LITARTS_Christianity in the Philippines

Iglesia ni Cristo

is a Christian religious organization founded in 1914 in the Philippines, known for its distinctive doctrines, rejection of the Trinity, and emphasis on global evangelism.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)

• Restored church through Prophet Joseph Smith.

• Believes in the restoration of Priesthood keys and the fullness of the Gospel.

• Central role of Jesus Christ in beliefs and daily lives.

• Mission to invite all to follow Jesus and experience joy through Him.

• Considers The Book of Mormon, along with the Bible, as a testament of Jesus Christ.

• Belief in these scriptures for a better understanding of God's plan for His children.

Seventh Day Adventist Church

• Adventist Protestant Christian denomination.

• Distinguished by observing Saturday as the Sabbath.

• Emphasis on the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

• Holds annihilationist soteriology, a belief in the ultimate destruction of the wicked.

Victory Church

• Evangelical multi-site church based in Taguig, Philippines.

• Commonly known as Victory.

• Member of Every Nation Churches.

• Officially named Victory Christian Fellowship of the Philippines, Inc.

Christian Cross

• Traditional symbol representing Christianity.

• Widely recognized as the best-known symbol of Christianity.

• In use since early Christianity, gaining prominence during the medieval Crusades.

• Coexisted with other symbols like Ichthys, Staurogram, Alpha and Omega, Christogram, Labarum, etc.

• Originated during times of Christian persecution in the Roman Empire, serving as a discreet means of identification among Christians.

Christian Fish Symbol (Ichthys)

• Initially, the symbol of Christianity was a fish.

• In Old Greek, "ἰχθύς" (ichthys), corresponding to the Christian postulate abbreviation "ΙΧΘΥΣ" - "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior."

• The fish symbol served as an inconspicuous representation of Christian identity during times of persecution in the Roman Empire.

Star and Crescent

• Used as the flag of the Ottoman Empire from 1844.

• Initially not directly associated with Islam but became linked to the faith over time.

• Gradual association with Islam due to its widespread use in the decorations of Ottoman mosques in the late 19th century.

• Occasionally adopted as an emblem by Islamic organizations, such as the All-India Muslim League in 1940 (later becoming the Flag of Pakistan).

• Also adopted by the US American Nation of Islam in the 1970s.

Angel Moroni

• Important figure in the theology of the Latter Day Saint movement.

• Prominently featured in Mormon architecture and art.

• Initially used as a weather vane for the 1844 Nauvoo Temple.

• From the 1892 Salt Lake Temple onward, most LDS temples feature a statue of Angel Moroni.

• The statue includes an angel with a trumpet.

• Notable presence on temples, symbolizing a significant aspect of Latter Day Saint beliefs.

Star of David in Jewish Flags

• Jewish flags with hexagrams and other symbols date back to the 14th or 15th century CE.

• The use of the Star of David to represent the Jewish community is first recorded in Vienna in the 17th century CE.

• Over time, the Star of David has become a widely recognized symbol of Judaism.

Sigil of Baphomet

• Official insignium of LaVeyan Satanism and the Church of Satan.

• Derived from an older symbol in the 1897 book "La Clef de la Magie Noire."

• Initially used by the Church of Satan during its formative years.

• A unique version was created during the writing of The Satanic Bible to exclusively identify with the Church of Satan.

• Named the Sigil of Baphomet for the first time in Anton LaVey's The Satanic Rituals.

• First appeared on the cover of The Satanic Mass LP in 1968 and later on the cover of The Satanic Bible in 1969.

• The symbol is copyrighted by the Church of Satan.

Allah symbol

• Strong tradition of aniconism in Islam historically limited the development of symbols for the religion.

• Traditionally, Islam lacked a distinct symbol.

• Recent developments include the use of single-colored flags (e.g., Green in Islam, Black Standard).

• In the 1970s, the desire to create national flags for newly formed Islamist states led to the adoption of written text expressing core concepts:

  • The shahada is featured in the flag of Saudi Arabia (1973).

  • The takbir is incorporated into the flags of Iraq (2008) and Iran (1979).

Eye of Horus

• Represents protection, royal power, good health, and the god Horus.

• Often associated with the Eye of Horus, a powerful and protective symbol in Ancient Egyptian religion.