Religious - History Defined

How Did We End Up with So Many Translations of the Bible?

Studying the Bible is fundamentally an act of faith. However, given the numerous translations and versions available, it also allows for a fascinating exploration of theology and linguistics. Each version or translation can illuminate new shades of meaning, highlight certain theological aspects, and invoke new insights for the reader’s understanding of the scripture. While the […]

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Saint Augustine and His Treatise On Grace and Free Will

Saint Augustine is credited by many to be the greatest thinker of Christian antiquity. Today, he is credited with synthesizing the religious principles of the Bible and prevailing Greek philosophy. He then presented it in a manner comprehensible to both medieval Roman Catholics and Renaissance Protestants. Ironically, however, in his time, Saint Augustine was considered

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History of Rosh HaShanah: The Jewish New Year Festival

The New Year celebrated in most parts of the world is January 1 of the Gregorian Calendar. While it doesn’t explicitly say that it’s the Christian New Year, the Gregorian Calendar was instituted by Pope Gregory XIII through a papal bull or edict in 1582. However, different cultures and religions have different New Years: This

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Kingdom of Shambhala: The Mystical City and Way of Life

Shambhala is a mythical place in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Europeans sought for years to find this much-talked-about location, but it does not exist on the physical plane. Speaking of Shambhala in 1985, the 14th Dalai Lama said: Although those with special affiliation may actually be able to go there through their karmic connection,

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The Rise and Decline of Religious Group, the Shakers

They were first formed as the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearance. However, because of their unique way of dancing to show worship, along with their actions when they prayed, they simply became known over time as “The Shakers.” They were also known for singing in tongues, whirling, and shouting during services. The

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The Surprising Examples of Easter’s Pagan Roots

Easter is primarily known as a Christian celebration that honors the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, not every Easter tradition is strictly Christian. For example, children enjoy the Easter bunny while hunting for colored eggs. How exactly did the eggs become part of the tradition? It has a lot to do with the pagan roots of

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History and Customs of the Jewish Holiday, Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year for people of the Jewish faith. Beginning in the evening, ten days after the start of the Jewish New Year, called Rosh Hashanah, the holiday is supposed to be a day of prayer, fasting, forgiveness, and humility for all Jews worldwide. But what exactly is Yom

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What was life like in Ancient, Pre-Roman Gaul?

Gaul was a region in Europe inhabited by a number of tribes. It was eventually absorbed into the Roman Empire. This region in the present day contains the countries of France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Northern Italy, and parts of the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland. Little is known of life in pre-Roman Gaul, because there are virtually

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Why Is the King James Bible the Most Popular Version?

Do you know what version of the Bible you have at home? Because there are loads of them! The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, with at least five billion copies sold since 1500. Even the Guinness Book of World Records cannot ascertain how many Bibles have been sold since it was standardized

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The Failure and Legacy of the Bloody Taiping Rebellion

While the American Civil War brewed, boiled over, and was resolved, another rebellion was taking place halfway across the world that was far more deadly. As China opened its borders to the rest of the world, the Chinese government lost the faith of its people. Political, social, and economic turbulence arose and sent the country

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