Religious symbolism and iconography - Rituals, Art, Beliefs

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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Religious figures and spiritual authorities themselves form a vast complex of symbols: gods, saviours, redeemers, heroes, the avatars (incarnations) and the Ishvaras (manifestations) of Hinduism, the heroes and gods of epics, the founders, lawgivers, saints, and reformers of the great religions. The biblical prophets, apostles, and evangelists and the Christian saints are characterized by a very complicated system of symbols. Theologians, mystics, and contemplatives may also be symbolically and pictorially represented; the Doctors (teachers) of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy and Fathers of the early church have standard iconic forms, attributes, and symbols (e.g., St. Augustine is represented by the ...(100 of 11146 words)

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