs
Native African spiritual beliefs are part of a several-thousand year cultural history
and are as varied as the tribes and peoples themselves. Many appear to believe
that there is a single Supreme Being who requires obedience and who is in a
covenant relationship with a tribe. Individual people can call up on the Supreme
Being in personal terms.
In some traditions, the Supreme Being can take on other forms, some believe in
reincarnation (rebirth following death) and in karma (the effect of choices made in
previous lifetimes).
All traditional African peoples agree in an afterlife; an individual’s soul lives on after
death. See http://www.a-gallery.de/docs/mythology.htm.
NATIVE AMERICAN
The Symbol
The Four Cardinal Directions with the Eternal or Sacred Fire in the center was
chosen to represent the Native American spirituality because it has the elements
that are most common to the most tribes and nations. The colors of the Four
Directions vary somewhat from tribe to tribe.
A prayer attributed to Chief Seattle giving honor to the Four Directions can be seen
at http://www.starstuffs.com/prayers/directs.htm. An explanation of the use of the
Four Directions and the Eternal Fire as symbols can be seen at
http://users.ap.net/~chenae/spirit.html.
The Beliefs
As with all faith traditions, there is great variation of the beliefs, and yet there are
common threads. Common to all tribes is that all of life is connected in some way,
there is “…a strong sense that behind all individual spirits and personifications of
the divine, there is a single creative (animating) life-force, sometimes called ‘the
Great Mystery’, which expresses itself throughout the universe, in every human,
animal, tree and grain of sand. Every story, too, is a working out of this life force”
(see http://www.livingmyths.com/Native.htm).
NEO-PAGANISM
The Symbol
For Neo-pagans, the pentacle represents their five main elements or factors, which
are necessary to sustain life: earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. The pentacle
represents what pagans will sometimes call “auma” or everything, the all, etc. The
pentacle represents the circle of life, which has no beginning and no end. It is also
a symbol of balance, in the way that each element balances with the other.
In Pagan practices, the position (or orientation) of a pentacle represents what it will
be used for. For example, an upside down pentacle is often called the “banishing”
pentacle and is used to sent energy away whereas an upright pentacle can be
considered an “invoking” pentacle and be used to call energy forth. See the article
at http://www.helium.com/items/1039629-the-meaning-of-the-wiccan-pentacle.
The Beliefs
Beliefs are extremely diverse and include polytheism, animism, pantheism and
other paradigms. The spirituality can be entirely modern in origin or an attempt to
accurately revive or reconstruct indigenous, ethnic religions as found in historical
and folkloric sources. The umbrella term, Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism, identifies
a wide variety of modern religious movements, particularly those influenced by
European pre-Christian Pagan.
The largest Neo-pagan religion is Wicca. Other large groups include Neo-Druidism,
Germanic Neo-paganism and Slavic Neo-paganism.
SHINTOISM
The Symbol
The Torii, a traditional Japanese gate, is a common symbol found at the entry of
Shinto shrines. See http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2059.html or
http://www.religioustolerance.org/shinto.htm.
The Beliefs
Shintoism is based on the worship of spirits known Kami. Kami is the divine spirit
found in all things in heaven and earth, mountains and rivers, sun and moon,
plants, animals, and human beings... and especially at Mount Fuji and in the cherry
blossoms, bonsai trees, formal gardens, and Sakaki (the holy tree). Kami created
everything in heavens and on earth, and every creature, made by the Kami, is
beautiful and perfect; Kami can only create beautiful and perfect creatures.
See more at http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2056.html.
SIKHISM
The Symbol
The Ek-Onkar symbol means “There is one God.” Many Gurdwaras — a Sikh place
of worship (Gurdwara means “Guru’s home” or “ A Place of God”), Sikh
organizations, and Sikh individuals use this symbol on letters and other documents.
The constant repetition of Ek-Onkar is done so that Sikhs are constantly reminded
that there is only one God in the universe.
The Beliefs
Sikhs believe in a single, Formless God, with many names, who can be known
through meditation. The goal of every Sikh is to build a close, loving relationship
with God.
Sikhs believe that all people are equal in the eyes of God. They believe in karma
(the effect of choices made in a previous lifetime) and in reincarnation (the
repetitive cycle of being born, dying, being born). For more about the beliefs and
practices, see http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh_practices
TAOISM
The Symbol
The circle represents the Tao — the undifferentiated Unity out of which all of
existence arises. The black and white halves within the circle represent the Yin
(feminine) and Yang (masculine)— primordial energies whose interplay gives birth
to the manifest world; all of life is created by dualities that are interdependent.
The Beliefs
The Tao is called the Way and is seen as the flow of the Universe. The supreme
being, or ultimate truth, is beyond words or conceptual understanding.
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/2001/06/What-Taoists-Believe.aspx
ZOROASTRIAN
The Symbol
The Sacred or Holy Fire represents purity, the symbol of truth and the energy of
creation. Zoroastrian rituals are conducted before a sacred fire. Fire as a symbol of
Ahura Mazda and His light is cherished. Light is seen as energy, a natural force that
is powerful and necessary for survival.
The winged symbol now associated with Zoroastrianism and more commonly known
by people outside of the faith is known as the Faravahar
The Beliefs
All Zoroastrians believe in one god, one supreme being—Ahura Mazda, who
communicates with humans by Attributes (Bounteous Immortals), which are
sometimes described as concepts and sometimes they are personified.
Some Zoroastrians believe in a conflict between good (Ahura Mazda) and evil
(Angra Mainyu). More on http://www.religioustolerance.org/zoroastr2.htm and
http://www.religionfacts.com/zoroastrianism/index.htm.