Solemn Reality

3/28/2008 - Symbolism... who cares

    Anyone who has talked to me lately may have heard me talking about symbolism in our culture, particularly the hexagram (Star of David). I have been careful exploring this aspect of mysticism. I started noticing the Hexagram in so many places (Israeli flag, masonic square and compass, easter lillies, the dollar bill, snowflakes) as well as Pentagrams (like the D.C. street layout). Other symbols became very apparent as well. Consider the symbol of the U.S. dollar:

$    -How many people do you know that worship this idol? A serpent on a staff-compare with the events of Numbers 21.    The Bronze Serpent became an idol when people began worshiping the object and not the one who was behind the object. Jesus Christ even invokes this symbol in John 3:14 and 15 (the 2 verses leading up to the famous John 3:16). This symbol (along with the Star of Life) is also used by the government to identify hospitals and EMTs. It is also used by Freemasons in their Baphomet where the symbol represents of eternal life.

In searching for answers regarding sacred geometry I was exposed to the concepts of the Tree of Life, Seed of Life, Star of Life, Flower of Life, Metatron's Cube, The Vesica Piscis, etc. These "sacred" geometrical shapes are EXTREMELY interesting and could be studied for a lifetime... and have been. I don't recommend doing that. It can get out of hand very quickly-See the Baphomet (notice the striking similarity with this statue of George Washington.

    The obvious question to us all should be, "Why should I care if these symbols are used in our culture?" Well, many people believe that these sacred geometric symbols actually contain and control the energy forces of nature. There is a certain truth to the fact that geometric principles and patterns emerge constantly (and quite elegantly) in the creation processes of God. The problem lies in who you are attributing creation powers to. The patterns themselves are only fingerprints of the creator.

    Jesus said to worship in Spirit and in Truth. We worship our lord in the temple of our heart and mind. The problem today is that many people are able to worship in spirit, but not necessarily in truth. Sitting through the Easter/Ishtar Sunday service, I could not help but be disturbed by the imagery (decorated eggs, bunnies, Easter lilies, etc...) of mystery religions that are prevalent in this originally Babylonian holiday. The Christians in the congregation were certainly not there to worship Tammuz or Baal, but rather they were worshiping the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Worship in Spirit is a wonderful thing, but it is incomplete because we are also commanded to worship in TRUTH.

    Would you attend a church that decorated it's walls with swastikas? Of course not, because you know what those symbols stood for. If you had never heard of the Third Reich, you probably wouldn't have any problem because the symbol has been used for centuries in India as a mark for good luck and well-being. Therein lies the problem with symbols altogether. We will associate a concept onto a symbol, then project that concept onto everyone associated with it.   This practice is lazy and irresponsible because it causes us look at all who accept certain symbols through a distorted assumptive lense rather than trying to understand the individual person. This is also a method of hiding behind a symbol of identity without actually having one yourself. It makes it easy to hide behind the ideals of the group.   You can still reserve the right to say what it "means to you" and therefore have no accountability, yet still maintain the force of the symbolism and possibly the support of others who embrace that symbolism.