Sacred Symbols and Hate Symbols: Understanding the Difference – Protecting What Matters
- Dr. Ragini Sharma
- Apr 25
- 5 min read
Updated: May 1
Introduction
Symbols hold immense power – they help shape our identities, connect us to our heritage, and carry the legacies of entire civilizations. Yet when sacred symbols are misunderstood or misused – especially in multicultural societies – the consequences can be deeply harmful.
Today, we face a critical challenge: ensuring that sacred symbols are recognized and respected for their true meaning, while hate symbols are rightly condemned. This is not only a matter of cultural literacy but of justice, dignity, and inclusion. By fostering education and interfaith partnerships, we have the opportunity to dispel confusion, combat hate, and protect both the integrity of sacred traditions and the safety of vulnerable communities.
The Swastika and the Hakenkreuz: Understanding the Difference
Too often in Western discourse, the word Swastika has been appropriated to refer to the scourge of Nazism and its genocidal ideology. This usage has caused pain, confusion, and marginalization for millions whose faiths hold the Swastika as sacred. To correct this, we must understand the difference between the Swastika – a symbol of peace and prosperity used for millennia – and the Hakenkreuz – a twisted emblem of hate devised by the Nazi regime.
‘Swastika’ is a Sanskrit word which means wellbeing and good fortune. It’s a sacred symbol and word which has been continuously used by billions of Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains since ancient times. The symbol commonly adorned homes, businesses, temples and shrines for millennia as a symbol of auspiciousness. The word Swastika is also used in certain prayers and chants, or even as a birth name.
In the 1920s, the Nazis adopted the Hakenkreuz to represent their movement. In September 1935, the Nazi Party officially adopted an emblem containing the Hakenkreuz as the imperial and national flag of the Third Reich. This symbol contains features that render it distinct from the sacred Swastika and has become synonymous with hate and bigotry. Visually, the sacred Swastika is typically oriented flat with arms pointing clockwise or counterclockwise, and may include decorative dots or embellishments, while the Nazi Hakenkreuz is rotated 45 degrees (tilted on its point), rigid in design, and set within a white circle on a red background.
Hitler only referred to the Nazi symbol as the ‘Hakenkreuz,’ meaning “hooked cross” in German. However, later English translations of Mein Kampf led to the false and wrongful association of the Swastika with the Nazi hate symbol in the West for decades. We must not allow the continued conflation of this symbol of peace with an icon of hate.
Recognizing these distinctions is not just a matter of historical accuracy – it’s about preserving dignity for communities who have been unfairly vilified due to misunderstanding and misinformation.
Why Symbol Literacy Matters
Ignorance around the meaning of symbols has real-world consequences. For example, Hindu families displaying the Swastika at Diwali may all face suspicion, hostility, or worse – not because of what the symbol truly means, but because of how it is misperceived.
In the case of the Swastika, this ignorance has led to vandalism, discrimination, and calls to ban a symbol deeply rooted in love and light.
Symbol literacy – understanding the origin, intent, and cultural meaning of religious or political symbols – must be prioritized in our schools, our media, and our policies. In an era where misinformation spreads rapidly, equipping people with the tools to distinguish sacred from profane is essential.
A Shared Goal: Banning Hate Symbols Like the Hakenkreuz
Upholding religious freedom and protecting public safety are not opposing goals – they are intertwined. While it is vital to preserve the rights of communities to practice their faith and express their heritage, we must also draw a firm and unambiguous line against hate.
Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain communities have voiced strong – and united – support for banning the public display and promotion of hate symbols, including the Hakenkreuz. This united front was recently underscored when major organizations from these communities endorsed B’nai Brith Canada’s call to ban Nazi symbols, while affirming the need to protect the sacred Swastika from misrepresentation.
This movement is not about censorship – it is about creating spaces where no one is targeted or terrorized because of their identity.
Canada has an opportunity to follow the lead of countries such as Germany, France, Austria, and Australia, where Nazi-era symbols are criminalized. Notably, Australia is the only country where the Nazi hate symbol is legally banned and explicitly referred to as the Hakenkreuz, with the law clearly delinking it from the sacred Swastika. Such legal clarity is not only possible – it’s essential for ensuring justice is done without inflicting collateral harm on minority communities.
Examples of Interfaith Collaboration in Action
Across Canada and around the world, interfaith coalitions have stepped up to counter misinformation – denounce hate – and educate the public. These efforts include public awareness campaigns, school visits, town halls, and shared religious celebrations that explain the significance of sacred symbols and rituals.
When a local community group or city council considers banning symbols, faith leaders from diverse backgrounds have joined together to explain the difference between the Hakenkreuz and the Swastika – and advocate for inclusive, respectful policy.
These moments of collaboration show what is possible when communities come together not just to defend their own traditions, but to uphold the dignity of others.
Conclusion
When we have respectful and courageous dialogue – we can learn the truth. When we understand one another’s symbols – we build trust. When we stand together against hate – we build strength. Canada has long prided itself on being a diverse, inclusive country. But with that pride comes responsibility – to learn, to educate, and to protect.
Together, we can ensure that this country remains one where all communities feel seen, respected, and safe. That means honouring the sanctity of sacred symbols – and unequivocally rejecting those born of hatred.
Let us build a society where literacy leads to empathy – and where no symbol of peace is ever mistaken for a symbol of harm.
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Additional Resources
Swastika Awareness Coalition – www.UnderstandingSwastika.org
A growing resource hub to educate the public on the cultural and religious significance of the swastika across Eastern traditions.
Call to Action
Our communities support banning Nazi hate symbols. Sign the petition urging the Government of Canada to ban the public display of the Nazi hooked cross (Hakenkreuz) and other Nazi iconography.
About the Author
Dr. Ragini Sharma is the President of the Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education (COHHE). COHHE works to educate and advocate against Hindu-Hate and engage the Hindu community members to participate in spreading awareness about the Hindu tradition, including the positive contributions of Hindus to Canada and Hindu civilization to the world. Learn more on their website. COHHE is also a proud member of the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism (ALCCA).
With contributions from staff at the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism (ALCCA).