The moon’s significance to Islam is astronomical: its cycles are the basis of months on the Islamic calendar, with the start of a month coinciding with the first sighting of a crescent moon after a new moon. The first sighting becomes especially significant around holy days, such as the Eids, and there are even Islamic committees that declare they saw the moon, so that feasting can officially commence. Islam contains more lunacy (sorry!) in its history, such as the claim that Muhammed split the moon.

Posted: December 13th 2008

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Neither is fully understood, or has a literal explanation anywhere near as straightforward as, for example, the crucifix.

The Star of David simply appears in ancient texts, and has been interpreted after the fact rather than having a settled “origin story”. We do know that it wasn’t always as directly associated with Judaism as a whole.

The star and crescent was an old Turkish symbol up to 1000 years before Islam emerged. The Ottoman Empire used to use it. Legend has it that the first emperor based it on a dream.

Posted: December 11th 2008

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