The Christmas story is about Jesus coming to mankind. As holiday decorations show, Christians around the world often picture him in their own cultures.
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Articles on Virgin Mary
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The idea of virgin birth has been part of Christianity since the start, but its significance has shifted over time.
Rosaries are meant to be used wherever, whenever – and each one tells a story.
Many religions have been used to prop up nationalism, and Catholicism is no exception, as a Jesuit priest and scholar explains.
A folklorist explains the prehistoric origins of the mythical Easter Bunny and why this longstanding cultural symbol keeps returning each spring.
To many Ukrainians, Jesus’ mother has a special relationship with their country.
St. Bernadette’s visions of the Virgin Mary in the 19th century inspired the pilgrimage site millions of Catholics flock to each year.
In the New Testament, there is nothing about Mary’s birth, death, appearance, or age. What we do know about the mother of Jesus is, in fact, quite surprising.
Mary has acquired popularity among celebrities of late. A religion scholar writes about how for nearly 2,000 years, the mother of Jesus has been viewed as an exemplar by different Christian groups.
In reconverting Hagia Sophia to a mosque, Turkish officials have emphasized veiling of Christian icons to create a Muslim prayer space. Experts explain why the veiling is in fact a Byzantine practice.
Coronavirus is causing religious communities to rethink ways of expressing their faith. In the spirit of finding innovative ways to continue rituals, the pilgrimage to Lourdes was conducted online.
The idealisation of Mary as a virgin has created a misguided and deeply damaging relationship between sex and sin within the Christian church.
Belief in the eternal virginity of Mary has inflicted damage to women, who can never attain her sexless motherhood or unsullied ‘purity’. Yet in the Gospels, Mary is strong-minded and courageous.
A scholar went on a Voodoo pilgrimage in Haiti and learned how an oppressive slave past has shaped its religious present.
Leonardo da Vinci emphasized the naturalness of the relationship of Jesus and Mary in his art, while also inviting viewers into a religious message.
Throughout Catholic history, miracles have been attributed to Virgin Mary’s power. She is understood to cry not only over the sins of the world, but over the pain she experienced in her earthly life.
For a century, Brazil’s Catholic Church has sent holy statues out to parishioners’ homes. A new study finds that these visits create a local subeconomy, benefitting families and the church.
The movie ‘The Case for Christ’ is released this weekend. A scholar takes a close look at the claims for the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection.
How to challenge centuries of bigotry with a single image – and bump Trump off the front pages.
The Testament of Mary is an interesting thought experiment but its narrative is improbable – historically, textually and theologically.
Top contributors
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Librarian/Archivist at the Marian Library and Associate Professor, University of Dayton
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Senior lecturer, Australian Catholic University
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President, Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
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Visiting Research Fellow University of Chester, University of Chester
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Emeritus Professor in the History of Religious Thought, The University of Queensland
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Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross
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Associate Professor of Marketing, RMIT University
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Lecturer in Religious Studies, The University of Texas at Austin
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Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity
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Associate Professor of Marketing, The University of Melbourne
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Stewart Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity College, University of Divinity, University of Divinity
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Professor of Anthropology, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
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Haub Director of Catholic Studies, Georgetown University
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Researcher, University of California, Irvine
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Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies, University of Colorado Boulder
