Religious symbolism

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Religious symbolism is the use of symbols, including archetypes, acts, artwork, events, or natural phenomena, by a religion. Religions view religious texts, rituals, and works of art as symbols of compelling ideas or ideals. The symbols helps create a reseonant mythos that expresses the moral values of the society, the teachings of the religion, creates a sense of solidarity between religious adherents, or functions as a way to bring an adherent closer to their god or gods.

The study of religious symbolism is either universalist, as a component of comparative religion and mythology, or in localized scope, within the confines of a religion's limits and boundaries.

The cross of the war memorial and a menorah for Hanukkah coexist in Oxford.
The cross of the war memorial and a menorah for Hanukkah coexist in Oxford.
Religion or philosophy Name Symbol
Ayyavazhi
Main article: Ayyavazhi symbolism
 Lotus Carrying Namam
Bahá'í Faith
Main article: Bahá'í symbols
 Nine Pointed Star
Buddhism
Main article: Buddhist symbolism
 Wheel of Dharma
Lotus Flower
Christianity
Main article: Christian symbolism
 Ichthys (fish)
Christian cross
Patriarchal cross
Ethnic religions, Polytheistic reconstructionism
Paganism, Neopaganism, Wicca		 Hands of God
Mjolnir (Thor's Hammer)
Pentagram
Sun cross
Gnosticism Sun cross (also a symbol of neopaganism)
Ouroboros (also a symbol of Alchemy and Hermeticism)
Humanism Happy Human
Hinduism
Main article: Hindu iconography
 Omkar (Aum)
Lotus Flower
Swastika
Islam
Main article: Symbols of Islam
 Kalima/Shahadah
Star and crescent (Ottoman symbol)
Jainism Swastika
Judaism
Main article: Jewish symbolism
 Star of David
Menorah
LaVeyan Satanism Sigil of Baphomet
Slavic neopaganism Hands of God
Pastafarianism Spaghethys
Sikhism Khanda
Ek Onkar
Shinto Torii
Southeastern Ceremonial Complex Solar cross
Taoism (Daoism) Yin and yang (Taiji)
Thelema Unicursal Hexagram
Universal Sufism "Tughra Inayati"
Unitarian Universalism Flaming chalice
Zoroastrianism Faravahar
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