Religious Symbols

Outline one example of how people use a religious symbolic action to express whether the meaning of life or the mystery of life

• Lighting the Pascal Candle during the Easter Vigil in a Christian church is a religious symbolic action
• When the candle is lit during the service, Christians take the time to remember the resurrection of Jesus and how he was crucified on the cross
• Brass markers on the Pascal Candle represent the thorns that were on Jesus' crown
• Letters on the candle represent the beginning and the end of his life on Earth

Explain two reasons why people use religious symbolic actions to express the meaning of life or the mystery of life

• People use the language of symbol when they want to communicate with God
• The experience is so special that ordinary language, by itself, cannot fully express everything that needs to be said
• Christians therefore communicate with God through symbols
• The various symbols used to convey a depth of meaning that goes beyond mere words
• It can be difficult to describe sacred moments
• At certain times, the use of words is just not enough
• People use symbols t enhance their communication with God

Explain two reasons why people use a symbol to express religious faith

• Symbols are used by people to express faith when words alone will not be able to
• Sometimes feelings are not easy to communicate or express in words alone
• People of faith use symbols to help them express their faith and become closer and have a deeper trust in God
• Symbols are also used because they touch people at a deeper level
• It causes humans to think and to feel something within themselves
• They can actually affect the way we think and feel
• We respond to symbols not only with the head but with the heart as well
• The experience of communicating with God is so special that ordinary language by itself cannot fully express everything that needs to be said

Give one example of a symbol people use when they are praying Pascal candle

Explain why people use the symbol you have named above when they are praying

• The Pascal Candle is something visible that represents something else invisible
• It is lit at the Easter Vigil to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ
• The Pascal Candle is a religious symbol
• Each distinctive feature has a special meaning
• The cross symbolises the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross
• The brass markers represent the crown of thorns that Jesus wore on his head
• The letters Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet, representing Jesus is the Lord of all time