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Lent Day 28: Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 71-80

Day Twenty-eight: St. Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 71-80 Who: Bishop of Alexandria; Confessor and Doctor of the Church; born c. 296; died 2 May, 373 AD. He was the main defender of orthodoxy in the 4th-century battle against the Arianism heresy. Certain writers received the title “Doctor” on account of the great advantage their doctrine had on the whole Church, Athanasius especially for his doctrine on the incarnation. What: The biography of Anthony the Great’s life, which helped to spread the concept of Christian monasticism, particularly in Western Europe. Why: From the letter’s own prologue: “The life and conversation of our holy Father...

Man-Made Tradition vs Apostolic Tradition

...e through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.   This is often something quoted as a backup to arguing against traditions. Paul’s warnings here are quite valid, we should be careful what we believe and follow as Christians. This is a warning against "man made traditions" but what if I told you that Paul also tells the churches to FOLLOW traditions too? 1 Corinthians 11:2I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you.2 Thessalonians 2:15So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold f...

Jesus was a pagan copy, and other Christmas myths

...It's that time of year again when certain groups of people like to share memes and videos that apparently "prove" Jesus to be a carbon-copy of ancient Egyptian gods. This has been debunked so many times, yet it's still so pervasive on social media, mindlessly shared over and over again. This myth about Jesus being a copy of other pagan "dying-and-rising gods" doesn't have its roots in Egyptian legend, but rather in the claims of a film called Zeitgeist. A quick search online will bring up many websites which have gone through the claims of this film with a fine tooth comb, and debunked each one. Here's one such example, which lists out the major claims and giv...

Debunking the Crusades: 5 Myths You Probably Believe

...science, philosophy, and art. The Crusades were complex events that cannot be reduced to simple narratives of good versus evil, greed, or religious fanaticism. While there were indeed elements of violence, mismanagement, and greed, many participants were driven by deep spiritual convictions. Likewise, the Crusades were not a monolithic war between Christians and Muslims; they involved a wide array of political, social, and economic factors that reshaped both Europe and the Middle East. Overly simplistic views, such as those behind the 1999 Reconciliation Walk, can obscure the true nature of these historical events and reinforce myths, rather than promoting g...

Does Easter Have Pagan Origins?

...Much like any major Christian holiday, there are the usual arguments and accusations about how it’s all just pagan festivities with a “Christian mask”. Easter is no different, and usually gets hit the hardest over its so-called “pagan roots”, or in the month or so preceding it, Lent being some “invention of the Catholic Church”. Table of Contents The Lenten Fast The Easter controversy and why we celebrate it when we do Is the Name “Easter” really the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre? Chocolate eggs and bunnies? Concluding Thoughts Further Reading and Sources I like to try and observe Lent, as it is one of the most ancient custom...