Symbols: Doorways to the Sacred

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Symbols Doorways to the Sacred

• Chapter 2

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A. Communicating Through Symbols

• Symbols are observable, physical realities that
  represent invisible qualities or elements.
• Greek symballein, to throw together something
  tangible with something that has no material or
  physical form.
• Symbols help us to see beyond the obvious. They
  are doorways to the sacred.

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A1. Examples of Symbolizing

• Take a good look at some object
• Consider its form and properties.
• Consider its shape, color, texture, etc.
• Close your eyes and use your imagination to
  interact with the object.
• What are its characteristics?
• What type of person might the object symbolize?

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A2. Signs and Symbols

• Sign is a general term, refers to any object that
  represents something else.
• Non-symbolic signs Hold one simple meaning.
  Dont be confused by terms like mathematical
  symbols. These are really signs pointing
  usually to a singular well defined operation like
  add () or subtract (-).
• Symbolic signs May hold more than one meaning.
  They are rich with meaning!

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A3.What makes a symbol a symbol rather than
simply a sign?

• Symbols have more than one meaning
• They can not be reduced to a single meaning.
• What symbols stand for is connected to what they
  are.
• Which is to say that symbols participate in the
  reality (character) of the things they represent.
• Symbols evoke more than one kind of response from
  us.
• They affect people in mind, heart, and body.

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B. Different Kinds of Symbols

• Symbols communicate different meanings to
  different people. We each experience a symbol
  from a unique perspective.
• There are two types mentioned on p.29
• Cultural Symbols these are tied to the culture
  that has assigned their meaning. Ex. Flags
• Universal Symbols these hold some common
  meanings for people everywhere. Ex. Water

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B1. Clashing Symbols

• What happens when two different cultures use the
  same symbol but assign the symbol very different
  meanings?
• Sign language signals (Say what?)
• Eye contact (a sign of respect or not?)
• Whistling, hand clapping, etc. (Applauding or
  booing?)

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B2. Complex Symbols

• Even Universal symbols can have contradictory
  meanings. Some things are both creative and
  destructive or both strong and vulnerable.
• Fire
• Water
• Wind
• Heart

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C. Literal Thinking vs.Symbolic Thinking

• The tendency in the Western world is to think in
  objective, literal, and obvious terms. The moon
  is made of rock, not of blue cheese.
• Literal thinking reduces the world to the
  tangible empirical senses.
• We are accustomed to facts, rather than to
  analogies and symbols.

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C1. Literal thinking works great for scientific
studies

• Exact measurements
• Precise of chemicals in a formula
• Timely delivery of facts and figures
• Not the time for rhymes and riddles
• You either are or you arent!
• Never sort-of or kind-of or maybe
• Thats All There Is Seeing is believing.

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C2. Symbolic Thinking is necessary for
Sacramental Awareness

• Theres More Here than Meets the Eye
• The stuff of poetry art
• Expressions of speech
• The language of love, hate, or any deeply felt
  emotion
• The hidden characteristics that are in things
  and in people that are shared in common.
• A cold heart or a fiery temper

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D. Symbols Sacraments

• Symbols express FAITH and experiences of faith
  easier than does literal thinking
• The language of faith is best expressed
  symbolically.
• Jesus likened the Kingdom of God to many
  different things
• The Official 7 Sacraments build upon symbols of
  Gods presence and Grace.
• Using both Universal symbols uniquely Christian
  symbols