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Benchmark-Non Christian Symbols
A non-Judeo-Christian religious culture that has a lot of symbols and rituals would be the
Islamic culture. This culture is deeply rooted in its community and shows lengthy dedication
through its followers. Christianity comparatively has similar motives, outreaches, and processes
even though the two look vastly different.
In the Islamic culture, there are several symbols that represent its meaning and purpose.
The crescent moon and star are two of those symbols. It is believed that “In ancient Iraqi
mythology, sad and happy events like war and peace, death and fertility, flood and famine, were
attributed to the appearance and disappearance of the moon”(Taher). Generally speaking, the
crescent moon and star are known for being on the flag of many countries but also as a symbol of
God giving them direction and guidance. A second symbol of Islamic culture would be the
Quran, or more specifically the calligraphy in verses of the Quran. This specific way of writing is
looked at as “conveying the beauty and power of the word of Allah”(
). This Arabic writing is
used in many different places such as the Quarn, architecture, books, and many others.
Along with Islamic symbols, there are several rituals that any would say go hand in hand
with the symbols. There are three rituals central to the Islamic culture, Salah, Ramadan, and Hajj,
Salah most simply means prayer. The Islamic culture takes prayer very seriously and believes it
should be a central focus of their lives. Ramadan is what most people hear of when it comes to
this culture, it is their annual practiced month of fasting. Lastly, and some would say most
important, is Hajj. This is the act of making the trip to the Mecca. In this culture, every Islamic
adult must make it to Mecca in Saudi Arabia at least once in their lives. This is because it is a
part of their spiritual and physical journey.
In all of these religious symbols and rituals, there is an obvious split between internal acts
