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Religious Symbolism
&
Encountering It
Group work
Get into three groups of 4 and two
groups of 5.
 Each group is given a secret identity,
e.g. detectives, sports teams, etc.
 Create 2 symbols that will point out the
identity of your group.

Each group must present their symbols
while the other groups quietly work out
their identity.
 The winner is the group that works out
the most identities.

The Power and Meaning of Religious
Symbols
When a symbol is used to represent a
person, a group or a thing, it can help us
to identify them.
 The symbols that are used to represent
the different religions help us to identify
and recognise those religions.

Christianity – The Crucifix
The crucifix is an important symbol of
faith, hope and love for all followers
of Jesus Christ. It symbolises their
faith in the Trinity.
Judaism – The Menorah
The Menorah is a very old symbol of Judaism,
which was originally used in the Temple in Jerusalem.
It is a seven-branched candlestick. The central branch
represents the Sabbath, the day God rested after creating the world.
Islam – The Star and Crescent Moon
The five points of the star symbolise the five pillars of Islam.
The moon and the stars remind Muslims of God, the creator of everything.
Hinduism
This symbol is the written form of the sacred sound ‘om’.
Om is a Hindu word used at the beginning of prayer and meditation.
For followers of Hinduism, Om is a sacred syllable and it represents Brahma,
an important Hindu God.
Buddhism
The wheel is the oldest of Buddhist symbols.
The eight spokes represent the Eightfold Path to enlightenment.
The circular shape represents the continuous circle of life and death.