Comparing Religions

•Judaism•Christianity•Islam•Hinduism•Buddhism

Comparing Religions - What’s in a Symbol?

The Mogen David

The Mogen David, or Star of David, is the central symbol of Judaism. The star is the sign of the house of David, the family that produced the kings of Biblical Israel.

The cross is the central symbol of Christianity. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross and three days later rose from the dead. The cross is a symbol of victory over death, promising eternal life.

The Cross

The Crescent Moon

The crescent moon is a common symbol of Islam. Muslims believe that when Muhammad received his first revelation, the moon was in its last stage, appearing as a waning crescent.

The Aum

In Hinduism the AUM (OM) is a symbol of the Supreme God. Hindus believe that it was the first sound produced at the creation of the universe, the Big Bang. The sacred syllable AUM is the name of God. It is uttered at the beginning and the end of most Hindu prayers.

Dharmachakra or "wheel of law"

• The wheel is one of the most important symbols of Buddhism. The eight spokes of the wheel symbolize the Noble Eightfold Path set out by the Buddha in his teachings. The wheel also represents the endless cycle of samsara, or rebirth, which can only be escaped by means of the Buddha's teachings.