Buddhist symbol is a cyclic attribute symbolizing the wheel of the Dharma. It explains samsara, the cycle of rebirths that can be avoided by studying the Buddha’s and the story of how the Buddha achieved enlightenment (Halberg, 2014). People use in ritual practice to concentrate on reflection, using the mind and wisdom. It is a compelling meditation tool for clearing the mind and allowing reflection on being.
Christian symbols are varied and multifaceted: the most common is the cross, symbolizing memory of Christ. Ichthys (fish) indicates an anagram about Jesus Christ, the savior, and son of God. The cross is essential to professing Christians, used as part of many rituals (Religious symbol, n.d.). Ichthys is used to a lesser extent and serves only as a reminder for a small fraction of Christians.
Islamic symbols include a star inside a crescent moon, which came to Islam from the Ottoman Empire. It is common among followers of Islam because it indicates an affiliation with the religion. A critical symbol is the word Allah in Arabic, which is used to visualize the power of Islam (Halberg, 2014). Many followers worship it because they want to associate themselves with and serve Allah.
Symbols in Shintoism represent the religious beliefs of the indigenous peoples of Japan. The Tori Gate represents the entrance to a sacred space for the worship of spirits, the kami (Religious symbol, n.d.). The gate symbolizes the transition from being humans to the world of spirit. Tori is effective in ritual practice, and the Japanese continue to use them at the entrance to homes or temples.
Symbols in Hinduism strongly influence followers because they represent the culture and philosophy of the religion. Om is the main symbols that are associated with the ideas of earth, atmosphere, and sky (Halberg, 2014). It represents the gods; the pronunciation of this sound is sacred to followers, and its visual symbol is depicted in temples and shrines. In ritual practice, it is used constantly as a mantra.
Jewish symbols are traditionally associated with David’s six-pointed star, based on the shape of his shield. Although it is a relatively new symbol, for Jews, it has acquired paramount importance (Halberg, 2014): it represents belonging to the faith and the suffering one has to endure. The star is vital in ritual practice: it is depicted in temples and on shrines and symbolizes protection and home for Jews.
References
Halberg, O. (2014). Religious symbols meaning. Religious-symbols.Net. Web.
Religious symbol. (n.d.). The Free Dictionary. Web.