Ying Yang logo on secular equipment

[beckyann2597]

Masking tape would work to cover it, but so would a religious sticker that you like. I am sure that would do it!

 

[BryPGuy89]

Lischou:

The swaztika (spelling?) was a part of Nazi culture and figured prominently in their flag. It was draped over state buildings and placed on state owned vehicles. I choose not to have that symbol on anything I own or wear either.

Now, I realize that those two symbols are not even close to being the same thing (nor their governments) but, using the fact that a symbol (any symbol) is represented/used on a state flag or as a corporation’s logo does not justify the use of it by Christians. I base my objections/acceptance of a symbol upon what that symbol represents, not simply on where it can be found or how many people approve of it.

I guess it all depends on what you mean by “avoiding it?” I draw the line at promoting it, by association, through personal use.

Lisa

You do know that the swaztika means peace, love, etc…? The nazis perverted the meaning of the symbol and now it means something very different to people, though that is not what it stands for.

 

[b_justb]

Yin-Yang isn’t just black and white imagery it also conveys the idea of no absolutes. In the white is a dot of black and in the black a dot of white. Nothing is pure. “The only reason we know Good is because of Evil” if from the Tao Te Ching. This sentiment is completely antithetical to Christianity. If we take that statement as a truth and insert it into Christianity then we have ultimate good (God) and ultimate evil (Satan) as not only equals, but also sharing in each others qualities to a minimal extent.

I don’t want to read too much into whatever symbolism, but to think Taoist thought isn’t intrinsically “A-Christian” is to not understand Taoist thought.

 

[Lischou]

You do know that the swaztika means peace, love, etc…? The nazis perverted the meaning of the symbol and now it means something very different to people, though that is not what it stands for.

I am aware of the fact that the Nazi’s took this symbol from something else and used it for their own purposes. What the swaztika originally stood for, I don’t know and frankly have never been interested in. I would imagine that most (today) would think “Nazi, evil, holocaust” when they see this symbol. I only used this example to illustrate a point concerning a symbol used by a nation on their flag. I am, therefore, woefully unqualified to discuss the history of the swaztika with you.

Regardless, my original point still stands that I would not wish to promote either symbol through personal use.

Lisa

 

[BryPGuy89]

Lischou:

I am aware of the fact that the Nazi’s took this symbol from something else and used it for their own purposes. What the swaztika originally stood for, I don’t know and frankly have never been interested in. I would imagine that most (today) would think “Nazi, evil, holocaust” when they see this symbol. I only used this example to illustrate a point concerning a symbol used by a nation on their flag. I am, therefore, woefully unqualified to discuss the history of the swaztika with you.

Regardless, my original point still stands that I would not wish to promote either symbol through personal use.

Lisa

Not to be rude but it is ignorance that leads to misconceptions. The ying yang and swastika have no negative meanings, but people who aren’t aware of their true meaning take offense and pass judgement without knowing the true intent of the symbol. I would not have a problem with a swastika or ying yang on my personal belongings and would not care what others think because I know they are being used in innocence and mean nothing offensive. The flag of the S. Koreans is not offensive and I do own items with the national symbol on them.

 

[harveyc]

BryPGuy89:

Not to be rude but it is ignorance that leads to misconceptions. The ying yang and swastika have no negative meanings, but people who aren’t aware of their true meaning take offense and pass judgement without knowing the true intent of the symbol. I would not have a problem with a swastika or ying yang on my personal belongings and would not care what others think because I know they are being used in innocence and mean nothing offensive. The flag of the S. Koreans is not offensive and I do own items with the national symbol on them.

Have you bothered to read the document I linked in post #9? After reading it a few times, the point becomes clearer and I don’t believe it’s accurate to say there are no negative meanings associated with Yin(Ying)/Yang.

 

[otm]

harveyc:

Did the Pontifical Council miss something also? I called the Catholic Answers apologist line yesterday and the apologist stated I was right to be concerned. How is something that explains good and bad in terms different than the theology of our Catholic faith helpful to building up our faith?

Perhaps I didn’t make my point very clearly.

The Yin/Yang symbol has been around for centuries. New Age has hardly been around long enought to really refer to it in terms of decades.

The fact that New Age has appropriated (or misappropriated) a symbol from eastern philosophy does not automatically mean, or even necessarily imply, that the presence of the symbol on something you own connotes or denotes belief in, or acceptance of, New Age.

If New Age decided to adopt the cross as a symbol for themselves, I would not stop showing or wearing the cross.

As far as I am concerned, the use of Yin/Yang has more to do with the philosophical concept from Eastern philosophy than it does New Age belief - by a gap I can’t even measure.

Just as Aristotle was not a Christian, but Aristotelian philosophy can tell us much about truth, neither was the founder of Eastern philosophy a Christian; and it, too, can tell us about truth; and about Truth.

Anyone who rejects outright anything that does not have its foundation in Christianity is over reacting, in my opinion (and I am not including you in this; just making a comment about knowledge and truth).

As I said, it is a judgement call; I would keep the $20 and do something else with the $20. It is your call.

Frankly, I rarely come across New Age; and when I do, I am more than willing to dialogue about it.

Not being a part of the discussion with the apologist you spoke with, I can’t make any comment. I do not know how either the question ws phrased or the answer given. Perhaps it is because of my background (I got a degree in Philosphy from a Catholic university when it was still following the Magisterium) that I have been able to sort wheat from chaff. I have never bought into another philosophy, but have found truth in them, and found ways of expressing truth.

Again, I am not arguing that the Pontifical Council is right or wrong, as I don’t have their statement. I have, however, found that people who read documents at times take them to say more that they actually do.

As I said, if you have a problem with the symbol, have it changed. I don’t have a problem with the symbol because I do not accept New Age, nor their adoption of the symbol, and I do not make any statement that Eastern philosophy is to be taken at face value or adopted whole and complete; only that it does offer some insights to truth. the fact that it is false in part does not logically mean that it is false in all.

 

[Lischou]

ignorance that leads to misconceptions

I would agree. The only information that is pertinent to me about the Ying Yang symbol (the other aforementioned symbol would be a no-brainer for most) is what the Church says about it (as well as other New Age type gizmos).

The problem with the “seemingly innocent” is that one can be easily fooled and eventually led away from the church if not careful. As my father loved to say, “Be careful about which lake you play around because you might just fall in!”

Anything that the world holds in high esteem and supports, causes me to stop and think.

Lisa

 

[harveyc]

Thanks, OTM, for the clarification. Good point about us not abandoning the use of the cross (or crucifix) even if it started to be used by New Agers. I am not entirely clear how to undersand the Pontifical Council’s statement, but you can easily access it by the link I posted above (#9). It’s quite a ways down in the document, just do a search of the term “Yang”.

At this point, I’m most likely going to go the route of putting a sticker over the symbol.

 

[Lischou]

The flag of the S. Koreans is not offensive

Never said it was.

Lisa

 

[ahimsaman72]

BryPGuy89:

You do know that the swaztika means peace, love, etc…? The nazis perverted the meaning of the symbol and now it means something very different to people, though that is not what it stands for.

This symbol is Aryan in origin (from the Indian subcontinent). Here is an excerpt from about.com (not the most authoritative, but gives a good idea of the history. I just did a google search and found this:

history1900s.about.com/cs/swastika/a/swastikahistory.htm

"The word “swastika” comes from the Sanskrit svastika - “su” meaning “good,” “asti” meaning “to be,” and “ka” as a suffix.

Until the Nazis used this symbol, the swastika was used by many cultures throughout the past 3,000 years to represent life, sun, power, strength, and good luck. Even in the early twentieth century, the swastika was still a symbol with positive connotations. For instance, the swastika was a common decoration that often adorned cigarette cases, postcards, coins, and buildings. During World War I, the swastika could even be found on the shoulder patches of the American 45th Division and on the Finnish air force until after World War II."

Peace…

 

[z0wb13]

Nature says only a few words:
High wind does not last long,
Nor does heavy rain.
If nature’s words do not last
Why should those of man?

Who accepts harmony, becomes harmonious.
Who accepts loss, becomes lost.
For who accepts harmony, the Way harmonizes with him,
And who accepts loss, the Way cannot find.

the yin yang (tai_ji_tu) is just a symbol.

Express yourself completely,
then keep quiet.
Be like the forces of nature:
when it blows, there is only wind;
when it rains, there is only rain;
when the clouds pass, the sun shines through.

If you open yourself to the Tao,
you are at one with the Tao
and you can embody it completely.
If you open yourself to insight,
you are at one with insight
and you can use it completely.
If you open yourself to loss,
you are at one with loss
and you can accept it completely.

Open yourself to the Tao,
then trust your natural responses;
and everything will fall into place.

 

[Izdaari]

The yin yang symbol is of Taoist origin, not New Age but much, much older. The truths it expresses are (IMHO) not at all incompatible with Christianity, and I have no problem with having it on my stuff.

So says Izzy, Pentecostal JKD practitioner.