Christianity

Archaeologists have unveiled the discovery of the first-known house in Nazareth that can be dated back to the time of Jesus. The find provides a tantalising glimpse in to what the area could have been like at the time Jesus was achild."Days before Christmas, archaeologists on Monday unveiled what they said were the remains of the first dwelling in Nazareth that can be dated back to the time of Jesus — a find that could shed new light on what the hamlet was like during the period the New Testament says Jesus lived there as aboy."

View: Full Article | Source: Yahoo! News

Some believe that during the "lost years" of his life Jesus traveled the world and spent time in Japan.There are many different theories to explain where Jesus was during the 12 year gap between the ages of 21 and 33 but perhaps one of the most unusual explanations is that he spent a lot of that time in Japan. According to the Japanese version of events, Jesus arrived in Japan at Amanohashidate before becoming a disciple of a great master near Mount Fuji. Therehe learned the Japanese language and culture before returning to Judea by way of Morocco.To further the alternative story, it is said that upon being captured by the Roman authorities Jesus managed to escape and fled back to Japan where he retired to a life of exile.

Upon his death his body was said to have been left exposed on a hilltop for four years, as per tradition, before being buried in a grave. In Shingo, the Greatest Story Ever Told is retold like this: Jesus first came to Japan at the age of 21 tostudy theology. This was during his so-called “lost years,” a 12-year gap unaccounted for in the New Testament.  

View: Full article |  Source: Smithsonian Magazine  

Pope Benedict has claimed that Jesus was actually born several years earlier than currently thought.In a new book the Pope explains that the calendar we now use which was devised by 6th century monk Dionysius Exiguus is wrong on the basis that he made a mistake with his calculations. In the Gospel of Matthew it states that Jesus was born at the time when Herod the Great ruled in Judea, however Herod died in 4 A.D. Also in the Gospel of Lukeit suggests that Jesus was born when Quirinius was governor of Syria in 6 A.D.With so much conflicting information, the exact date of Jesus" birth has been a point of debate for theologians and scholars for centuries.

Now that the head of the Catholic Church himself is leading the charge in questioning the established time-line, spiritual leaders and followers alike will no doubt be keen to reassess what they think they know of Biblical history. Pope Benedict XVI has revealed in thethird installment of his trilogy, dedicated to the life of Christ, that Jesus may have been born earlier than previously thought.  

View: Full article |  Source: Telegraph  

Hundreds of Catholics have gathered outside a hospital in Malaysia after the image appeared in a window.The Sime Darby Medical Centre has become a huge attraction thanks to the image which appears to resemble the Virgin Mary, some of the crowd also believe another window along from it depicts the image of Jesus. More than 100 people remained at the site onSunday, some lit candles while others sang hymns and said prayers."We believe Mary, mother of God, has a message for us, as she is looking down on us and then at a Malaysian flag," said local resident Eunice Fernandez.

"We can also see Jesus and He is also moving, they are not static." Hundreds of Catholics have gathered in prayer and worship outside a Malaysian hospital after seeing an image said toresemble the Virgin Mary on one of the windows.  

View: Full article |  Source: Asia One