Symbols and Their Meaning

This book does not attempt to cover all Christian symbols, but it has a good drawing and a page of information about the 51 symbols it does cover. I am considering developing a Sunday School class based on this book.

Recent years have seen renewed interest in liturgical symbols in churches and Christian worship. Because of the increasingly visual nature of American culture, this trend is both inevitable and to be applauded. But just like learning to read words, one must be taught to "read" the visual elements of longstanding symbols. Norden's fine little book is an excellent primer. He covers 52 of the most familiar, and some less familiar, symbols of Christian faith. Each is treated in a single page which describes its origin in scripture or theology. The descriptions make fine devotional readings as well. I have used this book for developing retreats for two congregations, and both were enthusiastically received. All the symbols are presented in a consistent contemporary graphic arts oriented style. My only wish is that the credits had identified the artist who developed the representations of the symbols -- they are a major contribution to the book's usefulness and pleasing nature.