Definition: Abstract principles by which a person, action or thing can stand for something else
Catholic ChristianityIn Catholic Christianity, there are numerous symbols found which represent something different for each, like these below:
The Cross
The cross in Catholicism represents salvation. It is mostly connected with the
resurrection of Jesus Christ after he died on the cross, as he gave up his life for our sins so that we may live forevermore. The Bread and the Wine
Representing the story The Last Supper, the bread and the wine are symbolic of Christ's body (bread) and blood (wine). It is handed out to adherents as part of Eucharist during mass, as a memory of Christ's life, death and resurrection.
The Dove
The Dove in Catholicism personifies the Holy Spirit. It is used mainly in Baptism and the Pentecost.
The Fish
The letters inside the fish is an acrostic poem for a greek phrase "Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter" which means "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour". The fish is also symbolic of the parable when Christ fed the 5000 with 2 fish and a load of bread.
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Aboriginal SpiritualityAboriginal Spirituality has a great emphasis that all things have a soul, even if they are not living or tangible. Symbols are sacramental and convey a spiritual force with hidden spiritual meanings. This means that even certain places or stories are symbolic of their way of life, like these below:
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Uluru is a sacred place, especially to the Pitjantjatjara or Anangu clan which live there, must preserve the land and still perform rituals in the caves of the rock. It is believed to have come in the Dreamtime by ancestral spirits and it is also thought that those ancestral spirits roam around the site.
Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)
Also managed by the Anangu clan, "Kata Tjuta" means "many heads", perfectly describing the rock formation. This site is related to some stories told in the Dreamtime, such as the story of the great snake King Wanambi.
Totems
Totems in Aboriginal Spirituality are natural objects, animals or plants which are assigned to a person and describe their role in the world. It is a spiritual emblem given to each person or family, which creates diversity yet oneness.
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Islamic ReligionOriginally, Islam had no official symbols related to the religion, however, it has adopted a few more, so as to symbolise the religion itself rather than certain things
The Crescent and the Star
Derived from the Ottoman flag, the crescent and the star are seen as a creation of Allah which can neither benefit or disadvantage people, and there is a theory that the points on the star represents the Five Pillars of Islam. However, some Muslims won't bother to relate to this symbol as it was not known to the Prophet Mohammed in his time and is thought of as a pagan image.
Calligraphy of the word Allah
Calligraphy is commonly used in Islam to rewrite certain words, such as Shahadah, Salat, Zakat, Sawm and Haji. However, the most well known calligraphy is that of the word Allah.
The Colour Green
For centuries, the colour green has been firmly put in place as a symbol of Islamic tradition. It is often used to represent Islam as a whole, and it can be found in sacred places such as mosques
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