One hand pointing upwards, the other downwards

[JosephineB]

According to Bing:

The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 33. The number 33 is connected to a promise or the promises of God. The 33rd time Noah's name is used in Scripture is when God makes a special covenant or promise with him.

[sky]

Theodoret (393–457) gave the following instruction:

This is how to bless someone with your hand and make the sign of the cross over them. Hold three fingers, as equals, together, to represent the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. These are not three gods, but one God in Trinity. The names are separate, but the divinity one. The Father was never incarnate; the Son incarnate, but not created; the Holy Ghost neither incarnate nor created, but issued from the Godhead: three in a single divinity. Divinity is one force and has one honor. They receive on obeisance from all creation, both angels and people. Thus the decree for these three fingers. You should hold the other two fingers slightly bent, not completely straight. This is because these represent the dual nature of Christ, divine and human. God in His divinity, and human in His incarnation, yet perfect in both. The upper finger represents divinity, and the lower humanity; this way salvation goes from the higher finger to the lower. So is the bending of the fingers interpreted, for the worship of Heaven comes down for our salvation. This is how you must cross yourselves and give a blessing, as the holy fathers have commanded.

Peter of Damascus (12th century) gave the following instruction:

Then we should also marvel how demons and various diseases are dispelled by the sign of the precious and life-giving Cross, which all can make without cost or effort. Who can number the panegyrics composed in its honor? The holy fathers have handed down to us the inner significance of this sign, so that we can refute heretics and unbelievers. The two fingers and single hand with which it is made represent the Lord Jesus Christ crucified, and He is thereby acknowledged to exist in two natures and one hypostasis or person.

The use of the right hand betokens His infinite power and the fact that He sits at the right hand of the Father. That the sign begins with a downward movement from above signifies His descent to us from heaven. Again, the movement of the hand from the right side to the left drives away our enemies and declares that by His invincible power the Lord overcame the devil, who is on the left side, dark and lacking strength.

Athanasius of Alexandria (269–373 A.D.)

By the signing of the holy and life-giving cross, devils and various scourges are driven away. For it is without price and without cost and praises him who can say it. The holy fathers have, by their words, transmitted to us, and even to the unbelieving heretics, how the two raised fingers and the single hand reveal Christ our God in His dual nature but single substance. The right hand proclaims His immeasurable strength, His sitting on the right hand of the Father, and His coming down unto us from Heaven. Again, by the movement of the hands to our right the enemies of God will be driven out, as the Lord triumphs over the Devil with His inconquerable power, rendering him dismal and weak.

[ThatMan]

Originally Posted by sky123

At the end of a Mass the Priest will finish with a Benediction using a Mudra also making the sign of the cross is another Mudras...

I see... Interesting, so many christians don't have a clue about the actual meaning of their christian paintings, my aunt has at least 4 and I was always really intrigued with this thing, if God is spirit, then why do you need objects as symbols of God.

I see, well, no problem, thanks anyway!

[ThatMan]

Originally Posted by JosephineBloggs

According to Bing:

The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 33. The number 33 is connected to a promise or the promises of God. The 33rd time Noah's name is used in Scripture is when God makes a special covenant or promise with him.

Interesting!!

[JosephineB]

TM, where is the Satan and the children statue?

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by ThatMan

I noticed that Christ and the christian saints, Buddha, Krishna and even Satan ( and probably many other religious figures ) are depicted with one hand pointing upwards and one hand pointing downwards, so it appears.

I leave here some images:






What is the meaning of this? I've been always very reticent when it comes to the use of paintings to illustrate religious figures or heavenly beings, I simply reject them as being man made and of no use.

I leave this here because many christians ( at least in my country ) have some sort of affection of these paintings and they have no idea about what I am showing you here.

Let's discuss more about this.

Surprising, early Christians did not make images of Jesus: this came later along with a lot of other beliefs. the Bible, surprisingly enough, condemns such things. It is known as idolatry.

[UniverseWonder]

Not really sure what it means, Maybe have to do some research but my general opinion is that you have 2 options in life

Either Go Up Or go Down, that's your choice.

Hence The up hand and hand down, yin and yang.

The binary universal system.

[sky]

Originally Posted by ThatMan

I see... Interesting, so many christians don't have a clue about the actual meaning of their christian paintings, my aunt has at least 4 and I was always really intrigued with this thing, if God is spirit, then why do you need objects as symbols of God.

I see, well, no problem, thanks anyway!

You don't need them but you enjoy looking at them as you look at Photos of loved one's who are not with you....

[ThatMan]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Surprising, early Christians did not make images of Jesus: this came later along with a lot of other beliefs. the Bible, surprisingly enough, condemns such things. It is known as idolatry.

I know, yet even the early christians used symbols like the cross, and this symbol pre-existed before Christ.

[ThatMan]

Originally Posted by UniverseWonder

Not really sure what it means, Maybe have to do some research but my general opinion is that you have 2 options in life

Either Go Up Or go Down, that's your choice.

Hence The up hand and hand down, yin and yang.

The binary universal system.

Christ talked about that He is from above ( heavens ) and we are from below ( Earth ). ( John 8:23 ).