How we found St Columba’s famous writing hut, stashed in a Cornish garage
Archaeologists believed there was too little left from the time of the saint who Christianised the Scottish Picts to prove the legend. Turns out they were wrong.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Christianity
Displaying 1 - 20 of 114 articles
Census 2016 shows Australia’s changing religious profile, with more ‘nones’ than Catholics
The changing pattern of the diversity of religious identities is one indicator of a society’s degree of multicultural composition. On this measure, Australia is among the most diverse.
How the Vietnamese cult of heroes promotes nationalism in politics
One of the many roles of Vietnam’s fascinating “cult of heroes” is to ensure government control over religious feeling, channeling it into nationalism.
30 years after Edwards v. Aguillard: Why creationism lingers in public schools
Thirty years after the Supreme Court ruled that creationism cannot be required in schools, 'creation science' is still taught in some schools. What are the implications for climate education?
Tim Farron showed religion could have a place in British politics
Religious and political tension should not have been a reason for the Lib Dem leader to quit.
Are Africa’s ‘men of God’ preserving injustices against women?
The particular brand of masculinity promoted by Africa's influential male church leaders tends to devalue women, re-inscribe male domination.
Note to Margaret Court: the Bible isn’t meant to be read that literally
There is nothing inherently Christian about the so-called traditional arrangement of the nuclear family.
Christianity does not play a significant role in Australian politics, but cultural conservatism does
Christianity plays a relatively minor role in Australian politics. Instead, it takes the guise of a general cultural conservatism, as demonstrated by the same-sex marriage and school funding debates.
All dogs go to heaven
In many cultures and religions dogs are more than protection and security. But do they have an after-life?
Sidelining God: why secular climate projects in the Pacific Islands are failing
What does God have to do with climate change? A lot, if you want to engage with communities in the Pacific Islands, where almost everyone goes to church and religious leaders are hugely influential.
Arguments why God (very probably) exists
There remain many mysteries that are beyond science. Does that mean that a God truly exists? A scholar gives reasons for this possibility.
How the Bible shapes contemporary attitudes to rape and sexual assault
Women are constantly implicitly blamed, both in the Bible and in contemporary culture, for their rape.
Is the death penalty un-Christian?
In the Western world, the U.S. is one of only one of two countries with capital punishment, and support remains strongest in the 'Bible Belt'. Here's a look at the historic arguments within Christian communities over the death penalty.
Good Friday essay: Passion plays and the ethics of spectacular violence
Each year at Easter, Christians recreate the spectacularly violent end of Jesus's life, raising some tough questions about the depiction of suffering on stage.
Why there will be a unity (of sorts) in the Middle East this Easter
Christian calendars usually differ when it comes to Easter celebrations – but not in 2017.
Easter egg row is an undercooked mess that feeds English nationalism
Once again, Nigel Farage and his conservative allies are rushing to the defence of 'British values'. Needlessly, as it turns out.
How Christianity shaped the experience and memories of World War I
Writings at the time of WWI aimed to construct a religiously diverse and conflicted America into a virtuous, Christian nation. This narrative continued in the cemeteries for the war heroes.
Why China may want to repair its fraught relations with the Vatican
Christianity has grown at a rapid rate in China. The Catholic church, however, is split into an official one and an 'underground' one. A scholar explains how better relations with Vatican could help.
Why the legacy of Shakers will endure
The Shakers prioritized harmony and a simple lifestyle. They were among the earliest proponents of gender equality.
Who was Mary? And how plausible is Colm Tóibín’s reconstruction of her?
The Testament of Mary is an interesting thought experiment but its narrative is improbable – historically, textually and theologically.
Top contributors
-
Director SIIBS, University of Sheffield
-
Lecturer in Biblical and Religious Studies, University of Sheffield
-
Senior Lecturer in Theology, Australian Catholic University
-
Associate Professor (New Testament Studies), University of Divinity
-
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Texas State University
-
Emeritus Professor in the History of Religious Thought, The University of Queensland
-
Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University
-
Lecturer in Law, University of Western Australia
-
Professor of Population Studies, University of Essex
-
Lecturer in Religious Studies, Murdoch University
-
Professor of Astronomy, Vanderbilt University
-
Lecturer in the department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, Lancaster University
-
Emeritus Professor, School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics, University of KwaZulu-Natal
-
Professor of Religious Studies, University of Sydney
-
Teaching Fellow, Royal Holloway
Most read on The Conversation
Would impeaching Trump restore the rule of law? Lessons from Latin America
Don’t hate your gut: It may help you lose weight, fight depression and lower blood pressure
Do poor people eat more junk food than wealthier Americans?
Inside the minds of Trump’s ‘true believers’
How do the chemicals in sunscreen protect our skin from damage?
What an artificial intelligence researcher fears about AI
American slavery: Separating fact from myth
Why can’t we fix our own electronic devices?
Why some are applauding Donald Trump Jr’s ‘win at all costs’ attitude