Grade Eight Grade Eight ReligionReligion

SymbolsSymbols

HinduismHinduism

Aum is Aum is greatgreat importance in importance in Hinduism. This symbol is a Hinduism. This symbol is a sacred syllable representing sacred syllable representing Brahman, the impersonal Brahman, the impersonal Absolute of Hinduism — Absolute of Hinduism — omnipotent, omnipresent, omnipotent, omnipresent, and the source of all and the source of all existence. Brahman, in existence. Brahman, in itself, is incomprehensible; itself, is incomprehensible; so a symbol becomes so a symbol becomes mandatory to help us realize mandatory to help us realize the Unknowable. the Unknowable.

JudaismJudaismThe menorah is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith. According to tradition, during the rededication of the temple in the second century BCE after a Greek invasion and desecration, the lamps of the menorah burned for eight days on one day's worth of oil. This is the origin of the nine branched menorah with one branch for each of the eight days, plus one central light used to light the others during the Hannukah festival.

ChristianityChristianity

The The crosscross is one of the is one of the earliest and most widely earliest and most widely used Christian symbol. In the used Christian symbol. In the most broad sense it most broad sense it symbolizes the religion of symbolizes the religion of ChristianityChristianity.. More More specifically, it represents and specifically, it represents and memorializes Christ's death. memorializes Christ's death. A great variety of crosses A great variety of crosses has developed, some with has developed, some with specific symbolic meaning specific symbolic meaning and others that have simply and others that have simply become culturally associated become culturally associated with certain groups. with certain groups.

IslamIslam

TThe star and crescent historically he star and crescent historically was a symbol of the Ottoman was a symbol of the Ottoman Empire, but later became Empire, but later became associated with Islam in general. associated with Islam in general. Now its popularity among Now its popularity among Muslims makes it comparable to Muslims makes it comparable to the Christian cross and the Star the Christian cross and the Star of David. Many Muslim nations, of David. Many Muslim nations, such as Pakistan, and non-such as Pakistan, and non-sovereign nations such as Turk sovereign nations such as Turk Stan and Tatarstan use it on Stan and Tatarstan use it on their national flag, inspiring from their national flag, inspiring from the flag of Turkey which was the flag of Turkey which was officially adopted in 1844. officially adopted in 1844.

BuddhismBuddhism

The The Tibetan Wheel of LifeTibetan Wheel of Life symbolizes the Buddhist perspective symbolizes the Buddhist perspective on life and contains within it on life and contains within it numerous symbols of Buddhist numerous symbols of Buddhist themes and teachings. themes and teachings.

Bahá'í FaithBahá'í Faith

The most commonly used The most commonly used symbol is the nine-pointed symbol is the nine-pointed star. No particular design is star. No particular design is more desirable than others, more desirable than others, as long as it has 9 points. The as long as it has 9 points. The star is not a part of the star is not a part of the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith, teachings of the Bahá'í Faith, but only used as an emblem but only used as an emblem representing "9", because of representing "9", because of the association of number 9 the association of number 9 with perfection, unity and with perfection, unity and Bahá’. Bahá’.

The Khanda symbolizes The Khanda symbolizes God's Universal and God's Universal and Creative Power. In it's Creative Power. In it's center is a double edged center is a double edged sword, which symbolizes sword, which symbolizes the primal and almighty the primal and almighty power of the creator. The power of the creator. The 'Chakra' or the circle is a 'Chakra' or the circle is a symbol of the continuity. symbol of the continuity. The two swords on the The two swords on the outside are symbols of outside are symbols of the spiritual and political the spiritual and political balance in the universe.  balance in the universe.