In "The Lost Symbol," the character Sato challenges her colleague by questioning whether students feel uneasy about Masons who engage in meditation with skulls and scythes. This illustrates a broader point about cultural perceptions and the tendency to misinterpret rituals across different belief systems.
The response highlights that such discomfort is similar to the misunderstandings surrounding other religions, like Christianity and Hinduism. This reflects how a lack of understanding of cultural symbols can lead to prejudice, emphasizing the need for openness and education about diverse practices and beliefs.