Symbol Is the Language of Faith, Essay Example

There is a distinct difference between signs and symbols; especially in terms of how they are determined in relation to faith. According to Paul Tillich, faith is understood as an act that involves a centralized act that affects the whole being of an individual (481). Accordingly, in connection with faith, beyond what words can say, symbols are able to give a distinct meaning to particular situations and particular events that identify well the values and elements believed by people through time and through generations. Signs are often coined as a group of letters and numbers put together to create a distinct presentation of meaning (Johnson, 10). However, when it comes to the different years that come along the history of human civilization, there are instances when the interpretation of such meaning of the signs changes and create a new value for every distinct generation (Johnson, 35). Relatively, people have different understanding in relation to how particular signs relate to them.

When it comes to the value of symbols, there is a different worth that needs to be given attention to. Symbols are more of visual presentation of meanings. According to Tillich, such meaning stretches to a distinction of ultimate reality that guides people into understanding what they chose to believe in (482).  Unlike signs composed of written texts, symbols have a long time value that cannot be immediately changed. For instance, the words that define death and how it is realized by particular groups, tribes and civilizations may change from one specific aspect of development to another. On the other hand, when it comes to determining the value of symbols, the attention on details and how the people understand the meaning of each symbol as it relates to their faith cannot be changed. For instance, when it comes to the symbol of death, the Grimm Reaper has and will always take a valuable position in representing what death is and how it is viewed by generations in the past towards the current generations as well. Like a myth, the stories about individuals and personalities like the Grimm Reaper remain alive from one generation to another specifically because of the impact that they have created on one generation and how such thinking, perception and opinion about the said personalities are passed on to incoming generations (Tillich, 490).

Symbols indicate well on how people understand the value of faith and how a distinct mandate of meaning actually makes it easier for them to believe on something and become more attached to a religious affiliation that identifies well with their personal understanding about God and the living that they intend to embrace. Religious groups, both the ancient and the modern religious affiliations all utilize different types of symbols that specifically give them a chance to make a distinct impact on the people. Take for example the utilization of the cross. Passing on from the ancient value of the cross [which is often related to points of recognizing the role of the sun in religious rituals] towards the value of the same symbol in the current catholic affiliation; notably, the current catholic group recognizes it as the symbol that represents Christ’s sacrifices. For many years, such meaning has become the established basis of the catholic belief; a symbol that identifies the said religious group apart from others.

In turn, people who utilize the said symbol for any particular reason [including fashion] are immediately branded and labeled to be believers of the said religion. Considerably, this indicates that along with the symbol comes the mark of the religion to which it is related to. In a way, as Elizabeth Johnson points out, symbols actually give a distinct mark on how a religion is realized and how it is accepted by the society. The impact that symbols make in a society and how it accepts a particular belief specifically based on the reputation that it carries.

History also recognizes such value of religious symbols thus utilizing such elements as tools to track down specific pathways towards the development of beliefs and faith especially in relation to the development of the society and the people living in it (Johnson, 51). Most often than not, these symbols are able to give attention to the deeper essence of culture that establishes the primary source of confidence in determining the pathway of religious connection a specific faith has in consideration with the society and how it develops from one particular civilization to another.

References

Johnson, E. Quest for the Living God: Mapping Frontiers in the Theology of God.

Tillich, P. What faith is.