Religious Symbolism Trivia Quiz

Answer: Judaism

The six-pointed Star of David is perhaps the most familiar symbol of Judaism. Although the symbol itself is well over a millennium old, it was adopted as an international symbol of the religion during the twentieth century. The Star features prominently on the flag of Israel.

Answer: Wicca

Whether circumscribed by a circle or not, the five points of the Wiccan pentagram represent the five core elements - air, water, earth, fire and spirit. The symbol is often confused for a Satanic symbol - in fact, Satanism's primary symbol, the Sigil of Baphomet, contains additional details that distinguish it from Wicca, most notably that it is upside down.

Answer: Hinduism

In Hinduism, om is one of the most sacred symbols. Its name is pronounced as three sounds (a, u, and m) which coalesce into one, indicative of the many threes of Hinduism (in particular, Brahma, Vishnua and Shiva). It is commonly spoken at the beginning or the end of mantras, and represents the essence of the universe.

Answer: Satanism

The Sigil resembles an upside-down pentagram inscribed within a circle, wherein the symbol of a goat's head fits within the five points of the pentagram. Though not created by Anton LaVey, one of the Church of Satan's most prominent figures, he chose it to represent Satanism and it subsequently appeared on the cover of his published works.

Answer: Buddhism (traditional)

The wheel of dharma, or dharmachakra, with its eight spokes, is one of the oldest symbols of Buddhism. It is closely associated with the Noble Eightfold Path, a group of eight tenets which are thought of as core to the faith - 'right' practices which help practitioners avoid the fate of samsara (neverending cycles of rebirth).

Answer: Islam

Originally a symbol of the Ottomans, the star and crescent has been one of the many symbols representative of Islam since being popularised during the twentieth century. It is not a traditional symbol, and is not necessarily favoured by all Muslims, but nonetheless is recognised internationally, particularly on the flags of Muslim nations, including Turkey and Pakistan.

Answer: Unitarian Universalism

The chalice is a symbol of Unitarian Universalism, a relatively modern faith in comparison to the other major religions, which promotes tolerance, freedom of intellect, and acceptance. There is no single meaning behind the faith's symbolic chalice - some regard it as representative of the liberality of Unitarian Universalism, while others consider it a symbol of hope, courage and sacrifice.

Answer: Bahá'í

Although the five-pointed star of Bahá'í is considered the 'official' symbol, the number nine crops up quite often. One school of thought suggests that it represents perfection, with Bahá'í being the ninth major world religion. Bahá'í teaches equality and the acceptance of other religions.

Initially formed in the Middle East, the faith is practised across the world by millions of adherents.

Answer: Shinto

The torii is a gate that acts as a boundary between a normal and a sacred place. As such, it is commonly found straddling the entrance to Shinto shrines across Japan. There isn't one ubiquitous torii design - although the most basic torii is constructed of a rope tied between two parallel posts, they can vary in size, material, shape and ornamentation.

Answer: Sikhism

The Khanda is a traditional symbol of the Sikhs and consists of a symmetrical arrangement of three swords (a khanda and two kirpans) and a chakram into one figure. The khanda, which is a double-edged sword, represents the duality of life and death. The two dagger-like kirpans symbolise the spiritual and material aspects of existence, while the circular chakram represents balance.