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Symbols, by their very nature, evoke memory, emotion, and feeling in us as humans. Somehow, we are wired to "need" a picture to help us better understand the things around us. Remember as a child, learning to "read," and the tendency many of us had to put our own words around the pictures that helped us "tell" the story from our own, original "bent"?

So, too, religious symbols stand as an attempt to help us relate to a story that is no more concrete than those of "Where the Wild Things Are," or "The Giving Tree." Symbols stand as a representative to help us understand and remember that which is often beyond our use of language, because it deals in things unseen and "super" natural - literally, above nature and our senses.

Religious symbols also have become a way of identifying oneself, or "branding" a belief onto its adherent for all the world to see.Somehow, we as humans also often have the need to identify with a group. Whether it's the cross, or the sliver moon and star, Buddha or Shiva, seeing such a symbol on someone else's vehicle or person gives us instant affinity - or disgust - with that person. This characteristic is not unique to religion, however. Think of a country's flag, or the "peace" symbol, or even the capital letters "NIN" with the second "n" backwards. All of these symbols help identify a person's likes, dislikes, or loyalties and give us common ground for relationships.

To some, this identification of others by their symbols is comforting. I ride a motorcycle, and when motorcyclists pass one another on a road, there is a "salute" or sign given that simply says, "Hey there, fellow biker." I didn't know it until I started riding, and until you become a motorcyclist yourself, this sign or "symbol" has very little impact on you. But once you do ride, this symbol is comforting. It helps identify other riders; kind of like an "inside joke" among friends. Religious symbols can play this role, too, for certain people.

Unfortunately, religious symbols often have a very negative affect on society as a whole. Most of us tend to hang onto what we know. When faced with a symbol we equate with a religion that is "different" or "wrong" in our minds, we tend to take the defensive. As odd as it seems, the symbols often have the power to "make use feel" a certain way because of our upbringing, education, or experience (or lack thereof). Sadly, the over-identification with - or against - a religious symbol can aid us in closing our minds to the person or people affiliated with said symbol.

It's important to recognize and remember that a symbol is simply a representation. Symbols themselves are not "anything." Like so many aspects of humanity, symbols cause us to make "face only" decisions, and rob us of the opportunity to really, truly get to know a person. Since so many religious organizations feed fear and superiority to their members, they sometimes tend to stand behind a symbol, thinking it has some sort or mystical power to protect them, or give them purpose. This is no more true than those who stand on the other side of the symbol with fear and hatred.

For me, this understanding of the power of symbol has caused me to carefully reassess what symbols I affiliate myself with. I'd rather be seen first as a person, unencumbered by someone else's notion of what I think or believe based on a symbol I wear. This decision isn't one I've made out of fear or embarrassment. Instead, it's my attempted to give a little more compassion and understanding back to humanity, and give people the chance to know me first, before we discuss my allegiance to a religion, country, or cause.

Learn more about this author, Gina Lawton.
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