Christianity

Archaeologists believe they may have located the final resting place of Jesus himself in Jerusalem.The team had been using a robotic arm to probe underneath a tower block in the city and discovered a 1st century Christian burial chamber. On one of the coffin lids is inscribed the words "Divine Jehovah, raise up, raise up." The find is only a short distance away from thepreviously discovered "Jesus Family Tomb" which generated great controversy in the 1980s when ossuaries found within seemed to be inscribed with the names of Jesus"s family.

Archaeologists exploring a 1st century Christian burial chamber have discovered an ancient inscription on a coffin lid which they believe could prove the site is the final resting place of Jesus.  

View: Full article |  Source: Daily Mail  

In an effort to reflect modern values, churches across the UK have adopted a new set of Ten Commandments.Many of the original Ten Commandments are somewhat outdated both in the language used and the principles they describe. To remedy this and to make them easier for people to relate to, oneevangelical preacher in England has rewritten the commandments with more user friendly terminology.

The new versions are now being used in over 600 churches nationwide and include such vows as "manage your anger", "know God" and "catch your breath." The religious rules, which Christians believe were etched onto tablets by God and given to Moses, have been modified to use up-to-date language and principles. The original “thou shalt not steal” has become “prosper with a clearconscience”, and the lengthy “thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” becomes “take God seriously”.  

View: Full article |  Source: Telegraph  

Whether it"s a hoax or not, the shroud may have played a significant role in the spread of Christianity.The origins and authenticity of the Shroud of Turin has been the subject of much controversy for years, some believe it to be the burial shroud of Jesus himself while others are convinced that it is a medieval forgery. Thomas de Wesselow of Cambridge University believes it to be somewhere in between, he maintains that theshroud was created by natural chemical processes and then interpreted as a sign of Jesus" resurrection by his followers."People in the past did not view images as just the mundane things that we see them as today," he said.

"They were potentially alive. They were seen as sources of power." A hoax or a miracle? The Shroud of Turin has inspired this question for centuries. Now, an art historian says this piece of cloth, said to bearthe imprint of the crucified body of Jesus Christ, may be something in between.  

View: Full article |  Source: Live Science  

Historian Bart Ehrman counters the mythicist view of Jesus by compiling the evidence for his existence.The mythicist viewpoint, that Jesus wasn"t a real person but a mythical figure, is quite prevelant in many parts of the world. Many see the lack of archaeological evidence and the fact that the Gospels were written long after Jesus" death as compelling arguments. "It was a surprise to me to see how influential these mythicists are," said Ehrman. "These mythicists point out that there are Pagangods who were said to die and rise again and so the idea is that Jesus was made up as a Jewish god who died and rose again."In his new book "Did Jesus Exist? The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth" however Ehrman goes on to put forward his case for Jesus being not a mythical character but a living, breathing human being who walked the Earth 2000 years ago.

So, did Jesus really exist? With his new book, Did Jesus Exist? The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth, Bart Ehrman, historian andprofessor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, wanted to provide solid historical evidence for the existence of Jesus.  

View: Full article |  Source: NPR