Religious symbolism and iconography - Gestures, Postures, Rituals

religious symbolism and iconography

Table of Contents

Introduction
The nature of religious symbols and symbolization
- Concepts of symbolization
- Varieties and meanings associated with the term symbol
- The symbolic process
- Symbols in the religious consciousness
The relation of the symbol and the sacred
- Symbols as the incarnate presence of the sacred or holy
- Symbols as indicators of the sacred or holy
- Symbols of sacred time and space
- Ceremonial and ritualistic objects as indicators or bearers of the sacred or holy
- Other relations between the symbol and the sacred
Relation of religious symbolism and iconography to other aspects of religion and culture
- Relation to myth and ritual
- Relation to meditation and mysticism
- Relation to the social realm
- Relation to the literary and visual arts
- Relation to other areas of culture
- Changes in symbolical relations and meanings
Modes of symbolic expression
- Diagrammatic and emblematic
- Pictorial
- Gestural and physical movements
- Verbal symbolism
- Musical symbolism
- Conjunction and combination of various modes
Icons and systems of iconography
- Iconographic forms
  - Temples and other sacred places
  - Icons and images
- Iconographic themes
- Iconographic types
  - Anthropomorphic motifs
  - Theriomorphic, or zoomorphic, motifs
  - Phytomorphic motifs
  - Hybrid motifs
  - Chrematomorphic motifs
  - Absence of representational forms
Influence of humanity’s environment on religious symbolism and iconography
- Influences from nature
- Influence of human relationships
- Symbolism of sex and the life cycle
- Cultural influences
- Conceptual influences
Influence of religion on symbolism and iconography
Conclusion

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Gestures and bodily movements play an important part in religious ritual and in religious conduct. Such behaviour derives its meaning from its relationship to the holy. In proceeding to and from a holy place, a worshipper generally proceeds according to certain symbolic patterns: rectilineal, circular, and vertical. Rectilineal movement to and from a holy place is intended to gradually prepare the worshipper for the spatial encounter with the holy and after the encounter to remove him from the sacred sphere. Special streets for processions often are marked off or built to a temple or holy place, such as in ancient ...(100 of 11146 words)

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