Questions tagged [history]
For questions related to history generally. Use the [church-history] tag for the history of the post-NT church.
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What is the historical basis for the claim that there were hundreds of eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus?
I've heard, in several informal situations, claims to the effect that there were hundreds of eyewitness to the resurrection of Jesus. That many saw him and even interacted with him over the span of ...
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Are there any documented cases of people having their teeth miraculously straightened without wearing braces or any other orthodontic treatment? [duplicate]
I was pondering possible healing miracles that would be extremely hard to provide an alternative explanation for (other than the typical "show me an amputated limb regrown!") and realized ...
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According to full preterists, what is the historical basis for viewing the last trumpet call as a historical fact that has already been fulfilled?
Different passages in the Bible shed light on the events that would unfold at the signal of the last trumpet call:
1 Corinthians 15:50-58 (ESV):
50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot ...
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0answers
66 views
Looking for orthodox movies about St. Francis and St. Clare
There are tons of movies about St. Francis and St. Clare, is there a complete list of movies that, I don't know, rank by historicity and orthodoxy? I've seen a few movies about them but can't ...
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0answers
105 views
Does the concept of Godhead (one God, but multiple persons) predate Christianity? Can we find evidence of this concept in Judaism before 0 A.D.?
Was the concept of Godhead (one God, but multiple persons) known by the Jews prior to the advent of Christianity? Were there Jews that held a Binitarian, Trinitarian or similar "Godhead" ...
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What is an overview of arguments for and against the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus? [closed]
What is an overview of arguments for and against the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus? Was Jesus' resurrection a historical fact? What do scholars and historians have to say about all this? Is ...
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1answer
58 views
How do Christians who think animals have only existed for <7,000 years on Earth reconcile their views with Pleistocene saber-toothed tigers? [duplicate]
Saber-toothed tiger (smilodon) fossils are regularly dated to the Pleistocene (such as here), which would put them before animals existed according to many Christians (at the earliest, ~12,000 years ...
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How do Protestants answer the Catholic accusation of historicity?
The Roman Catholic Church has a claim of apostolic succession, from St. Peter transited by the laying on of hands.
Most Protestants reject this understanding of apostolic succession, and instead teach ...
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How do Christians who reject pre-fall death reconcile their views with the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event (66 million years ago)?
Many Christians believe that creation was cursed because of Adam & Eve's fall into sin, and that death entered creation because of the fall but not before. In other words, the idea of pre-fall ...
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Are there or have there been Christian healing ministries that have documented healing cases with supporting medical records?
Christian healing ministries abound. A quick search on any search engine can lead to lots of ministries that claim to be able to heal the sick, as well as testimonials of people who claim to have ...
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How do Catholics traditionally understand the divine omnipotence?
You have Saint Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century saying that God cannot do what is intrinsically impossible, but I would like to know what Catholics believed about the divine omnipotence before ...
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272 views
Has a notable militant non-Christian ever converted to Christianity due to a “Road to Damascus” experience?
I would like to know if there are published testimonies of notable militant non-Christians -- which could be a militant atheist or any non-Christian person who has actively waged war against the ...
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1answer
121 views
Who were the recepients of Christian monumental sculptures in the early middle ages (10th and 11th century)?
I am in the process of writing a paper about the bronze column commissioned by Bernwardus Hildesheimiensis, the bishop founder of Benedictine Monastery of St. Michael in Hildesheim, completed ...
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112 views
What is the oldest historical evidence of the Sabbath commandment?
What does history say about the practice of keeping the Sabbath holy? What is the oldest historical evidence of this commandment? Can we find evidence of Sabbath keeping prior to the Israelites and/or ...
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135 views
The Middle Ages as a Model for the Orderly Society?
I'm interested in finding books and studies (both for and against) the idea that Medieval European society had a kind of order that's desirable. Foundationally, there's a clear religious order--...
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Sin as a goal of man [closed]
God created Man.
Only difference between human and animal is possibiity of sin.
Hence God create man for only this purpose, commit sin. And from sin we glorify God.
Are there exists in the past/...
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1answer
137 views
How does a Catholic theocracy differ from other Christian theocracies?
I'm taking a Catholic Church history class and the instructor said that life under a Catholic theocracy, like the Papal States, was different than life under a Protestant theocracy, but because most ...
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Are there any documented cases of paranormal activity preceding or during an exorcism?
Movies such as The Exorcist have popularized the notion of paranormal phenomena surrounding an episode of demonic possession. And after reading of someone's personal experiences with Catholic ...
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159 views
Are there any documented cases of “Acts 2 type” tongue speaking (i.e. understood by a foreigner) in recent history (19th century on)?
I'm aware of the existence of many Pentecostal and Charistmatic groups that believe in the gift of tongues and claim to be able to exercise it. In fact, one can very easily find lots of videos of ...
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136 views
Was charging interest on loans ever forbidden to laymen in the Eastern Orthodox Church? If so, when was this promulgated and when was it revoked?
According to Wikipedia, the First Council of Nicaea (325AD) forbade clergy, but not laymen, from charging interest on loans.
Wikipedia also states that "later ecumenical councils applied this ...
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52 views
Which monk states that the Old Testament is about the Father and the New Testament about the Holy Ghost
Somebody mentioned to me in a conversation that there was a monk in the 13th century who held the belief that the OT is about the Father and the NT is about the Holy Ghost. The death and resurrection ...
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How did Christian Death Metal arise?
I happened to learn that Christian black/death metal bands, along with their niche community were a thing, and was curious when this started and what lead to such a movement, especially since the ...
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1answer
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Introduction to Catholicism, Protestantism, Presbyterianism, Anglican and Eastern Christian for kids
I'm quite ignorant on such different Christianity religions, on their history, main differences, and relations etc, so quite handicapped in introducing such to my 7 years old boy.
I noticed there's a ...
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What is the historical evidence of people gagging, retching, dry heaving and vomiting during exorcisms?
A pattern I've noticed across multiple live recordings of exorcisms from totally independent sources is that in all of them you see the individuals being exorcised have intense gags. Here are a few ...
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1answer
70 views
During Assyria’s conquest of Israel, what side did Judah take?
Relations between Israel and Judah were fluid. They were sometimes allies and sometimes adversaries. During Assyria’s long campaign against Israel culminating in the siege of Samaria and subsequent ...
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88 views
How do different denominations defend their interpretations of Daniel 2's prophecy?
The second chapter of the book of Daniel talks about Nebuchadnezzar II's dream of a statue made of several metals and its prophetic significance for the future. I've heard people claim that this is a ...
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2answers
241 views
What were the views of the Church Fathers on Jews and Judaism during the Patristic Era?
I am currently learning about the holocaust in History class right now. It was mentioned that during the Middle Ages, some Christians were anti-semitic. I wondered how the Early Church (Pre-Schism) ...
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2answers
109 views
Ancient imagery beasts used in Christian symbolisms?
Ancient imagery beasts used in Christian symbolisms?
We have all heard of unicorns!
The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a single large, ...
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237 views
Will I get answers to all my questions when I die? [closed]
Sorry if this is way too open but I have so many questions about this world, religion, gods and what on earth is going on. I can't imagine anyone really would be able to answer these type of questions ...
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159 views
How is the new anti-conversion law going to affect Christians in India?
There is news that Modi government likely to bring bill to prevent religious conversion in next Parliament session
There is currently this plea from persecution relief and a petition to be signed
How ...
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375 views
On what basis do Evangelical apologists argue that Muhammad committed sin?
Muhammad claimed to be a Prophet of God, even God's last Prophet. As such his life should have been godly.
There is not much of his life revealed in the Quran. What is spoken of sometimes needs one ...
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Evangelical Christians claim Jerusalem was destroyed in either 587 or 586 BCE. What is the evidence?
Whereas Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 BC, many evangelical Christians who write on such things believe it was destroyed in either 587 or 586 BCE.
Is there any Biblical ...
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Is there extra-biblical evidence for the Exodus?
I've heard from multiple sources that there isn't even the slightest of (extra-biblical) evidence of the Exodus story or even evidence for the presence of Israelites in Egypt.
If this is true, why is ...
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Did Mosaic covenants follow Ancient Near East Suzerain Treaties or was it the other way around?
I often heard theologians said that Mosaic covenant followed the structure of Ancient Near East (ANE) treaties that were there in Moses' time. For example, here is the view of Meredith Kline: Suzerain ...
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What formal methods and criteria could be used to evaluate the message of the bible? [closed]
My agnostic friend has asked for "formal evidence" of the Bible.
How can one scientifically evaluate statements written over 2,000 years ago?
Besides the historical evaluation of events, how to ...
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64 views
Were Jesus’ hands tied on the way to Calvary?
Traditions say that Jesus fell three times under the weight of the cross, out of which two instances took place after Simon of Cyrene had been entrusted to help Him carry the cross. One wonders ...
asked Apr 13 '20 at 11:22
Kadalikatt Joseph Sibichan
7,1203 gold badges18 silver badges46 bronze badges
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The Explosion of Thera 1642–1540 BCE
If we take the eruption of Thera... Which I believe would have had a high impact on all the surrounding countries... Has anyone associated this event, even theoretically, to a Biblical event.
Also ...
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According to Catholicism which parts of the Bible actually happened historically?
One of the things that have tested my faith is the question: Did the bible really happen? Was there really a "garden of Eden"? Was there a universal flood"
And perhaps more importantly, how important ...
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Is there any biblical reference to a third temple being built? [closed]
In referrence to to end times; does the Bible say anywhere that a third temple will be built?
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Is there a script of St. Francis' “famous” speach in Bologna, the 15th of August of 1222?
I was reading a book about St. Francis and there is a mention about a "famous" speech he gave in the piazza of Bologna, the 15th of August of 1222. There are several descriptions around of this speech....
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584 views
What internal evidence supports the historicity of Abraham?
Is there any internal or small external evidence of Abraham's existence?
I have heard a claim from skeptics that Abraham is just flat out invented figure who never existed and even COULDN'T have ...
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2answers
407 views
Who is Sheshbazzar? Is he the same person as Zerubabbel?
The Bible says:
KJV Ezra 1:8 Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
But in the following ...
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What is the basis for believing that 40 lashes would be deadly (especially in Roman law or jurisprudence)?
I have commonly heard that 40 lashes were thought to be deadly and thus 39 were issued. It seems as though neither 40 nor 39 lashes had anything to do with the deadliness of the punishment in Jewish ...
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Source for Biblical Moral Stories [closed]
Does anyone know of a good book, website, or general source that focuses on telling the the different narrative form moral-stories of the Bible (e.g. Peter walks on water with Jesus, doubts it, then ...
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344 views
Is the sign of the Cross as well as the crucifix a Catholic “trade mark”?
Why do Catholics have crucifix in their home and Churches; priest, bishops, cardinals, popes and the faithful wear crucifix in their neck and make a sign of the cross before and after prayer and ...
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3answers
354 views
Were the scriptural readings at Mass ever other than Vulgate read at mass pre-Vatican II?
Vatican II allowed vernacular languages for rites. However, the official document about it (Sacrosantum Concilium) doesn't mention anything about Bible readings. Where readings already allowed to be ...
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301 views
Taking shoes off before closing a deal - is there an history evidence?
In bible (Ruth 4,7) it's written that before closing a deal, it was used that one of the sides took his shoes off:
Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and ...
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Can somebody summarize the different “branches” of Christianity to me, and explain why they exist in the first place?
All my life, I've been massively confused about how there exists separate, seemingly incompatible and separate, "branches" of Christianity. I know about "protestant", "catholic" and then there's ...
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1answer
227 views
Why baptise or christen a child multiple times?
I'm researching my family tree and I'm currently investigating ancestors who lived in England in the 18th and 19th centuries (1700-1899). Many of these people were born before birth registrations were ...
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168 views
Was God discovered or did He reveal Himself?
If He was revealed, why did He wait so long to reveal Himself? Humans have been around for 100,000+ years.
