Symbols

We've discussed symbolism many times already in the two weeks we've had class. Symbols can mean different things to different people. I see the "Jesus fish" as a symbol for Christianity and I see the historical context of it while someone else may not see it the way I do. This can be said for things from religion to flags to simple colors.

In "Material Christianity," religious takes on pop culture symbols are shown on page 250 (McDannell). These show one persons view and that person has something in mind to convey to his audience. The problems is that not all people will get the same message. This can be seen very well in different cultures. Colors are an easy way for people to convey a message. Emotions can be seen easily: red for anger, light blue for calm. Or even things we never think twice about like pink for female and blue for male. For Americans, these things seem common place and natural, but other cultures see these colors in a different light. We use green as a symbol for money and luck, but in Islamic cultures green is a symbol for Heaven. More about this can be read here.

This simple site, while it doesn't cover everything, shows in basic terms that not everyone thinks the same. We each have different views of life. We each have our own minds, our own experiences, and these things contribute to the way be see things and the inferences we make. In order to see what people truly mean we must understand their backgrounds and see things through their eyes.