Use this tag for questions about the history of Christianity and the church.
5
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3answers
1k views
What is significant about the swaddling clothes with which Jesus was wrapped as a baby?
Luke gives the account of Jesus' birth and mentions that Mary wrapped Him in "swaddling cloths".
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling
cloths and laid him in a ...
11
votes
1answer
1k views
Where did Goliath come from?
The popular story of David and Goliath describes Goliath as very tall ("six cubits and a span"--apparently roughly 9 feet 9 inches, or 297cm). Most children are just told he was a "giant" in Sunday ...
7
votes
5answers
238 views
Was Jesus a poor man, in economic sense?
I saw a video of Cesar Vidal and he said, that probably, Jesus was a middle-high class in economic sense, during the period of life before public ministry. I need historical references.
8
votes
1answer
47 views
Where did the dates at the bottom of the pages in the Book of Mormon come from?
From these images of an original copy of the Book of Mormon, it appears that the dates and chapter summaries that appear in modern printings do not appear in the original.
When exactly did these ...
41
votes
10answers
2k views
Does wine really mean wine in the Bible?
In discussions I have had in the past over the acceptability of a Christian drinking alcohol I have heard that some 'dry' believers say that the wine in the Bible is not wine as we know it commonly ...
6
votes
3answers
173 views
What's the deal with oil?
If you look across the Bible, there are many instances where oil is used. The anointing of Saul and David; Jacob pouring oil over the rock where he had his dream of the staircase to heaven(?); Maria ...
6
votes
2answers
141 views
Was Billy Sunday the first evangelist to equate the “altar call” with salvation?
According to this article from the The Society for Effective Evangelism:
Up until Billy Sunday, altar calls were invitations for seekers to come to an after-meeting or inquiry room where ...
4
votes
1answer
62 views
Does an understanding of how the Bible was written, play a strong role in any Christian sect?
There is sometimes a misunderstanding or differing opinion of who wrote what in the Bible. Is this issue relevant to any particular Christian sect? Does the topic play an important role?
1
vote
1answer
131 views
How did the early church respond to the accusation that Christianity forbid ‘all uses of images’ even if only ‘representing the Divine Being’?
Origen. Contra Celsus BOOK VII. responds to an attack from Celsus on this issue, Celsus accuses Christians and being just like Jews in selecting all forms of images without exception.
In this ...
4
votes
2answers
115 views
Were the Waldensians like a Protestant church in the middle ages?
I do not know anything about the Waldensians. Specifically, do we actually know what their doctrine was and why the Catholic church opposed them?
7
votes
1answer
53 views
How much time did medieval Christians devote to prayer?
I was critiqued on this answer concerning it taking less time out of the day for someone to be a Muslim than a Christian, and that may be untrue for a majority of Christians today.
But how much ...
4
votes
3answers
230 views
What does the Bible have to say about dinosaurs?
Archaeology has found many dinosaur fossils. Does the Bible have anything to say about the existence of dinosaurs?
8
votes
1answer
112 views
How many witnesses are there who physically saw and/or touched the golden plates from which the Book of Mormon was reportedly translated?
I understand the Book of Mormon has a list of witnesses. However, I have heard that these witnesses may not have actually ever seen the gold plates that contained the original manuscripts for the ...
5
votes
3answers
201 views
What is God's shape or form?
How do we describe God? Does He have a shape or form? Is He human-like, a light, or something else? Does He have a shape? What does Christianity say about it?
5
votes
2answers
598 views
How many kinds of Catholics are there?
Until recently I was under the impression that Catholics are unanimous in their beliefs and don't have the kind of fragmentation that Protestants have.
But I’ve learned that there are several small ...
10
votes
4answers
287 views
When did the one-way monologue sermon first become a normal feature of church assemblies?
Of course Jesus preached a lot of monologue sermons, but I have noticed that Jesus did not usually preach sermons like nearly every church does today. He never seems to have, or at least rarely ...
13
votes
1answer
60 views
Are there any surviving hymns from the Valdensian movement?
The Valdensians preached and celebrated the Lords Supper in the native tongue of the people, not in Latin. However, every source I've read about their customs focus on what was spoken, and I also want ...
3
votes
2answers
120 views
When did the gathered church stop singing choruses?
I read a few years ago, that the early church (1st - 2nd century) would start their gatherings by singing choruses and that this went on for a while, before the rest of the liturgy.
Unfortunately, my ...
8
votes
2answers
354 views
Is it true that early Christians were baptised naked?
I was told that people were baptised naked in the early Christian church. Is this true? If so, could you provide references please? I would like to investigate this for myself.
Regards,
Walid
7
votes
2answers
146 views
What evidence is there that the Apostle Paul had been a member of the Sanhedrin?
I remember hearing someone make the claim that Paul had been a member of the Sanhedrin prior to his conversion to Christianity. Is there any evidence for this claim? If so, what is it?
4
votes
2answers
81 views
What is the basis for ascribing any fiscal policy to Jesus?
In the United States, specifically on the Right, many Republican / Tea-Party, Evangelical Christians have very little problem in ascribing a moral motive for a tight fiscal policy which restricts ...
8
votes
1answer
192 views
What are the arguments for the Exodus occuring in 1440BC or 1290BC?
There are two schools of thought on when the Exodus occurred, the "early" date of 1440BC, and the "later" date of 1290BC. How was each date arrived at, and what is the evidence for each?
4
votes
1answer
49 views
What is the origin of the doctrine of perspecuity?
Fundamentally, Catholics and Protestants read Scripture differently.
Catholics believe that any private interpretation of Scripture is subject to the teachings of the church, whereas Protestants, ...
13
votes
2answers
1k views
When did “tithing” come to mean “giving 10% of your gross income to the Church”?
I know the word "tithe" has "tenth" built into it, and so some Christians assume that every usage of the word "tithe" in Scripture is referring to "giving 10% of your gross income to the church." But ...
3
votes
1answer
83 views
Besides works versus grace and indulgences, what were the external practices of the Catholics that offended so many reformers?
My question is not focused on the doctrinal issue, but on the external practices which were contributing to the division. For example, I know there were many 'image breakers' similar to traditional ...
8
votes
3answers
123 views
Are there any Biblical prophecies that were understood before they were fulfilled?
In a recent discussion on this site, someone told me that the nature of Biblical Prophecy is such that it cannot be understood prior to its fulfillment; that this is essentially the point of a ...
4
votes
1answer
984 views
Why Lot's daughters seduced their father?
According to the Bible, when Lot escaped out of Zoar, he went up to the mountains and settled in a cave. While in there, he was seduced by his daughters so that they could bear children and save ...
7
votes
2answers
211 views
Why are the books of the Protestant Bible in the order that they are in?
I am curious why the books of the Protestant Bible are in the order that they are in?
Someone told me they thought the books were in some sort of chronological order - is that true? (I know the ...
8
votes
4answers
352 views
Was tithing 10% required or encouraged by the early church?
I cannot find in the New Testament an obligation on Christians to tithe 10% of their income. Instead I read that it is up the individual to decide:
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV1984)
Each man should ...
8
votes
2answers
149 views
According to reformed theology, why are certain important doctrines not “obvious”? [i.e. why does the Westminister Confession even exist?]
Consider the important doctrines of:
divinity of Christ
doctrine of Trinity
doctrine of predestination
Consider in general, that the Westminister Confession is shorter than most books of the ...
4
votes
2answers
151 views
When did the church in the city of Rome first try to impose a tradition on other churches?
Just wondering in what year the first historical record of the Church in Rome, against the wishes of other churches, that she should impose her tradition on them?
Note: I am simply looked for the ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
Where Catholicism lost influence and property during the reformation, what did Luther think should be done with the acquired assets?
As a man protesting against the mass of wealth accumulated by the Pope I was wondering what Luther proposed to do with all the lands and endowments obtained in those regions where the Catholic church ...
4
votes
1answer
38 views
How did Luther view pilgramages?
From what I understand there are many people from vaious denominations who imagine certain places on the earth are 'holier' than other places and that it is good to travel long distances to visit ...
2
votes
2answers
108 views
Why was Yeshoua interpreted as Jesus in the new Testament
Inspired by What is the significance of the name "Jesus"?, and previous readings about the name, the interpretation of Yeshoua means Joshua in the old testament and Jesus in the new ...
1
vote
3answers
123 views
When and why did the ancient church no longer care about offending a brother? [closed]
Anyone reading the New Testament becomes aware that the early church would avoid practices that offended their brother, out of a spirit of love. For example, even if it was not technically wrong to ...
12
votes
1answer
739 views
What is the significance of the inverted pentagram symbols on the LDS Temple in Salt Lake City?
The Temple in Salt Lake has several inverted pentagrams as decorations. (To see a few, just google "lds temple salt lake inverted pentagrams" and click on images. Or click here)
According to ...
2
votes
1answer
172 views
How do Reformed Theologians view Hypnosis?
In particular:
is it Biblical?
is it Demon possession?
is it basically a bad idea?
is it Orthogonal to Christianity? (i.e. the question is equivalent to "How do Reformed Theologists think about ...
1
vote
1answer
144 views
Is it true that Luther claimed Popes and priests commonly practiced sodomy?
This is a simple historical Q & A question regarding the rumor that Luther made this fairly inflammatory accusation. The question is simple. Is there any solid proof that Luther really thought ...
3
votes
1answer
134 views
How did Luther view 'confessing intentional sins' to a priest for forgiveness?
The Catholic church at the time of Luther had refined what they called the sacrament of penance. It consisted in contrition (genuine remorse for one’s sins), confession (to the priest), and ...
3
votes
1answer
75 views
When did a Catholic church council first recognize the need to forbid forcing or outwardly compelling unbelievers to the Christian faith?
We all know the sorrowful history of the subject. The very early church would have never felt a need to have a council on the subject, just as they would have been no council declaring that Christians ...
3
votes
1answer
69 views
Did John Bunyan really dream the dream, or was it equiv to “In a land far far away …”
Part 1
I'm referring to the story Pilgrim's Progress.
I believe it was written while John Bunyan was imprisoned.
The question is as follows:
Did he really literally dream this dream, and write it ...
5
votes
1answer
198 views
How did Luther view relics, like the 'preserved head of John the Baptist'?
According to wiki
Roman Catholic tradition holds that the head on display in San Silvestro in Capite in Rome is that of John the Baptist, discovered for the second time, as also maintained by ...
9
votes
3answers
496 views
Why is the word Lord in all Capital letters in the Old Testament but not in the new?
My friend asked me the other day why the word Lord is in all capital letters in the old testament but not the new testament? I tend to lean towards the fact that the old testament was written in ...
-3
votes
2answers
125 views
How did the Catholic canon that Christians could not 'share a meal with a Jew' differ in spirit from the Pharisees traditions concerning Gentiles? [closed]
Anyone who has studied the New Testament knows that possibly the greatest offense that the Jewish leaders had against Christ was that he did not respect their traditions. Jews at that time put the ...
0
votes
1answer
53 views
How did Calvin view the use of religious icons to facilitate worship of God?
Recently I was told in a chat room on this site that the use of icons in the church 'wasn't offensive to anyone'!? I was so amazed that anyone would ever say such a thing, but since I have never had ...
11
votes
3answers
224 views
Are there “rational” criteria for which books appear in the Bible?
When I looked into "canon criticism" or "canonology" a while back, I came across numerous (alleged) criteria for whether a book is/was included in canon, such as "Old Testament books had to be written ...
4
votes
1answer
60 views
How did Luther's view of Mary change after his new birth experience?
The question is as simple as the title. Did Luther have a minor alteration in his view of Mary, or a major one after being born again?
Note: By the way Luther did use the term 'born again' for some ...
-5
votes
2answers
137 views
Is it true that Christians and Jews were enemies for sacrifice of Jesus by Jews but later united against Muslims at Crusades?
This is what I heard and usually said in Islam.
I want to know if Christians verify this or not.
8
votes
4answers
342 views
Why did Christianity survive at all?
I was reading about ... hold on, what was I reading about? Nevermind, I was URL surfing. Jumping around from one link to another I somehow got to this -
He [Nero] was known for having captured ...
4
votes
2answers
470 views
Where did the religious symbol of the 'halo' come from?
I once read somewhere that the 'halo' was inherited by Christianity from ancient worshippers of the Sun. However, although this seems believable I never bothered to verify its historic credibility - ...
