Symbolism is the least interesting aspect of a religion for me. I am much more interested in theology, but I know that this is another part of religion that divides people. Yes, it keeps groups together, but it also separates them from the rest of the world. Each religion has different views of what symbols are and how important they should be.
I enjoy literary symbols when reading scriptures, especially the Christian Bible. It makes for a very interesting read.
In Judaism, the most significant symbol to me is the hexagram, or the shield of David. "During antiquity it was a symbol for the Jewish kingdom. When this kingdom was conquered in A.D. 70, and, in fact, already some 100 years before that, the Jewish people began to spread throughout the world, as did the symbol." http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/27/2722.html
During the nineteenth century it was used to decorate newly built synagogues. "The founders of the Zionist movement adopted the hexagram as a rallying symbol in their attempts to create a Jewish national state in Palestine. " -symbols.com/encyclopedia
On November 9, 1938 the Heydrich ordered that the hexagram combined with the color yellow was introduced to mark all those of Jewish birth. The significance of this is that by changing the color from blue to yellow, it became the same symbol used on ships' flags to warn that there was plague aboard. This was how Jews were identified by sight in Europe during WWII.
The blue hexagram became the symbol on the flag of Israel in 1948.
In Christianity, the symbol of the cross is the most widely known and used. I was told when I was a kid that the peace sign was the sign of Satan because it was the inverted cross, with the arms broken. (Just a side note, I don't think that is true.)
I love the symbolism in the Bible, especially the New Testament. That is one thing about the Christian Bible that amazes me. By reflecting on the symbols, the literal meaning loses face, and a much richer idea is uncovered. I think that those who wrote the New Testament were aware that they were in a dangerous time at the peak of persecution, and wrote in symbols to confuse their persecutors. True Christians would understand the meaning easily.
However, the world has largely returned to literal interpretations, and I think this has caused mass confusion.
In Islam, it is the lack of symbols that is most significant. Yes, architecture and calligraphy take the place of symbols. The Arabic language is considered delivered from God, so Arabic letters are sacred symbols. The idea of not making images in Islam has been a core part of the religion, and one of the things that has consistently conflicted with the rest of the world.
Muhammed taught that making images of any sort was a sin. This idea is also part of Judaism and Christianity, as evidenced by the Second Commandment, "'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." -http://www.allabouttruth.org/
Jews take this commandment more seriously than Christians. Many did not endorse or become painters because of this commandment. Instead, many Jews found their artistic outlet through performing arts, cinema, and writing.
Christians take this to simply mean one should not pray to any image or carved idol. Idol worship was a common practice in the Old Testament, and the Israelites had to be officially reprimanded. Some Christians believe that the Catholic practices of having statues of Mary and the saints, and praying to them is a violation of this commandment.
happy with taking pictures but...there are certain things that Muslims need to adapt into the 21st century and as long as an image is not something you treasure or worship, it is okay and to always remember that the original creator was Allah (SWT)
"A person doesn't die when he should but when he can."
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
"close your eyes, clear your heart..." Akhri Alvida--Last Goodbye<
One of the books that I have talks about spiritual development of society as a whole in different periods of time and how the Abrahamic religions reflect the development of the times in which they were created (one source being Fowler's stages, though the book included others, such as Spiral Dynamics).
Basically, it described how the Abrahamic faiths were formed in a time when the spiritual development of society as a whole was in Fowler's Mythic-Literal stage (Red to Blue stages in Spiral Dynamics). This is evidenced by the idea that there is only one, true God and one, right way. On the "Red" side of the SD spectrum, you have the Hebrew God, who is a rather wrathful, vengeful being. On the "Blue" side, you have the God from Islam, whose focus is that humanity should submit to and completely obey him (authoritarian level). And Christianity sits somewhere in the middle (the levels in Spiral Dynamics are not discrete, so "Red" phase levels can still show signs of "Blue" or "Purple" phases, depending on where a society is on the scale).
Religious symbols are frowned upon in these religions because the symbols are considered one and the same as the deity, and the deity is typically anthropomorphic in this stage of development.
You can even see as society shifts through the Green and Yellow, into Turquoise stages, as we become more aware of and concerned about the world and earth as a whole and spiritually (those that are), people shift toward more pantheistic and holistic views (you see this a lot in Neopaganism, though I've seen it in some members of Christian denominations, as well).
**Note - neither I, nor the links can really do the topics justice, to be honest (especially as it was covered in the book, since they combined several different theories which build on one another). If you have time, though, the idea of social spiritual development is (at least in my opinion) fascinating.
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
That definitely sounds interesting, another book for my ever growing "to-read" list. Pro U is making that list longer and longer.
The relevant part is only four or five chapters, the rest is geared more towards practicing Pagans, so you don't have to feel obligated to read the whole book.
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
I've only met a couple in my whole lifetime. I love Wicca, it is probably my #3 favorite religion under Buddhism and Taoism. So, I'll definitely read the whole thing.
My all time favorite book, sometimes I am tempted to say in the whole entire world is Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Anyone of pagan sympathy or orientation would share my feelings about it as well, I am pretty sure.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
Most of the Pagans I've found have been in more liberal areas (for probably fairly obvious reasons). If you want to find more Pagans, many larger cities have at least one group that meets on some regular basis. Sites like Covenspace or Yahoo! Groups can probably help you find ones near you.
Scott Cunningham's Wicca is another good book to check out, as well.
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
and I know that if I looked I would find a bunch in LA. I have recently had reason to entertain the notion of collecting some tools, like a dagger, a crystal ball, etc, but fear of discovery in my pseudo Christian home prevents me. I am lucky enough to have access my tarot cards.
most of my books on witchcraft are in storage right now, but in my own house, i have no problem displaying them ( I mean, once i get my own house).
I do also worry about my daughter being afraid of me as she grows up. Right now she goes to a Lutheran school. I don't intend for her to stay there past pre-school though.
I just know, because of my own upbringing how quickly I or she can be called evil witches, and this makes me a little nervous. In case you haven't read it, I touched on this a tiny bit in my "Scrapbooking Ch.4 Broomsticks and Blackcats."
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
Yeah, I read that (I've even added you to my buddy list so I can keep up with your posts, since it's quite fascinating to me).
I think that if you are up front with your daughter about the beliefs of many different religions and explain to her why Christianity feels this way toward Pagans and why Pagans don't believe/do many of the things they're accused of doing, she'll at least (hopefully) learn to understand all sides of the issue, even if she doesn't agree with one (or more, or any) of them.
Regardless of what path she chooses to follow later in life, I think it's important to teach her to be firm in her beliefs. I think that a lot of the insecurity I see from the major religions about the minority religions (specifically, what I see from the Abrahamic religions toward Paganism) stems from most of the members of the major religions are insecure about their own beliefs (the root of this, I think, stems from blind following in most cases). I've seen, far too many times, Christians who think that, just by walking into a Pagan bookstore, they're going to be "corrupted" and start turning evil against their will or something equally absurd.
Fear often comes from lack of understanding. It's human nature to fear that which we don't understand. Therefore, the key to overcoming fear is to learn about that which we fear.
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
I browsed a book in my favorite new age book store about these "ages" of color. A man working there noticed the little monkey on my back (my baby) reaching to touch things. He said, "she's a crystal child isn't she?" "What's that?" He explained a bit, and I asked if there was anything in the store about it.
I found an audio CD by Doreen Virtue about Crystal children. I listened to it and I was enthralled. When talking about the crystal children she said they are shy, that they sense who they can and can't trust. I thought, "that's not my baby!" My baby approaches everyone, and it has made me worry before that she goes up to homeless people, or old people in wheelchairs who don't talk and gets right in their face, and says "Hi"
Then she got to describing rainbow children, every hair on my body stood up straight. Waaay to weird. I'll write more about her amazing abilities in other blogs though.
Incidentally for anyone who is familiar with this, I am definitely an Indigo child, and so is my brother.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
I've had mixed feelings about the idea of Indigo Children, but one can't deny the fact that ADD/ADHD and autism have been believed to be highly over-diagnosed in recent years (not to mention the number of cases of people not responding to the medications that typically control such disorders, which suggests to me that the diagnoses may not be correct). However, a lot of the descriptions do appear to apply to nearly everyone who's not a conformist, as well as the advice for "raising an Indigo" should (at least in my opinion) apply to raising all children. My point of view, however, comes from rather limited research on the topic.
One of the main problems with this and other "paranormal" ideas is that it's purely anecdotal. There isn't really any way of scientifically testing such phenomena yet (it doesn't help that the human brain/mind is so complex that we haven't even been able to unravel how it does all the mundane things, let alone the not-so-mundane).
I would still be interested in reading a blog entry about it, if you have one planned.
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
"My Rainbow Child" which contains the first signs that confirm for me at least that my daughter is a rainbow child. Incidentally Dr. Virtue said she had only met 2 in the whole world. She had to go to south america to meet one of them.
Hmm, I might write a separate blog just about the children of the rainbow. I agree though that the evidence is weak which is why I am hesitant to do that. I can already hear Blackout in my head.
These things are "hobbies" for me, not really areas of study. I find them titillating and they do add color to my life, so to speak.
I completely agree with your thoughts about overdiagnosis of autism and ADD/ADHD which is Dr. Virtue's main focus.
I also totally agree with your comment that all children should be raised by the advice she designated to parents of Indigo children.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
Indeed, and though I haven't been commenting on your blogs, I have been reading them. ^_^
I can already hear Blackout in my head.
lol! That makes two of us.
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
This is not enough information for me ...I want to know more...DO you have a book title or a website that offers the CD you speak of. I maybe Christian but this other information is so interesting and I think it has God application.
Kindered spirits?
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out. ~T
is many things including a licensed psychologist. She is very well educated and has founded rehab centers for women. She is also an angel medium. Super new age stuff, but very interesting. The CD I heard can be bought from here:
http://www.hayhouse.com/details.php?id=2409
I am thinking about seeing her speak at a conference in April.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
Great blog - I love reading your thoughts. You were talking about symbolism in the Christian Bible, and along those lines, I thought of the use of symbolism when talking about Christianity in general - specifically, C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. As a writer, I don't think anyone did it better than Jack - his subtlety is without parallel. I also appreciated the symbolism he utilized in the stories, how it could be one story, however, with a thought to the Christian background, it becomes another one.
I also didn't realize that Arabic letters are sacred symbols - they become so much more beautiful to me now that I know that!
Thanks a lot!
"Goodness is the only investment that never fails."
H.D.Thoreau http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sahara
are only sacred if they are words that are from the Quran or the Hadith and Sunnah
even though the arabic alphabet is beautiful and is one language that Allah (SWT) chose beccause of its greatness, the fact is that the Qur'an's words are what are sacred :)
"A person doesn't die when he should but when he can."
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
"close your eyes, clear your heart..." Allama Iqbal...An Ode to the Cup Bearer<
are the letters not considered scared if someone not Muslim writes them?
BUT...in my own opinion* the actual passages of the Qur'an are sacred regardless of who writes them...but why would a non-muslim wirte them?
"A person doesn't die when he should but when he can."
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
"close your eyes, clear your heart..." Allama Iqbal...An Ode to the Cup Bearer<