Religious Decorations in Contemporary Faith Communities: Typology, Functions, and Examples

This study surveys religious decorations and awards across Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. It proposes a typology (personal adornments, liturgical/ritual objects, and sacred-space adornments), analyzes notable cases such as the Order of Spiritual Equality, the Benemerenti Medal, the Order of the Holy Lamb, and devotional medals, and discusses social-religious functions (symbolic, didactic, ritual, identity-building, protective, and aesthetic/inspirational). The paper argues that religious decorations are integral to lived religion, materializing beliefs, shaping worship, and supporting interfaith dialogue and community cohesion.