Article – Light

Light in Religion: Symbol of the Divine

There is one source of light, the sun, which illuminates everything, just as most religions consider God to be light, a single source from which all things emanate and into which all merge back. Not only is light central to our everyday life, but it is also a core concept in most religions, representing the visible manifestation of divine light.

Light in the Bible

In the Hebrew Bible, there are many significant instances of light, starting with the famous proclamation of God early on in Genesis: “Let there be light.” In the New Testament, Jesus proclaims, “I am the light of the world.” The Apostles’ Creed calls Jesus “lumen de lumine,” i.e., “Light derived from light.”

Light in Zoroastrianism

The Zoroastrian Fire Temple is built around a sacred light that burns all the time. 

Light in Islam

The Qur’an states that God is the light of the heavens and the earth. Islam and Baha’i writings both frequently evoke images of God as the light of a lamp or lantern. Muslims believe that angels who are messengers of God are also luminous beings. 

Light in Hinduism and Buddhism

In Hindu and Buddhist thought, our guiding light is found within.

Ceremonial use of light in various liturgies is commonly seen in Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Zoroastrian and Hindu celebrations. Lighting a lamp or incense is the way to start the ritual of prayer in many faiths.

The Symbolism of Light Across Religions

Light symbolizes life, divinity, purity, hope, guidance, spiritual wisdom, and truth. It is hardly surprising that light is used as a powerful symbol in virtually every religion. Light can dispel darkness but darkness cannot dispel light. We become enlightened when we can ‘see’ the inner self or our divinity. While the sun’s light illuminates our external world, knowledge illuminates our inner world. Just as the sun gives light to us all, the same divine light shines through each and every one of us, irrespective of our religious beliefs.