Inductive Bible Study Symbols

I started out thinking “gee these ascii art arrows look a little tired” and I didn’t want to do symbol font again like I had in another study. So I drew arrows on paper and scanned them in and colored them in photoshop in contrasting colors to visually differentiate.

Causation (Therefore, For this Reason)

Substantiation (For, Because)

Comparison (Like, As)

I was having a more difficult time with Contrast, because I don’t like the ambiguity that it could be confused for a copyright symbol. So I tried several variants. I’ve also tried an X in a box but I didn’t try that one here.

“official” learned symbol for contrast

idea 2, “negated” comparison as they are unlike. Supposed to be similar to a not equals symbol.

idea 3, represent opposing ideas with a yin-yang (but might be offensive or inappropriate to some because of spiritual connotations to other religions?)

idea 4, contrast symbol with arrows out the sides. Clear enough, doesn’t look like a copyright. Will do for now.

And then I came up with some labels for different inductive question types:

Observation

Interpretation

Application

Coming up with these symbols and then labeling the questions I already had written was quite useful actually. Launched me into a whole study of learning more about inductive study and I learned some useful things that I will blog about later that was improving my study. Plus I could see where I wasn’t asking enough observations, etc.