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The Pentagram

1137

Here until I storm off again
Premium Member
A recent look into the eyes of ignorance has promted both questions and answers. So, let's talk about one of the more ignorantly feared symbols; the pentagram.

First, I am wondering when the pentagram became seen as evil / "satanic", if anyone knows. I always found it interesting that such a beautiful anf perfect shape was seen as evil whereas a cross, a sigb of horrific torture, suffering, and human sacrifice was not. Don't get me wrong, I undetstand the cross' importance.

The pentagram, spirals, and golden ratio are found all over. Plants, humans, galaxies, DNA, etc. The Greeks seem to have used it in their buildings and the Egyptians in the pyramids (no, the measurements aren't perfect, but we'te talking a primitive people). The orbit of Venus (aka the morning star (aka Lucifer)) forms a pentagram like shape. Even things like Sacred Geometry which tries to show the basic pattern(s) of reality seems to come down to hexagrams, which at the more basic level is two, overlapping pentagrams. Many religions have used pentagrams, including Christianity itself.

So, some questions for theists who look at the pentagram as evil / satanic (more like Luciferian); if the universe follows this satanic pattern so closely, would it not infer Satan is the creator? Or, perhaps, some sort of grand spiritual lie by those organizations that show the pentagram as evil? Obviously these are more rethotical questions just to get one thinking. After all, Christ even calls himself the bright morning star (Lucifer).
 

bobhikes

Nondetermined
Premium Member
A recent look into the eyes of ignorance has promted both questions and answers. So, let's talk about one of the more ignorantly feared symbols; the pentagram.

The pentagram is still worshiped by most religions and thought of in good light. It is the upsidedown pentagram that represents lucifer.
 

1137

Here until I storm off again
Premium Member
The pentagram is still worship by most religions and thought of in good light. It is the upsidedown pentagram that represents lucifer.

Actually I've heard two points up is the way it originally was. Eithet way it has the exact same mathematical concepts and such that are found in nature, and was still used by many groups including the Christians. There is no logical way to make the two point up pentagram out to be evil. Besides that, Lucifer is not evil even in Christian mythology unless you accept mistranslation and the absurd conclusions it leads to.
 

1137

Here until I storm off again
Premium Member
Anyone who actually thinks that shapes are evil should really start questioning their beliefs.

Haha I'm sure it's more along the lines of the "powers behind the shapes", but that's just as silly to me.
 

apophenia

Well-Known Member
I totally agree with you, the pentagram is a beautiful form, and the notion that it is ,or represents, evil, is superstitious nonsense.

I read your debate with SuperUniverse with interest and dismay. It was a shock to read his suggestion that you were declaring yourself to be a troublemaker who deserved censure for daring to wear a pentagram to school or college.

What this all clarifies is that many people live in a very primitive and childish mindset. I think some people do wear the pentagram simply to distinguish themselves from such ignorant views, and I find that completely understandable.

The idea that this symbol can be banned in public places is a shocking indictment of not only the ignoramuses who fear it, but of the incompetent administrators who would pander to such childish superstition.

Wear it with pride.
 

1137

Here until I storm off again
Premium Member
That was quite a disturbing conversation. It's funny you call it childish and primitive because it seems the Donald Duck video cleared up the issues haha. I do wear it with pride and ignorance of others will not change that.
 

1137

Here until I storm off again
Premium Member
No it doesn't. The pentagram upside down is a symbol of god descending in man while it's upward form is a symbol of man ascending towards god.

Or to look within rather than externally, individuality and the personal spiritual journey.
 

Bob Dixon

>implying
Haha I'm sure it's more along the lines of the "powers behind the shapes", but that's just as silly to me.

Yeah... "powers behind the shapes"? Give me a break. That's superstition to the nth degree. I always thought that the Bible takes a hard anti-superstition stance, but I guess not everyone sees it that way.

No it doesn't. The pentagram upside down is a symbol of god descending in man while it's upward form is a symbol of man ascending towards god.

So, in reality, whether man is ascending or God is descending only depends on your frame of reference.
That's beautiful.
 

1137

Here until I storm off again
Premium Member
I still don't like it when people misinterpret it negatively . It's a symbol of beauty. I like the way you have it in your avatar. "Golden means" much?

So many ways to interpret one perfect, beautiful, natural shape. I mean it's crazy to me people would see my symbol as evil when they probably accept all aspects of it; beauty and perfection, underlying nature of nature itself, balance, infinity, etc.
 
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CynthiaCypher

Well-Known Member
So many ways to interpret one perfect, beautiful, natural shape. I mean it's crazy to me people would see my symbol as evil when they probably accept all aspects of it; beauty and perfection, underlying nature of nature itself, balance, infinity, etc.

G. Thomas 77. Jesus said, "I am the light that is over all things. I am all: from me all came forth, and to me all attained. Split a piece of wood; I am there.Lift up the stone, and you will find me there."



And maybe even in a piece of fruit too.



papaya.jpg
 

arthra

Baha'i
Actually a symbol of the Baha'i Faith is the five pointed star and is featured on our ring stone symbol....

"... Strictly speaking the five-pointed star is the symbol of our Faith, as used by the Báb and explained by Him. But the Guardian does not feel it is wise or necessary to complicate our explanation of the Temple by adding this."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, October 28, 1949: U.S. Supplement to Bahá'í News, No. 50, p. 4, April 1962)

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 109)


Upon the horizon of Eternal Glory two luminous stars have arisen in brilliance: one to the right and one to the left. This supreme mystery is the two diagrams placed to the right and to the left of the Greatest Name upon the stone of the noble ring: this is the mystery of the appearance of the Beauty of Abha and of the Supreme Highness (the Bab). And though these two diagrams at the right and the left have the form of stars, they also represent the body of man, with the head, the two arms and the two legs, since this diagram has five points.

(Compilations, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 479)

Of course for us it has significance as the number "5" has a meaning with each Arabic letter signifying the numerical value of the "Bab"

B = 2
A = 1
B = 2
5
 

Caladan

Agnostic Pantheist
Can we first perhaps look into who considers it an evil symbol? Is it a North American trend among certain brands of Christianity?
Other parts of the world have no negative misconceptions about the symbol, some even cherish it.
For example, the five pointed star is at the center of Morocco's flag:

mo-lgflag.gif


Here is a pentagram on Ethiopia's flag:

800px-Flag_of_Ethiopia.svg.png


Here is a photo I took of a 2nd century BCE Judaic Hasmonean pentagram:

judeanpentagram2.jpg
 
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