Questions tagged [symbolism]
The practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships.
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What Do the Seven Heads of the Beast Represent?
In Revelation 13:1-3, the Beast is described as having seven heads, with one of them appearing to have a "deadly wound" that is later healed:
Revelation 13:1-3 (KJV):
"And I stood upon ...
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Why did Protestants think Revelation's "Mother of harlots" represented the Roman Church but didn't recognize themselves as the "harlot daughters"? [closed]
Revelation 7 describes a woman (symbolizing a church):
3 … and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 And the woman was ...
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What is this symbol of the (Anglo-Catholic) Society of the Faith?
The Society of the Faith charity (Wikipedia entry) uses the following symbol. What is it?
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Meaning of ring with seven spikes
I found this symbol on the stained glass of a Catholic church:
What does it mean or represent?
There's nothing else around this symbol, just what's in the image. To me, it looks like either a ring ...
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Why does this Greek Orthodox monastery in Israel fly the English flag?
I was driving past the Monastery of the Cross in Jerusalem today and — well, I was driving, so I couldn't look too closely, but there appeared to be both a Greek and an English flag flying from it. A ...
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What did the Earliest Church Fathers teach about the Woman of Revelation 12?
This question is a rephrase of a different question asking if any early church fathers believed that Revelation 12:1-5 is about the Virgin Mary. It may be clearer and easier to find out what they ...
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Overview: which denominations teach that the trees in Eden were symbolic vs literal?
In a comment to another question, someone commented that the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil are "clearly" symbolic and not actual trees. I was surprised by that ...
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Is the resurrection of Col 3:1 the millennium?
The two verses bear many of the same referents. If this were the case then many of what I refer to as "delusions" regarding the end times can be shown to be without merit.
Col 3:1 ¶ If ye ...
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Is literary symbolism blasphemy?
C.S. Lewis is widely known to have been a devout Christian. In Narnia, the lion Aslan seems to symbolize Jesus. He is executed in the first book in a manner not entirely unlike crucifixion and ...
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Meaning of cross with Jesus on both sides
I have a necklace that is a cross charm with Jesus Christ on the cross but on both sides. What's the meaning of this symbol?
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To what extent do those who hold to a 'literal' account of Genesis 1-11, such as YECs, hold there are symbolic elements in Genesis 1-3?
YECs (Young Earth Creationists) often hold their views because of a 'literal' view of Genesis, and in particular the use of 'day' in the Genesis creation account.
Are there aspects of Genesis that '...
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Origin and meaning of this Christian symbol (Christus Rex)
On the cover of Charles Hartshorne's Creative Synthesis and Philosophic Method published by SCM Press (London 1970) there is this symbol
A Google image search suggests that this is called a Christus ...
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Are the numbers in the Book of Revelation symbolic?
There are some strange numbers in Revelation. For example:
The seven Spirits of God (Rev 4:5);
Exactly 12,000 are sealed from each of the 12 tribes of Jerusalem (Rev 7:4).
The blood flows out of the ...
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Which denominations have official flags?
Which denominations have official flags?
Catholics have the papal flag of Vatican City
The flag of Vatican City was adopted on 7 June 1929, the year Pope Pius XI signed the Lateran Treaty with Italy, ...
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Is Judas Iscariot ever depicted in religious art with one of those silver or gold coloured Halos?
Is Judas Iscariot ever depicted in Religious art with one of those cool silver or gold coloured Halos?
A halo also known as a nimbus, aureole, glory, or gloriole is a crown of light rays, circle or ...
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Was there a special significance in God's choice of ravens for supply of provisions to prophet Elijah?
We read in 1 King 17:2-6:
Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed ...
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Could the intentional killing of civilians in primarily Christian Ukraine be included in symbolism within the book of Revelation?
On the English Wikipedia page for Ukraine, the following demographics are presented:
Since the country is 87.3% Christian, the intentional targeting of civilians constitutes the intentional targeting ...
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Why do Catholics portray Jesus on the Cross?
On the Crosses in Parishes, Cathedrals, Rosaries, and any other place that there is a Catholic image of a Cross, you will find Jesus on the cross. But this is not true for Eastern Orthodox or ...
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What does the diagonal line near the bottom of the Eastern Orthodox Cross symbolize?
Notice the bottom of the cross, with the diagonal line. What does it represent/symbolize (if anything)?
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What is the origins of Popes wearing a white soutane with other articles of clothing such as mozzetta in red?
What is the origins of Popes wearing a white soutane with other articles of clothing such as mozzetta in red?
Most sources say that the pope wears a white soutane since the time of Pope Pius V.
That ...
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Why is Green Martyrdom green?
I'd heard of green martyrdom a few times on the radio, but never gave it much thought
Three kinds of martyrdom that are counted as a cross to man, i.e. white martyrdom, green martyrdom, and red ...
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Did the Church Fathers ever reference the six jars of wine at the Wedding in Cana as symbolising the six followers of Jesus at the wedding?
John 1 describes in some detail Jesus calling his first five disciples - Andrew, Simon, Philip, Nathanael and presumably John.
John 2 1-2 says that Jesus' mother was at the wedding and Jesus was there ...
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Biblical significance of the gifts given to Jesus
Is there any spiritual significance to the gifts the Magi brought – Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh – after they were led by a “star” to Bethlehem where they worshiped the young child Jesus? Why would ...
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Is there a Christian equivalent of Mandala (word or symbol)?
During a recent visit to Canterbury Cathedral particular circular patterns on the floors (pictured) reminded me of the circular patterns of Mandalas.
I was wondering if these are simply 'for ...
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Chimera Image on my leather jacket?
I have a leather jacket that just picked up from a girl who was selling it and I didn’t notice that it had a Chimera on its back.
Truthfully, the image disturbs me a bit. I don’t want to curse my ...
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Ancient imagery beasts used in Christian symbolisms?
Ancient imagery beasts used in Christian symbolisms?
We have all heard of unicorns!
The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a single large, ...
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What symbols are preferred among certain denominations more than others?
I am compiling a list of common themes or symbols to be used for decoration around the different denominations or to be given as gifts for members of that church. I am in the USA and only interested ...
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What is the purpose of the rosary and why do some differ in the amount of beads they contain?
Should a Rosary be made of six or twelve beaded sections?
Does it symbolize something specific or is it simply an object created to reflect something in the Catholic religion?
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Why is the Ichthys symbol almost always facing left?
This question is very straight forward: is there any reason for the Ichthys symbol to be almost always facing left? A simple google search will show this pattern.
Is there any theology or even ...
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Do the ancient churches built by the Portuguese have a statue of mermaid on the façade?
My parish church (St Mary's Forane Church, Muttom, Cherthala, Kerala ) in southern India, believed to have been built by the Portuguese in the 16th Century has, among other images, two built-in ...
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What does the symbology in this painting of the Trinity mean?
This image is in a Catholic hospital in Spokane, WA. I understand the Father/Son/Holy Spirit symbology, the ABBA reference, and the initials of the Christ. But three things in this image I cannot ...
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Why is the RCA church more literal in scripture where the UCC church is allegorical?
I’ve attended numerous churches in both RCA and UCC denominations in which RCA had a very literal take on the crucifixion and resurrection where the UCC church has a very allegorical approach. ...
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Finding a mural of an unknown cathedral?
I am looking for the name of the cathedral that contains the following mural.
What I know for sure is:
That it has been done between 2004 and 2008, more likely in 2008.
It was made in a Catholic ...
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Was it possible for Catholics to express their faith openly in England during the time of persecution?
Was it possible for Catholics to express their faith openly (if at all) in Britain during the time of the of English persecutions (April 29, 1559)-(April 13, 1829)?
On 29 April 1559, the English ...
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Besides St. Casimir, are any other saints portrayed with three hands in iconography?
Other than the icon of St. Casimir in Vilnius (below), are there other examples of saints with three hands? Does a third hand make up part of the iconography of St. John the Evangelist?
Image by ...
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Why are a Catholic bishop's Coat of Arms green and not purple?
Why are a Catholic bishop's Coat of Arms green and not purple?
The Canadian Conference of Bishops tell us that the galero and tassels on the Coat of Arms for a bishop are green. Cardinals' galero and ...
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Which denominations regulate how a cross is worn on the body? [closed]
In public and private, people wear many different crosses in many manners. Which denominations hold any principles, explicit or implicit, that govern the display of crosses on the body?
Speculating, ...
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The rules on how and when people can wear a cross [closed]
Which principles govern the wearing of crosses? Do some denominations require that it touch the skin, or that it never be removed? Will a cross hung on the neck and one on an ear have different ...
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Was it common in Biblical and Early Church times to use sports for illustrating sermons and lessons (as Pope Francis and Paul did)?
The Ancient Olympic Games were a very famous event in ancient times. Taking advantage of their popularity, Paul used them (specifically, the Stadion/200 metres and boxing games) in 1 Corinthians 9:24-...
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What was the difference between Berengar's view of the Eucharist and that of Zwingli?
Berengar of Tours played a major role in the Second Eucharistic Controversy, which took place in the 11th century. He opposed the increasing acceptance of proto-transubstantiation doctrines, arguing ...
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Why did Magdalena use her hair to dry Jesus' feet? [closed]
I don't really understand this part of the story in Luke 7:38. Why would Mary Magdalena use her hair to dry Jesus' feet? I have some clues, but I don't want to guide the replies.
I'd like to know both,...
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What does the letters 'JHS' mean?
Can you tell me what the letters JHS mean? You can see them on the picture below. I am from Slovakia (East Europe) and we speak Slovak and these letters are from Catholic church. I saw these letters ...
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Prior to 1900 were there any depictions of Satan in Christian art as a woman/female?
Are there any Christian symbolic depictions Satan in art as a woman?
In Christian art, Satan has often been depicted as a man (male) or some evil looking monster out of man's imagination of what the ...
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Why is the interlocking-squares (gammadia) a symbol of the Melchizedek Priesthood?
I was reading about the relatively new discovery of the Apostle Phillip's gravesite in Turkey, and it briefly mentioned that the square was represented in his grave and it was significant because the ...
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What is the origin and meaning of this symbol?
The symbol in the attached photo is on the side of a 1940s motorcycle purchased from a police vehicle auction. The symbol in question is mounted on the frame near the rear axle. Can anyone shed light ...
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What is the biblical basis of the "goats are evil" trope?
Having spent some time cuddling and playing with goats, which are delightful creatures, I have to ask:
What is the biblical basis of the association, common even among Christians, of goats with Satan ...
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Lutherans: Shells, baptism, why?
Since I am almost certain someone will come in and think the title of this question needs editing, I'm going to request that you leave it as it stands.
The full/expanded question:
I have seen shells ...
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Why is beating one's breast used to show sadness and guilt? [closed]
According to the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus definition:
Beat your breast/chestTo show how sad or guilty you feel in an obvious or public way
I understand what is meant ...
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Is there a historical reason why the liturgical colour purple eventually replaced black to symbolize penance?
Is there a historical reason why the liturgical colour purple eventually replaced black to symbolize penance?
This question does not have its' answer in the difference between the two forms of the ...
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In Catholic art imagery, how is hell symbolized?
In Catholic art and imagery how is hell symbolized? If a symbol does exist for it, why was this particular symbol chosen?
In other words, does hell have a symbol?
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