The harmful belief that Christianity ‘replaced’ Judaism is partly rooted in the erroneous view that
Jesus told his followers that rules regarding ritual purity were outdated.
(Wikimedia)
Easter and Passover begin on the same weekend this year. This is an opportunity to revisit misconceptions about Jesus’s ministry and to address anti-Jewish uses of Christian scripture.
Easter celebrates the Christian belief that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. And for centuries, this resurrection was seen as a guarantee that our own bodies would do the same.
Rock fern, Cheilanthes austrotenuifoliaDonald Hobern/Wikimedia
This Easter, read about this remarkable species of resurrection fern — plants that appear dead and dry, but under the right conditions rapidly spring to life.
Prayers and symbols have the power to bind people together, writes a religion scholar, and so it is important to understand the history and context of Good Friday prayers.
Sixth-century mosaic depicting Jesus before Roman governor Pontius Pilate washing his hands, at Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy.
(Nick Thompson/Flickr)
The expression to “wash one’s hands of responsibility” comes from Christian scripture and has been part of a toxic legacy of blaming Jews for Jesus’s death.
Lent is a period of fasting and reflection for many Chistians.
Pascal Deloche/Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The 40-day Lenten season, when many Christians observe fasting, began in mid-February. A scholar explains how the practice may have emerged around the fifth century.
Before social distancing.
Leonardo da Vinci, Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie
Churches will remain closed over Easter, but theologians have argued over the centuries that faith itself, not ritual, is the heart and soul of Christianity.
Backyard Easter egg hunts can be a joy for all the family and a great way to lift the spirits in isolation. They can also provide insight into how different children manage treat foods.
As the pandemic continues with Easter on the horizon, physical distancing means that many churches are closed and in-person religious ceremonies are paused.
(Shutterstock)
Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity