Sign or Symbol?

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Sign or Symbol?
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Sign

• Refers to any object that represents something
  else
• Usually has one simple meaning
• It is always that meaning

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Signs
A stop sign always means STOP
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Signs
A SIGNature is always a sign of someones name
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Signs
American Sign Language
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Symbols

• Like a sign, refers to any object that represents
  something else
• Is more complex than a simple sign
• Three characteristics that distinguish a sign
  from a symbol
• A symbol may have more than one meaning
• What a symbol stands for is connected to what it
  is
• A symbol evokes more than one kind of response
  from us

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Two Main Types of Symbols

• Universal Symbol

• Cultural Symbol

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Symbolic vs. Literal Thinking

• Symbolic thinking calls us to think outside the
  box rather than literally.
• Symbolic thinking allows us to describe
  emotional, intellectual, moral, and spiritual
  experiences.
• Literal thinking You scored more points than
  anyone else last night!
• Symbolic thinking You were on fire last night!

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Sign, Symbol, or Both?
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Sign, Symbol, or Both?
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Sign, Symbol or Both?
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Can a Person be a Symbol?
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Routine or Ritual?

• Routine
• Repeated, practical actions with one meaning and
  purpose
• Brushing your teeth
• Morning routine
• Workout program
• Daily school schedule
• Rotating, special, assembly, single blockthese
  break the routine
• Any other examples?

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Routine or Ritual?

• Ritual
• Symbolic actions that help us concretely or
  physically express our beliefs, values, or
  concerns
• Like routines, rituals have repeated actions
• Usually involve the whole community
• Important movements, events and celebrations
• Making the Sign of the Cross
• Birthday party, Thanksgiving dinner
• Olympic Opening Ceremony, Presidential
  Inauguration
• Mass, the Sacraments
• Reconciliation, Baptism, Anointing, Ordination
• Any other examples?

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Routine or Ritual?

• Routines are often mistakenly called rituals
• The morning ritual
• Rituals can often become routines
• Example Sunday Mass, the same actions and order
  repeated over and over, can lose its special
  meaning.
• How can we make a ritual (like Mass) more
  meaningful?