Art & Music in Religion Signs and symbols
Religious symbols
Aims: To learn about the function of signs and symbols. To also see how symbols are used in religion and worship. Starter: How many signs or symbols can you think of? Name or draw them in your book.
Symbol Street Produce a map showing Symbol Street. Using signs and symbols only (no writing!) try to show what the buildings, shops & businesses, and other features on your street are.
Can you think of a sign or symbol for any of the following? house estate agent clothes shop post office cinema ten-pin bowling playground video rental shop hairdresser beauty salon pound shop car wash vets dentist pub concert hall bank supermarket sports shop restaurant florist car show room butcher airport train station bus stop place of worship fancy dress shop prison sports stadium hotel bakers greengrocers furniture shop coffee shop sports centre pet shop music shop fishmonger library theatre petrol station police station doctors swimming pool parking
The difference between signs and symbols This is a sign it gives us information without using words. We read them and understand their meaning. This is a symbol like a sign we read the image, but it is different from a sign because it has a deeper meaning. Usually a symbol is connected to emotions, ideas or memories.
This is a it gives us without using. We read them and their meaning. This is a like a sign we read the, but it is different from a sign because it has a meaning. Usually a symbol is connected to, ideas or. deeper memories emotions image information sign symbol understand words
Decide whether the images below are signs or symbols
Design a symbol for the school Design a sign or symbol for a school club or organisation (you could make up a new club or organisation, or design a symbol for an existing one). Add some writing to explain your work. Extension: design a sign or symbol for the front of your exercise book. Draw it in your book, not on the cover. "This is my symbol for The Litterbugs - a group that encourages and helps students to keep the school clean."
Religious symbols Almost every religious group use symbols. Usually a religion has a number of different symbols. For example, these are all Christian symbols: However, there is usually one main symbol by which they are widely identified: Buddhism Christianity Hindusim Islam Judiasm Sikhism Taoism (pronounced 'Dow-ism') Each has a deeper meaning which means more to a follower of that religion, and may represent an important teaching or belief.
Six main world religions' symbols Matching exercise The Crescent Moon & Star The Cross The Khanda Om (or Aum) The Star of David The Wheel These were used to guide people through the desert. Similarly, the religion will guide you through life. This represents the cycle of birth, death and reincarnation. The eight spokes represent the teaching known as the Eightfold Path The six points symbolise God s rule over the universe in all directions (north, south, east, west, up and down). Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Islam Judaism Sikhism This represents the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the belief that Jesus died for our sins. This is the word for God, but also symbolises all the things we cannot speak of. This is a circle with two swords. The circle means God is eternal. The two swords represent truth and justice.
Six main world religions' symbols Matching exercise Hinduism Om (or Aum) This is the word for God, but also symbolises all the things we cannot speak of. Answers Islam The Crescent Moon & Star Judaism The Star of David Sikhism The Khanda Christianity The Cross Buddhism The Wheel These were used to guide people through the desert. Similarly, the religion will guide you through life. The six points symbolise God s rule over the universe in all directions (north, south, east, west, up and down). This is a circle with two swords. The circle means God is eternal. The two swords represent truth and justice. This represents the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the belief that Jesus died for our sins. This represents the cycle of birth, death and reincarnation. The eight spokes represent the teaching known as the Eightfold Path
Religious symbols mandala A mandala is a pattern that contains a circle inside a square. By colouring in lines or areas on the mandala opposite, can you make any of the following religious symbols?
Religious symbols mandala Answers Buddhist Wheel Christian Fish Christian Cross Taoist Yin-Yang Muslim Star & Moon Jewish Star of David Sikh Khanda
Designing an interfaith symbol What does 'interfaith' mean? The term 'interfaith' refers to positive meetings and discussions between people of different religious traditions (faiths) and spiritual or humanistic beliefs. These people aim to find a common ground in belief by concentrating on the similarities between their faiths, and their understanding of values and commitment to the world. It involves promoting understanding between different religions to increase acceptance of others, rather than to create new beliefs.
Almost all religions use symbols as a way of expressing a belief or idea using a simple image. There are also many universal symbols which have a common meaning to many different people around the world (even though some may have originated from a specific religion or culture). promise / hope truth / life peace harmony / balance life / purity universal (for everybody) love eternal knowledge
Your task is to design an inter-faith symbol. It can consist of either a single symbol or a combination of different symbols. These can be symbols you have designed yourself or you can use symbols that already exist. As the name suggests it should be a design that is meaningful to people from different faiths (and could even be suitable for people who don t belong to a religion). Your symbol could aim to put across one or some of the important ideas that religions have in common such as love, sharing or peace. Design one or two different draft versions in the back of your book before choosing one and copying it neatly in the front. You must also produce a written explanation of your design, saying what the design and the images used in it represent.
Plenary What are the different reasons why we use signs and symbols? How many signs do you think you will pass between here and the place you are going to next? The signs used by banks, television companies, clothes manufacturers (etc) change from time to time. Why do you think religious symbols do not change? Which religious symbol do you like the best? For what reason?