.

1. THE MEANING OF
RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS
AHMED HAMIDOUCH
REDA EL CHATTAHI

2. 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.

3. HINDUISM
• THE OM

4. • THE OM IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS TO HINDUS.
• IT REPRESENTS ; THE THREE MAJOR HINDU GODS. EARTH, ATMOSPHERE, AND
HEAVEN

5. BUDDHISM
• WHEEL OF DHARMA

6. • 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

7. BAHÁI
• NINE POINTED
STAR LOGO

8. • 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.

9. TAOISM
• YIN AND YANG

10. • THE SYMBOL REPRESENT PERFECT HARMONIC BALANCE.

11. CHRISTIANITY
• THE CROSS

12. • BEST KNOWN RELIGIOUS SYMBOL
• CROSS ON WHICH JESUS CHRIST DIED
• UNITY OR FIRE

13. JUDAISM
• THE STAR OF DAVID

14. • USED ON THE SHIELD OF DAVID
• SYMBOL OF STRENGTH
• IMPRESSION OF CONNECTION

15. ISLAM
• THE STAR AND CRESCENT

16. • STRENGTH
• CELESTIAL SYMBOLS: THE STAR AND MOON SUGGEST THE PRESENCE OF A
DEITY

17. SHINTOISM
• THE SHINTO TORII

18. • APPEARS AS A GATE, ENTRY OF SHINTO TEMPLES
• LINE BETWEEN SECULAR AND SPIRITUAL
• NEW AUTHORITY, NEW RULES

19. • THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!