Definitions:

• analogue: analogy, similar to, compares two similar but not identical objects

• metaphoric: ideological similarity, reminiscent of ("is like")

• iconic: pictorial similarity (e.g. a road sign) ("looks like")

• Not all picture images are iconic symbols: medical science does not look like snakes on a flying staff. There is something about the associated metaphorical meaning of snakes (life) and the staff that is reminiscent of medical science

• Linguistic: based on the name of that which is symbolized (letters and words are, themselves, symbolic of ideas and objects); may be a more or less stylized initial(s) or name or an iconic image of the name/words associated with that which is symbolized (like the Christian fish symbol)

• sign: indication (symptom) of something, directly connected, "presentational" (a road sign is a "sign" because it is an indicator of what is to come just ahead but such signs have symbolic images on them)

• vs. symbol: more or less arbitrary relationship (e.g., a flag), "representational"

• Sacramental symbols: ritual acts and objects considered to be themselves imbued with The Sacred (e.g. Christian communion and the objects used in that ritual)

Review Christian symbols noted in text (transparency):

• meaning and reason they are used as they are

• what kind of symbols they each are

Review symbols of the world’s religions (handout)

Student sharing of symbols they have identified:

• Draw or display symbols on left side of blackboard

• List meaning on right side of blackboard (solicit from students)

• Discuss why/how each symbol is related to what it symbolizes

• in small groups, students can examine several examples of symbols, group by type: identify which are "iconic" "metaphoric" "linguistic", "sacramental" or "signs"; which are "representational" and which are "presentational"