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Debunking the Crusades: 5 Myths You Probably Believe

...in their medieval context — marked by political, religious, and social complexities that differ greatly from today’s values. Apologising for historical events centuries after the fact, particularly when based on simplistic views, overlooks these nuances and can reinforce myths rather than dispelling them. Here are five common myths about the Crusades, along with the historical truth behind them:   Myth 1: The Crusades were an unprovoked attack by Christians on a peaceful Muslim world. Truth: While it’s true that the Crusades were initiated by the Latin Christian West, they were largely in response to Muslim expansion. By the time of the First C...

Scientist Uncovers Hidden 1,750-Year-Old New Testament Translation with Ultraviolet Imaging

...A scientist has reportedly uncovered an ancient translation containing sections of the Gospel of Matthew, believed to be the sole surviving evidence of the fourth manuscript supporting the Old Syriac version of the Gospels. The research team, which includes medieval expert Grigory Kessel from the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), employed ultraviolet imaging to reveal the ancient translation concealed beneath three layers of text. The research, published last month in the journal New Testament Studies, presents an interpretation of Matthew 11:30 to Matthew 12:26, initially translated as part of the Old Syriac translations around 1,500 years ago. According...

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

...The Christmas tree is one of the most recognisable symbols of the festive season, adorning homes, churches, and public spaces with its evergreen beauty. But where did this tradition originate, and how did it become a central feature of Christmas celebrations? Looking into the history of the Christmas tree has turned out to be a fascinating historical story woven from various cultural and theological strands. The Paradise Tree and the Feast of Adam and Eve The connection between the Christmas tree and the Feast of Adam and Eve offers a large clue into its origins. In medieval Europe, December 24th was observed as the feast day of Adam and Eve, a commemoration t...

Rob Bell's “Love Wins” (Review)

...Book review on Rob Bell's “Love Wins” (originally written March 2013) This book was quite openly condemned by some prominent Christian leaders when the book was first announced back around Spring 2011, mainly mainly accusing Bell of being a universalist and denying the existence of hell. Lots of leaders formed opinions about the book and thus lots and laypeople took on various opinions as their own without much insight or research. The problem was that these leaders hadn't even READ the book! It wasn't released yet at the time. They decided their opinions based on the blurb and promo video which posed provocative questions about the doctrine of hell. Th...

BOOK REVIEW: Four Views on Hell 2nd edition

...at such a medieval, even feudal idea is invalid for modern times, since it is not only the status of the offended but of the offender that carries weight in law (e.g. an adult who hits the President incurs a harsher penalty than, say, a child who hits him). One reviewer also notices Burk’s shortcoming: “Burk’s essay began with a glaring problem: he argues that an offense against an infinite God demands an infinite punishment. Nowhere in Scripture is this logic supported (it seems completely untenable to anything but a limited atonement view, and even then, Christ did not die an infinite punishment in the elect’s place)…In this regard, Burk’s...

The Resurrection as a historical event

...not be a medieval forgery or piece of art! If you’ve not heard of this “Shroud of Turin”, it’s an ancient burial cloth which bears the image of a man who has been crucified, obviously meaning to be of Jesus. It attracts attention because of its unique nature and that it appears to be a negative image somehow imprinted on the cloth in an inexplicable way: Giulio Fanti of Padua University ... In 2012 … concluded that an electrical charge in the form of radiation is what likely caused the man’s image to be imprinted on the Shroud. He has also dated the Shroud to the time of Jesus, debunking the flawed carbon-14 testing conducted in 1988. You can...