Symbols

[Jerry]

It's my experience that producing and using symbols is inherantly human, not at all unique to religion.

I'm looking for a secular symbol embodying the concepts of strength and temperance; in the form of something one might put on a necklace or have a tattoo made of.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by The Irreverent Mr Black

The words themselves do just as well for me when I need something.

Why "secular" anyway? Is this to differentiate from "religious strength and temperance"?

Yes, I would proffer the meaning of the symbol not be contingent on or imply to an observer my subscription to the belief in any god; such as a hammer of Thor.

[Xeno]

Originally Posted by Jerry

I'm looking for a secular symbol embodying the concepts of strength and temperance; in the form of something one might put on a necklace or have a tattoo made of.

Schwarzenegger holding upside down an empty bottle of gin?

Find some of the old temperance advertisements and photoshop up some beef on the ladies?

Sorry, symbols beyond the use of words for communication are not my forte.

[dilbadoon]

Jerry, check out the tattoo's thread which is floating around somewhere here, you will see that quite a few of the folk here have marked themselves with an atheist "brand"
My best advice is that for me tattoo's need to be something very personal, as obviously you'll be wearing it for some time!

[Sieveboy]

Originally Posted by Jerry

It's my experience that producing and using symbols is inherantly human, not at all unique to religion.

I'm looking for a secular symbol embodying the concepts of strength and temperance; in the form of something one might put on a necklace or have a tattoo made of.

Any help would be appreciated.

Why not a simple barbell, it takes strength to lift and the metal used to make it is often tempered. Simple and direct analogies.

[Sieveboy]

Originally Posted by The Irreverent Mr Black

Good things come to those who weight?

Pfft.

[vacuous o'possum]

Jerry? Do you have any ink already? I have several tats that mean nothing to anyone but me. Anyone could look at my ink and make assumptions, but I didn't get it for them. I LOVE the idea of a barbell, but that's just me. More importantly, it must mean something to you.

[the_gelf]

If I was into using tattoos to express myself, a picture of Carl Sagan with a quote We are a way for the cosmos to know itself would be my choice

Ideas:



Some evolution tattoos

Basic


Extended - Bacteria to Archaea

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by vacuous o'possum

Jerry? Do you have any ink already? I have several tats that mean nothing to anyone but me. Anyone could look at my ink and make assumptions, but I didn't get it for them. I LOVE the idea of a barbell, but that's just me. More importantly, it must mean something to you.

In my highschool days I had some very good, close friends. We were all Wiccan (gasp!), religiously. I kept this a secret from my non-practicing parents who were the source of my unstable home. My friends and I didn't recruit, in fact we were very against evangelism, but wicca was a part of our every day lives. We were normal kids doing normal things, only the religious practices and prayers were different.

I didn't subscribe to any faith because I thought some literal god-being in the sky I couldn't see/hear was real. The religion became a surrogate parent of sorts, providing standards of conduct, examples of character and expecting specific reasonable, practical goals. For me, religion is a tool making up for where my parent's failed (so when atheists mock me for having faith, they are essentially mocking a human for wanting a stable parent).

As an otherwise normal guy with an anger problem, Wicca taught me how to focus my emotions with the use of symbols. There is nothing inherently 'magical' about any pendant or talisman or spell, at all. The item itself is and always will be an inanimate object. It's all a mind game to focus intent to guide action. I just call the item a 'focus', because my relationship to the item is just me focusing on an idea.

After converting years later to Christianity, I had to give up the symbols most powerful to me: the hammer of Thor and the runic alphabet.

The only real 'focus' I've ever derived out of Christianity is also the most powerful 'focus' I've every had: my wedding ring. With the love of a woman of character, a man can endure, and do, anything.

Then the day came when I got divorced. After the dust settled I gave her my ring back, forgave her for everything and wished her a happy life.

So here I am, looking for another 'focus', because I've learned to use them so well. In fact, I nearly joined the United States Marine Corps over the US Army due to stronger symbology; that Marines call the 'spirit of the Corps'. The 8-pointed cross representing the 4 cardinal virtues doesn't 'do it' for me because I'm not Catholic. The crucifix itself is originally a symbol of shame (which is why it was used for executions).

So far the best symbol I've come across is the Native 'American medicine wheel; Shaman describe the symbol as inherent to all men, no faith or religion required. the medicine wheel does not require or imply to the observer a subscription to any given faith, deity or religion.

So that's where I am on the issue. Any suggestion is welcome

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by Protium

No I would be mocking someone who believes in something with no evidence and wonder which other aspects of their daily life they would get away with such irrational behaviour.

I apologize for offending you. It was not my intention.

You know your motivations and nothing any anon says in any discussion forum, to include myself, changes you. Be at peace with the confidence that the internet is not real, what is said here can not change you, and someone being wrong in your eyes does is not the end of the world.

Posts which are on topic with OP in the search for secular symbols are welcome.