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Lent Day 23: Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 21-30

...ns by our faith, they will come with stronger powers to try and bring fear through terrible visions and dreams and false prophecies. But through the power of Christ, these demons are displaced “like serpents and scorpions to be trodden underfoot by us Christians”. But even so, despite this they will try all the more to distract and deceive the Christian, causing noise and music and sleepless nights by rousing us awake at all hours, sometimes taking on the appearance of holy men or angels in order to trick us into listening to their lies. Even if, Anthony says, they take on the appearance of seemingly godly beings or people, and even if they speak things whi...

Lent: Day 2 - Mathetes to Diognetus, pt. 1

...Day two: Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus: Chaps. 1-6 Who: Anonymous author, “mathetes” is not a name, but is the Greek word for “a disciple” What: possibly one of the earliest examples of a Christian apologetic defending the faith from its accusers, written to someone interested in learning more about the faith and its customs Why: The Christian faith was under attack and ridicule in the early centuries, many things about the Church were misunderstood and so various Christians took to writing apologetic's (defences) to clarify doctrines and beliefs from being maligned. When: Estimated between AD 130 and late 2nd century I've only ever come acros...

7 things the Lord hates (spoiler: questioning doctrine isn't one of them)

...ot "blind faith" (as much as some would try to say otherwise), but is based on the teachings and actions of a real man and was spread by the testimonies and accounts of eye-witnesses. Even before Jesus, the Psalmist declared, "O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him" (Ps 34:8) — that's a challenge right there to do something, to actually try your faith and see that God is there and real. This faith is a demonstrable one. But I digress. As to the title of this post: Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things that the Lord hates,    seven that are an abom...

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

...symbol of faith, pointing to its evergreen nature as a representation of eternal life in Christ. He is said to have declared: “This little tree, a young child of the forest, shall be your holy tree tonight. It is the wood of peace… It is the sign of an endless life, for its leaves are ever green. See how it points upward to heaven. Let this be called the tree of the Christ-child; gather about it, not in the wild wood, but in your own homes; there it will shelter no deeds of blood, but loving gifts and rites of kindness.” This powerful imagery resonated with the local populace, facilitating their conversion to Christianity and embedding the fir tree into...

A Historic Easter Change Is Coming — But Will Protestants Get On Board?

...et of the faith, as Jesus prayed for us in John 13:34–35 and 17:21–23. I do wonder how it will affect the commercialisation side of things too and whether secular society will follow suit with the changes. Interesting times ahead, it seems! Sources and Further Reading Pope Francis: The Catholic Church is willing to accept a common date for Easter in the East and West | America Magazine Archbishop Justin Welby hopes for fixed Easter date — BBC News Justin Welby: Archbishop of Canterbury quits over abuse scandal — BBC News Creedal Christians: The Nicene Creed | The Sacred faith: Timeless Truths for Modern Minds Council of Nicea, AD 325...

The World's Oldest Anti-Christian Meme

...m for his faith. The message is clear enough: your god is an animal, a criminal, a joke. You’re worshipping a crucified fool. But here’s the thing I discovered: the donkey head wasn’t as random as I always thought it was. It wasn’t some strange personal insult conjured from nowhere. Without knowing the background, it looks bizarre, and possibly random. Why a donkey? Once you understand the cultural context, though, it makes complete sense. The person who drew it was reaching for a well-worn, widely recognised slur — the ancient equivalent of an internet meme that any Roman would have immediately understood. Where the Donkey Slur Came From The st...