Religious Symbols
Christianity:
-The fish, with its unblinking eyes, is ever-watchful and represents the miracles Jesus performed, such as the loaves of bread and fish he fed to multitudes of people.
-The dove is a symbol of the Holy Ghost. It is used also to represent the Lord’s Baptism, the Pentecost, and hope and life as seen with Noah’s Ark.
-The palm represents victory and martyrdom. They are used on Palm Sunday, then they are burned and their ashes are used for the next year’s Ash Wednesday to represent death and mortality.
-The three nails symbolize the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Two nails were used for his hands and one through his feet.
-The Graded Cross (also known as the Calvary cross) is a cross sitting on three steps which represent the three virtues: faith, hope, and charity.
Source: http://www.fisheaters.com/symbols.html
Buddhism:
-The eight-spoked dharma wheel represents Buddha because he is known as the wheel turner, the one who sets a new cycle of teachings in motion, thereby changing the course of destiny.
-The lion, one of the most powerful Buddhist symbols, symbolizes regality, strength, and power. Buddha’s teachings were often referred to as the “Lion’s Roar” due to their strength and meaning.
-The footprints of Buddha are often present as a reminder of the Enlightened One’s physical presence on Earth.
-Stupas are representations of Buddha’s enlightened mind. They also symbolize the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space.
Source: http://www.viewonbuddhism.org/general_symbols_buddhism.html
Hinduism:
-The Om (Aum) is a sacred sound when spoken that represents the greatest of all mantras. There are three sounds in the syllable (a-u-m), and the symbol’s threefold design represents the three worlds, the three main Hindu gods, and the three Vedic scriptures.
-The bindi is a dot traditionally worn on women’s heads. It symbolizes female energy and often represents protection of the husband and wife. The bindi is also a way of symbolizing the third eye between the eyebrows, an area that is focused on during meditation.
-The lotus flower represents beauty and non-attachment in Hinduism. The flower is rooted in the mud, but floats on the water. This symbolizes how Hindus should live in the world, but they should remain unattached to their surroundings.
-The yantra (Sri Yantra) represents the universe. Hindus use the geometrical design during worship and meditation. It symbolizes cosmogenic development – from the absolute in the center, to the material things of the world on the outside.
Source: http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/symbols.htm
Judaism:
-One of the oldest Jewish symbols is the menorah, a 7-branched candle holder used in the Temple. A 9-branched menorah is used by Jews during the celebration of Hanukah to represent the miracle that a day’s worth of oil lasted for eight days.
-The Star of David is a relatively new Jewish symbol, but it is the most commonly used today. Its meaning is a topic of some controversy. There is no specific meaning behind the Star of David. Some say the upward triangle points to God, and the downward triangle points to the earth; others say it is a symbol of good luck. Nevertheless, it is important, as it is on Israel’s flag.
-The mezuzah is traditionally hung on doorposts of Jewish homes. It is a constant reminder of God’s presence and His commandments. The mezuzah is a case that holds a scroll with God’s words written on it. The scroll must be handwritten and placed in the case to fulfill the commandment.
Source: http://www.mechon-mamre.org/jewfaq/signs.htm
Islam:
-While there are no specific Islamic symbols, the star and crescent symbol has become strongly associated with Islam as it has spread throughout countries like Turkey and Pakistan. However, it is not a traditional Muslim symbol.
-Certain Arabic words and symbols may be used as important symbols to visually represent Islam, such as the symbol for “Allah” shown here.