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Symbols And Their Importance
John Doorly

Symbols Change and Rise—A Calculus: A Process of Reasoning—The Use, of Numerical Symbolism in the Bible—The Prophetic Achievement—The Divine System in the Bible—The New Approach

SYMBOLS ARE NATURAL

It is a strange fact that if one talks to the average individual about symbols, he is apt to conclude that one is referring to something that is far removed from daily experience; he believes that symbolism is a subject considered only by the highly educated or the religionist. He does not realize that he himself is using symbols every minute of his life. A symbol is, in fact, simply something that is used to represent something else. The very words we speak are symbols. Our alphabet is wholly a matter of signs or symbols. If one goes into a shop to make a purchase, one has to represent or symbolize what one needs by means of words; moreover, one has to use the symbol called money in order to buy it. Mathematics, music, engineering, architecture, all employ symbols, such as numbers, notes, blueprints, and scale models, in order to be universally understood.

No vast subject can be considered intelligently without the use of symbols. This is particularly true with regard to the nature of the Infinite, whom men call God. Perhaps no subject has been symbolized in so many different ways as that of God's true nature. It must be evident to anyone who thinks for a moment that the infinite One could not be understood or defined as a whole, for infinity could never be included in anything, but must include all within itself. Consequently, the only way that the Infinite can ever be thought about and defined is through manifold symbols. — Webster defines "symbol," in part, as follows:

1. a sign by which one knows or infers a thing.

2. That which stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association,esp., a visible sign of something invisible, as an idea, a quality...

The Oxford Dictionary defines "symbol" as....

2. Something that stands for, represents, or denotes something else ...esp. a material object representing or taken to represent something immaterial or abstract.

3. A written character or mark used to represent something; a letter, figure, or sign conventionally standing fur some object, process, etc.

It must therefore be obvious that it is impossible to approach any great subject without the use of symbols.

During the ages symbols of every kind have become increasingly definite and intelligent and more in accord with the demands of advancing human thought. As we now live in the scientific era, there should be no hesitation whatever about considering the possibility of symbolizing the real nature of God scientifically as well as through sentiment.

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