Faith Symbol
 
Universal Faith Symbol

 
 
THE Universal Symbol of Life Affirmation or Faith, originally the Triform Emblem, represents spirit or being as one and infinite in triune, as well as other interpretations. After modifications that took place over several years, the above design was finalized in 1999 and later used as a logo on the Unitheist Fellowship website.

We’ve all heard the saying, “Two’s company, three’s a crowd.” While the number three is arbitrary, there are countless instances where it is associated with any value greater than two, which may be why people of such diverse backgrounds and cultures have perceived aspects of the divine in threes— to attempt to render comprehensible the infinite.

A sentence has three basic elements— subject, verb, and object. The 13th Century Jewish mystic Abraham Abulafia described the Master as “the knowledge, the knower, and the known.” A Sufi mystic called Divine Union “the union, the one who unites, and the one who is united.” One as three.

The symbol consists simply of an upright equilateral triangle surrounded by a circle touching its three corners and surrounded in turn by a heart outline in contact top and sides. The color, thickness, and precise overlap of the linear features are arbitrary, as well as the background (if any), and even the exact style and shape of the heart.

Traditionally triangles have been used to symbolize God, power, fire, security, success, prosperity, and health. Circles have represented the eternal, the endless, the limitless, completeness, and cycles such as birth and death. Heart signs have been ideograms for charity and forgiveness, emotion, or the soul, expanding from religious origins.

In the elemental context of the symbol the triangle represents law, the physics of the universe, the circle represents life, the basis of awareness, and the heart represents love— conscious creating, enjoying, and sharing.

Various attributes though can be assigned to the three elements. Below is a table of representations, far from complete, listed alphabetically by philosophy or faith:
 
PHILOSOPHY
TRIANGLE
CIRCLE
HEART
Abrahamic Judaism Islam Christianity
Augustinian Being Knowledge Love
Baha’i God Manifestation Humanity
Brahman Being Consciousness Joy
Christian Father Son Holy Spirit
Egyptian Osiris Isis Horus
Faith Understanding Acceptance Trust
Feuerbachian Reason Will Love
Freudian Id Ego Superego
Hindu Brahma Vishnu Shiva
Holistic Body Mind Spirit
Ideal Truth Beauty Goodness
Jain Faith Knowledge Conduct
Logical Thesis Antithesis Synthesis
Mahayana Truth Bliss Transformation
Neopagan Maiden Mother Crone
Neoplatonic One Nous World Soul
Sabellian Creator Redeemer Giver of Life
Shakti Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati
Spiritual Existence Consciousness Bliss
Theological Faith Hope Love
Theosophical Unity Regularity Progress
Transactional Parent Child Adult
Trimurti Creation Preservation Transformation
Unitheist Law Life Love
 

The triangle, circle, and heart are nested one inside another, suggesting unity or oneness, the triangle innermost and the heart outermost, the ultimate found within and love found without.

A palm tree, representative of victory, peace, prosperity, long life, rest, and hospitality is formed by the triangle as trunk and tops of circle and heart as branches.

The number of voids in the symbol is seven, perhaps next only to three the primary numeric in traditions of the world.

The symbol is fully inclusive in what is meant by faith— i.e. all life-affirming ideation whatever the ontology, extending even to forms beyond what many would consider religious, such as science, humanism, and positive philosophical systems.

The faith symbol, while not demonstrative of belief in a particular God or gods, represents acknowledgement of and appreciation for the wonder and mystery of being, and peace through fellowship based on essential commonality of spirit, understanding, love, and tolerance.

For more info see FAQ and Links. To see images you can display on your webpage click here.

You and your nonprofit organization are free to use the faith symbol subject to the following License—

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Universal Faith Symbol License
Version 1.1, May 5, 2008

Redistribution and use of the Universal Faith Symbol (Faith Symbol), with or without modification, is permitted provided (1) that it is for non-commercial purposes only and (2) that it is used to represent universal spirit or faith. The Faith Symbol is provided by the copyright holder and contributor "as is" and any express or implied warranties including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of fitness for a particular purpose are disclaimed. In no event shall the copyright owner or contributor be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, or consequential damages (including but not limited to: procurement of substitute goods or services; loss of use, data, time, or money; or personal or organizational interruption) however caused and on any theory of liability, whether in contract, strict liability, or tort (including negligence or otherwise) arising in any way out of the use of the Faith Symbol, even if advised of the possibility of such damage.

Universal Faith Symbol © 1999 Warren Farr for universal spirit or faith, with special thanx to friend Kathryn Graham who helped select the best rendering of the design. All rights reserved.

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While not required, it is requested that you describe your manner and purpose of non-commercial use if it involves significant distribution of the symbol in any form— you might get a plug and/or link in return. Email warren@warrenfarr.com

For your convenience here are some additional graphic representations, in different sizes and forms, including a sunburst and versions inscribed with the motto, “Unity in Spirit ~ Unity in Faith,” with and without the address of this site.

Redistribution or use of the Universal Faith Symbol for commercial purposes (including but not limited to use in or on a for-profit line of jewelry, clothing, book, movie, or commercial website) and used to represent universal spirit or faith may be allowed by special license upon application. Email warren@warrenfarr.com


 
© 1999-2008 Warren Farr — revised 6/26

faith symbol