Gathering Of Dedicated Scribblers discussion

Hi. Strange ask, but i want to use some Buddhist symbolism (specifically the Lotus) in my Sci Fi story. I want to be accurate and just as importantly, want to not offend anyone. I'm a 100% anglo-westerner who has very little knowledge the belief system.

Specifically: only a few thousand people are left after a cataclysmic event. Many generations later, a new religion (an amalgam of many religions) is formed. I'd like to use the Lotus and Fire/Red colors to aspirationally symbolize a rebirth from destruction (similar to the classic phoenix symbol). I understand Red also relates to compassion and love. Would it be offensive to use this? would there be a better Eastern religious/philosophy symbol?

Thanks in advance!

I'm not a Buddhist practitioner so I cannot answer for that however, I think if you are not directly making fun of or using the symbol in a negative way, it should not be offensive but that is my opinion.

You can also look at:
A triskelion or triskeles.
The Japanese Sakura flower
The Celts believed the serpent was a symbol for rebirth, you could always use an artistic form of a red snake or even a snake with phoenix wings.
An Ouroboros?
The symbol of the third paradise.
The symbol of a butterfly chrysalis. They are sometimes revered as symbols of rebirth since the caterpillar changes into something beautiful.
You could also create your own symbol like an upside down scythe. The blade is down to represent death and the staff goes up into a tree representing life.

Hopefully something in there helps, but I think you could use your lotus without anyone becoming offended if its used in the way you are speaking of.