Religion in national symbols

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Religion in national symbols can often be found in national anthems or flags. This has led to controversy in some countries in regard to the separation of church and state, when the national symbol is officially sanctioned by a government. [1]

Flags which incorporate symbols of religion

Christianity

Flag Country Religious characteristics
Armenia Armenia (flag) The Red emblematizes the maintenance of the Christian faith.[2]
Andorra Andorra (flag) Includes a bishop's mitre, representing the Bishop of Urgell.[3]
Australia Australia (flag) Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick[4]
Colombia Colombia (flag) blue represents the equality of all races and social classes before God and the law[5]
Denmark Denmark (flag) Nordic Cross Flag[6]
Dominica Dominica (flag) The cross represents the Trinity[7]
Dominican Republic Dominican Republic (flag) A Bible, the color white stands for salvation[8]
El Salvador El Salvador (flag) Dios, Unión, Libertad (God, Union, Liberty)
Fiji Fiji (flag) Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Finland Finland (flag) Nordic Cross Flag[6]
Georgia (country) Georgia (country) (flag) Jerusalem cross[9]
Greece Greece (flag) The cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy[10]
Iceland Iceland (flag) Nordic Cross Flag[6]
Republic of Ireland Ireland (flag) The green symbolizes the Catholic population. The orange symbolizes the Protestants.[11]
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein (flag) Christian cross[12]
Malta Malta (flag) George Cross[12]
Moldova Moldova (flag) Orthodox Cross
Montenegro Montenegro (flag) Christian cross[12]
New Zealand New Zealand (flag) Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick[12]
Norway Norway (flag) Nordic Cross Flag[6]
Portugal Portugal (flag) Compound cross of five quinas, each one charged with five saltire-arranged bezants, representing the five wounds of Christ[13]
San Marino San Marino (flag) Cross[12]
Serbia Serbia (flag) Orthodox Cross[14]
Spain Spain (flag) Cross[12]
Sweden Sweden (flag) Nordic Cross Flag[6]
Switzerland Switzerland (flag) Christian cross[15]
Slovakia Slovakia (flag) Patriarchal cross[16]
Tonga Tonga (flag) Christian cross[17]
Tuvalu Tuvalu (flag) Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
United Kingdom United Kingdom (flag) Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick[18]
Vatican City Vatican City (flag) The flag consists of two vertical bands, one of gold (hoist side) and one of white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the Papal Tiara centered in the white band

Islam

Flag Country Religious characteristics
Afghanistan Afghanistan (flag) Shahadah and a mosque, green may represent Islam[19]
Algeria Algeria (flag) Star and crescent, green color symbolizes Islam[20]
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (flag) Green stands for Islam, the crescent moon is also an Islamic symbol[21]
Bahrain Bahrain (flag) five points represent the five pillars of Islam[22]
Brunei Brunei (flag) Crescent moon[23]
Comoros Comoros (flag) Star and crescent and green color are traditional symbols of Islam[24]
Iran Iran (flag) The word "Allah" ("God"), the phrase "Allahu Akbar" is repeated on the edges of the red and green bands[25]
Iraq Iraq (flag) The phrase "Allah Akbar" ("God is Great")[26]
Jordan Jordan (flag) The seven-pointed star represents the seven verses of the Quran's first sura[27]
Libya Libya (flag) Star and crescent represent Islam[28]
Malaysia Malaysia (flag) Crescent moon[29]
Maldives Maldives (flag) White crescent moon symbolizes Islam[30]
Mauritania Mauritania (flag) Star and crescent and green color symbolize Islam[31]
Morocco Morocco (flag) The green represents Islam. The pentagram's five points symbolize the five Pillars of Islam.[32]
Pakistan Pakistan (flag) The dark green field symbolizes the Muslim majority of Pakistan.[33]
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (flag) Shahada (Muslim creed) on green, a color traditionally associated with Islam[34]
Senegal Senegal (flag) The green stripe and star represent Islam.[35][36]
Sudan Sudan (flag) Green represents Islam.[37]
Tunisia Tunisia (flag) Star and crescent
Turkey Turkey (flag) Star and crescent
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan (flag) Crescent moon (green may also represent Islam)
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan (flag) Crescent moon (green may also represent Islam)

Judaism

Flag Country Religious characteristics
Israel Israel (flag) The basic design is based on a Jewish prayer shawl, the Star of David is a symbol of Judaism[38]

Buddhism/Hinduism

Flag Country Religious characteristics
Bhutan Bhutan (flag) The orange half signifies Buddhist spiritual tradition[39]
Cambodia Cambodia (flag) Angkor Wat[40]
India India (flag) The Ashok Chakra represents the Laws of Dharma (righteousness).[41]
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (flag) The four bo leaves symbolize four Buddhist metaphysical concepts.[42]
Thailand Thailand (flag) white for Theravada Buddhism[43]

Traditional

Flag Country Religious characteristics
Albania Albania (flag) The eagle from the Albanian legend, The Tale of the Eagle
Argentina Argentina (flag) Sun of May's features are that of the Inca god Inti[44]
Japan Japan (flag) Red circle represents the sun goddess Amaterasu
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan (flag) Blue represents the sky god Tengri
Mexico Mexico (flag) Coat of arms symbolic of Aztec legend of Tenochtitlan, modern-day Mexico City[45]
Mongolia Mongolia (flag) Taijitu symbol of yin and yang. The Sun, Moon and blue colour represent the eternal sky
South Korea South Korea (flag) Taegeuk symbol associated with Taoism and traditional Korean Shamanism; I Ching trigrams.
Uruguay Uruguay (flag) Sun of May's features are that of the Inca god Inti[46]

National anthems which incorporate religion

Old anthems

Coat of arms

Christianity

Coat of arms Country Religious characteristics
Coat of arms of Andorra.svg Andorra (Coat of arms) Includes a bishop's mitre, representing the Bishop of Urgell.
Coat of arms of Armenia.svg Armenia (Coat of arms) Mount Ararat with Noah's Ark sitting atop it.
Coat of Arms of Australia.svg Australia (Coat of arms) cross, Maltese cross
State Coat of Arms of Belgium.svg Belgium (Coat of arms) A globus cruciger on top of the coat of arms as a Christian symbol of authority
Coat of arms of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria (Coat of arms) A globus cruciger on top of the coat of arms as a Christian symbol of authority
Canada (Coat of arms) Cross, 'A Mari Usque Ad Mare' ('From Sea to Sea')
National Coat of arms of Denmark.svg Denmark (Coat of arms) A globus cruciger on top of the coat of arms as a Christian symbol of authority
Coat of arms of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic (Coat of arms) cross, Bible, 'Dios, Patria, Libertad' ('God, Fatherland, Liberty')
Coats of arms of El Salvador.svg El Salvador (Coat of arms) Dios, Unión, Libertad (God, Union, Liberty)
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg Fiji (Coat of arms) Cross, 'Rerevaka na kalou ka doka na Tui' ('Fear God and honour the Queen')
Greater coat of arms of Georgia.svg Georgia (Coat of arms) St. George, Bolnisi cross
Coat of arms of Greece.svg Greece (Coat of arms) Greek cross
Coat of arms of Hungary.svg Hungary (Coat of arms) Patriarchal cross
Coat of arms of Iceland.svg Iceland (Coat of arms) Nordic cross
Coat of arms of Jamaica.svg Jamaica (Coat of arms) cross
Coat of arms of Liechtenstein.svg Liechtenstein (Coat of arms) A globus cruciger on top of the coat of arms as a Christian symbol of authority
Coat of arms of Lithuania.svg Lithuania (Coat of arms) Patriarchal cross
Coat of arms of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg (Coat of arms) A globus cruciger on top of the coat of arms as a Christian symbol of authority
Coat of arms of Malta.svg Malta (Coat of arms) George Cross
Coat of arms of Moldova.svg Moldova (Coat of arms) cross
Coat of arms of Monaco.svg Monaco (Coat of arms) cross, 'Deo Juvante' ('With God's Help')
Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg Montenegro (Coat of arms) cross
Nauru (Coat of arms) 'God's Will First'
Royal coat of arms of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands (Coat of arms) A globus cruciger on top of the coat of arms as a Christian symbol of authority
Coat of arms of New Zealand.svg New Zealand (Coat of arms) A globus cruciger on top of the coat of arms as a Christian symbol of authority
24px Nigeria (Coat of arms) 'Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress'
Coat of arms of Norway.svg Norway (Coat of arms) A globus cruciger on top of the coat of arms as a Christian symbol of authority
Coat of arms of Portugal.svg Portugal (Coat of arms) Compound cross of five quinas, each one charged with five saltire-arranged bezants
Coat of arms of Romania.svg Romania (Coat of arms) cross
Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation.svg Russian Federation (Coat of arms) St. George, cross
Coat of arms of Samoa.svg Samoa (Coat of arms) 'Faavae i Le Atua Samoa' ('Samoa is founded on God'), cross
Coat of arms of San Marino.svg San Marino (Coat of arms) A globus cruciger on top of the coat of arms as a Christian symbol of authority
Coat of arms of Serbia.svg Serbia (Coat of arms) Serbian cross
Coat of arms of Slovakia.svg Slovakia (Coat of arms) Patriarchal cross
Coat of Arms of Spain.svg Spain (Coat of arms) cross
Greater coat of arms of Sweden.svg Sweden (Coat of arms) A globus cruciger on top of the coat of arms as a Christian symbol of authority
Coat of Arms of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland (Coat of arms) cross
Coat of arms of Tonga.svg Tonga (Coat of arms) cross, dove, 'Ko e ʻOtua mo Tonga ko hoku Tofiʻa' ('God and Tonga are my inheritance')
Coat of arms of Tuvalu.svg Tuvalu (Coat of arms) 'Tuvalu Mo Te Atua' ('Tuvalu for the Almighty')
Coat of arms of the Republic of Uganda.svg Uganda (Coat of arms) For God and My Country
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom (Coat of arms) cross, 'Dieu et mon droit' ('God and my right'), and on Scottish version, 'In My Defens God Me Defend' (shortened to 'In Defens')
Coat of arms of the Vatican City.svg Vatican City (Coat of arms) The crossed keys of Saint Peter and the Papal Tiara
Coat of arms of Vanuatu.svg Vanuatu (Coat of arms) 'Long God yumi stanap' ('In God we stand')

Islam

Coat of arms Country Religious characteristics
24px Afghanistan (Coat of arms) shahadah, mosque, mehrab, Prayer rug
Seal of Algeria.svg Algeria (Coat of arms) Star and crescent
Coat of arms of Azerbaijan.svg Azerbaijan (Coat of arms) Calligraphic representation of the name Allah in the form of an Eternal Flame, green
Emblem of Bahrain.svg Bahrain (Coat of arms) five points represent the five pillars of Islam
Emblem of Brunei.svg Brunei (Coat of arms) Crescent moon, الدائمون المحسنون بالهدى (Always in service with God's guidance)
Coat of arms of Comoros.svg Comoros (Coat of arms) Star and crescent
Emblem of Iran.svg Iran (Coat of arms) Name of Allah
Coat of arms (emblem) of Iraq 2008.svg Iraq (Coat of arms) الله أكبر (God is Great)
Coat of arms of Jordan.svg Jordan (Coat of arms) Its colours of the eagle signifies the banner of the Prophet Mohammad, the globe signifies the emergence of Islamic civilisation, الراجي من الله التوفيق والعون (Who seeks support and guidance from God)
Coat of arms of Malaysia.svg Malaysia (Coat of arms) Crescent moon
Coat of arms of Maldives.svg Maldives (Coat of arms) Star and crescent
Coat of arms of Mali.svg Mali (Coat of arms) Great Mosque of Djenné, Un Peuple, Un But, Une Foi (One People, One Goal, One Faith)
Seal of Mauritania.svg Mauritania (Coat of arms) Star and crescent, green
Coat of arms of Morocco.svg Morocco (Coat of arms) إن تنصروا الله ينصركم (If you glorify God, he will glorify you)
State emblem of Pakistan.svg Pakistan (Coat of arms) ایمان ، اتحاد ، نظم (Faith, Unity, Discipline), Star and crescent, green
Coat of arms of Senegal.svg Senegal (Coat of arms) Un, Peuple, Un But, Une Foi (One People, One Goal, One Faith)
Coat of arms of Tunisia.svg Tunisia (Coat of arms) Star and crescent
TurkishEmblem.svg Turkey (Coat of arms) Star and crescent
Emblem of Turkmenistan.svg Turkmenistan (Coat of arms) Rub el Hizb, stars and crescent
Coat of Arms of Uzbekistan.svg Uzbekistan (Coat of arms) Rub el Hizb, star and crescent

Judaism

Coat of arms Country Religious characteristics
Emblem of Israel.svg Israel (Coat of arms) Menorah, blue

Buddhism/Hindiusm

Coat of arms Country Religious characteristics
Emblem of Bhutan.svg Bhutan (Coat of arms) Durk, lotus
Emblem of India.svg India (Coat of arms) Ashoka Chakra, Lion Capital of Asoka
Emblem of Laos.svg Laos (Coat of arms) Pha That Luang
State emblem of Mongolia.svg Mongolia (Coat of arms) Three Jewels, Wheel of Dharma, Wind Horse
Emblem of Sri Lanka.svg Sri Lanka (Coat of arms) Blue Lotus, Dharmacakra

Hinduism

Coat of arms Country Religious characteristics
National emblem of Indonesia Garuda Pancasila.svg Indonesia (Coat of arms) Garuda
Garuda Emblem of Thailand.svg Thailand (Coat of arms) Garuda

Taoism/Confucianism

Coat of arms Country Religious characteristics
Emblem of South Korea.svg South Korea (Coat of arms) yin and yang

Traditional

Coat of arms Country Religious characteristics
Coat of arms of Argentina.svg Argentina (Coat of arms) Sun of May
Emblem of Kazakhstan.svg Kazakhstan (Coat of arms) Blue representing the sky god Tengri, Wind Horses
Coat of arms of Mexico.svg Mexico (Coat of arms) Symbolizies the Aztec legend of Tenochtitlan, modern-day Mexico City[47]
Coat of arms of Uruguay.svg Uruguay (Coat of arms) Sun of May

See also

References

  1. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/11/25/64-countries-have-religious-symbols-on-their-national-flags/
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. "The new flag of Georgia does not seem to be related with this historical banner. The flag of the National Movement was unknown ten years ago [1993] and was called 'the Georgian historical national flag' by the opposition leaders only after publications by the Georgian vexillologist I.L. Bichikashvili." Mikhail Revnivtsev, 25 November 2003 crwflags.com
  10. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (subscription required)
  18. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. Flags of the world: an illustrated guide to contemporary flags Alfred Znamierowski – 2000, ISBN 1-84215-337-4
  42. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.