Principal Symbols of World Religions
By Swami Harshananda, 47 pages, Paperback.
The fundamental concepts of any field of knowledge which form the basis of its complicated super-structure are essentially abstract. Unless these abstract principles are made concrete by following 'From the seen to the unseen', 'From the known to the unknown', they cannot be comprehended. Herein lies the necessity and utility of symbols.
If the use of symbols is thus inevitable in secular sciences, it is absolutely necessary in religion. Since religion deals with highly abstract an inscrutable topics as God, man, creation and destiny, it is appropriate to use symbols, emblems and imagery to bring it to the reach of man's understanding.
A reverent study of these symbols of the great world religions is as fascinating as it is spiritually rewarding.
The fundamental concepts of any field of knowledge which form the basis of its complicated super-structure are essentially abstract. Unless these abstract principles are made concrete by following 'From the seen to the unseen', 'From the known to the unknown', they cannot be comprehended. Herein lies the necessity and utility of symbols.
If the use of symbols is thus inevitable in secular sciences, it is absolutely necessary in religion. Since religion deals with highly abstract an inscrutable topics as God, man, creation and destiny, it is appropriate to use symbols, emblems and imagery to bring it to the reach of man's understanding.
A reverent study of these symbols of the great world religions is as fascinating as it is spiritually rewarding.
