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BOOK REVIEW: Four Views on Hell 2nd edition

...literary elements, to suggest otherwise… Even if we grant that it is possibly the case that Satan and his minions literally suffer forever, we must be sure to note that Revelation teaches only that they do.”25 This CI exegesis of Rev 14 & 20 is more thoroughly outlined by Joey Dear here26 and here27 as well as by Chris Date:28 but also advocated by Ian Paul in his recent Tyndale NY Commentary29. Burk winds up his essay with a not-so-subtle threat: “Anyone who argues against what Scripture teaches is arguing against God. And that is not a position any disciple wants to be in.” (42) Surely, since the Reformation, it has been incumbent on Evangeli...

The Historic Practice of Abortion and How Ancient Christians Responded

...er to the elements or wild animals. Christians were notorious for collecting and saving these children, adopting them into their own families and the support of the local churches. Tertullian (c. AD 197) speaks of pagans “exposing” their children and how they get taken up by compassionate passers-by if they get found in time. Children were often exposed, Lactantius (c. AD 304) explains, if the parents were “too pious” to strangle their newborn infant! In 361, Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate wrote a letter to the pagan high-priest Arsacius complaining that the Christians were showing up the state by being too kind to everyone with their acts of charity...

Jesus Like You've Never Seen Before - Discoveries from Early Christian Art

...specific elements for particular theological reasons, rather than being a literal representation of the figure. I hope this exploration of early Christian art and the evolving depictions of Jesus proves interesting and informative as it offers an engaging look into the intersection of history, art, and theology.   Further Reading What do the hand gestures in icons mean? (aleteia.org) Jesus Holding a Magic Wand? — Biblical Archaeology Society Jesus the Magician? Why Jesus Holds a Wand in Early Christian Art · The BAS Library Christ Pantocrator (Sinai) — Wikipedia The Sacred Faith (@lukejwilsonauthor) | TikTok Earliest known depiction o...

Debunking the Crusades: 5 Myths You Probably Believe

...re 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 genuine understanding.   Further Reading Madden, Thomas F. The New Concise History of the Crusades. Rowman & Littlefield, 2005. A comprehensive, balanced overview o...

From Paradise to Presents: The Christian Story Behind the Christmas Tree

...t notable elements of this feast was the “Paradise Tree,” used in mystery plays and home displays to symbolise the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. These trees, typically evergreen, were decorated with apples to represent the forbidden fruit and wafers symbolising the Eucharist. This imagery reflected both humanity’s fall into sin and God’s redemptive plan through Christ. The Paradise Tree served as a visual catechism of sorts, teaching the story of salvation from the Fall to the Redemption. In a later tradition the wafers were replaced by cookies of various shapes, and candles, symbolic of Jesus as the light of the world, were often added to th...

Doubting Defying Jihad: Questioning the Popular Conversion Story

...f the key elements of her account before that time. As a result, I am writing this article to draw attention to the aspects that raise suspicion. According to “Esther’s” story, she was raised in Pakistan where she was sent to an extremist madrassa (or Muslim school) for girls, there they were shown images of victims of violence and told that Christians and Jews were responsible - the emphasis on Jews and particularly Christians by a militant group based in Pakistan is strange. All the terrorist groups in Pakistan direct their efforts towards Hindus (especially in Kashmir) or other Muslims, since Christians are such a tiny minority there. Things rapidly...