There are many symbols that represent religion, some of which are seen as fashion or jewelry that followers of a particular religion bear with pride. But some of these attributes can reveal a lot about the beliefs of someone wearing them, and a lot of them are somewhat misunderstood. The following are a few of the most well-known religious emblems of which the meanings appear to be unclear to many people.

Bindi is a religious symbol that symbolizes marital status in some cultures and in others it is a more spiritual decoration. "It's called a Bindi" said one of the few students I talked to who had some knowledge of Indian culture. The word Bindi refers to a drop or a dot of some kind and is an emblem worn particularly in Southeast Asia. "Isn't it a point where energy exits. or enters?" asked running start student Zach Thomas.

The truth is this fashionable jewel that followers of Tantrism wear between their eye brows is placed at the "seat of concealed wisdom" and is believed to help retain good energy and strengthen concentration.

The pentagram is a common symbol that is more complex in meaning than most people realize. Student Sarah Jacobs commented that she thought the pentagram was a "pagan symbol," but that was the extent of her knowledge of the star shaped image.

The complicated meanings of this particular symbol are spread through more than five different religions. Christianity uses the pentagram as a symbol of the five wounds of Christ, while Mormonism applies the structure of the image to temple architecture. Pagan religions sometimes view the symbol as a representation of the four elements with "the spirit" as the uppermost point. In this context, the emblem is believed to ward off evil. Another, completely different version of the pentagram is the inscribed version that can be found in a double circle and containing an image of the head of a goat. In this version the three points at the bottom symbolize a rejection of the holy trinity while the entire image represents religious rebellion or identification. A common place to find the pentagram is in Judaism. According to the Jewish community, the star is the official seal of the city of Jerusalem, not to be confused with the Star of David, which is similar in shape but represents something completely different.

Originally named Magen David, referring to god and meaning the "Shield of David," the Star of David acknowledges that the mighty king David was triumphant in his battle due to the assistance of the Almighty God.

Another Jewish symbol is called a yamika, which is a round or diamond shaped hat that Jewish men wear to dignify manhood.

Ichthus is the Greek word meaning "fish." The Ichthus wheel is a symbol made up of the Greek letters that spell Ichthus; Iota, Chi, Theta, Upsilon, and Sigma (IXOYE) stacked on top of one another. The letters stand for Jesus Christ Son of God, Savior. The Ichthus fish is commonly found on car bumpers and represents the belief in Christ.

In ancient Rome, during times of Christian persecution, the fish was used as a secret symbol for one to offer a promise to a fellow Christian that the secret of their faith is safe. Today the Ichthus fish is proudly shown in order to praise courageous Christian ancestors.

Recently a controversy surfaced regarding a scarf called a Keffiyah, which is evidently a cultural symbol in Palestine and was incorrectly introduced to America's fashion world as an anti-war scarf. Dominic "Pinky" Abante, who works at Wilson Leather, a distributer of the scarf, said that he "saw it at work and said 'ooh that's sexy!'" The Keffiyah was being sold in other stores like Urban Outfitters and was available in many colors.

In the origin of these controversial fashion items, the colors each represent something different, according to student Maria Arismendz. "Red means a trip to the Haj," she said. None of the color's meanings have anything to do with being against war however, and that raises the question; "Why does the Keffiyah mean something different in America?" The answer according to the Palestinian youth is simple; the symbol of Middle Eastern nationalism was badly misrepresented as an American statement and a fashion trend.

These symbols are a few of many that have been misunderstood in some way or another. They are symbols of religious pride and some have very deep meanings for people who follow the faith that the symbol represents. Be proud of your religion and bear symbolism with courage. And when you see unfamiliar symbols look for the real meaning and don't settle for an ignorant write off, as such can create discrimination and religious intolerance in your mind. Be open to other religions in hopes that those people will be open to yours.