Living systems persist by filtering inputs relative to reference states that define continuation criteria. In non-linguistic systems, these reference states are chemically or perceptually grounded. This work demonstrates that language creates a new ontological domain—symbolic space—in which continuation can be defined and pursued independently of chemical substrate. Once language enables symbolic self-representation, the filtering loop's reference slot can be occupied by linguistic constructs rather than chemical or perceptual states. The system then filters for symbolic continuation while chemistry provides execution substrate and bears energetic costs. This mechanism operates across a continuous spectrum. Mild cases involve low-cost trade-offs (brand consumption for status signaling). Severe cases involve significant chemical costs (burnout, extreme dieting). Terminal cases involve complete override of chemical continuation (martyrdom, severe anorexia). All represent the same underlying principle: filtering correctly executed relative to symbolic reference rather than chemical continuation. This framework unifies phenomena previously treated separately: religious behavior, consumer economics, identity-driven self-sacrifice, cultural evolution, and pathological self-harm. It generates falsifiable predictions about species boundaries, developmental emergence, and cross-cultural patterns. The work is grounded in Filtering Framework: Filtering Using Chemistry for Self-Continuation (FUCSC), Filtering Power Theory (FPT), and Filtering Accounting Law (FAL), extending these principles to language-enabled systems.