Religion, features and articles | Educational Science

Jan 23, 2020

Why this 15th-century 'Jesus-lamb' painting is creeping people out

The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, a 15th-century masterwork by the brothers Jan and Hubert van Eyck, has finally been restored after three painstaking years of work — and people are freaked out. Uh, so apparently they restored the Ghent Altarpiece and pic.twitter.com/JljwfEZlzuJanuary 20, 2020 See more What's got spectators...

Feb 6, 2020

Hidden baby Jesus revealed under Leonardo da Vinci’s 'Virgin of the Rocks'

The Leonardo da Vinci painting the Virgin of the Rocks was hiding another image beneath its surface: a winged baby Jesus, a new X-ray examination has revealed. This isn't the first signal that the Virgin of the Rocks hid older sketches that might have led to a different masterpiece. A...

Feb 7, 2020

Trial begins for archaeologist accused of forging earliest portrayal of Jesus' crucifixion

A criminal trial has begun of an archaeologist accused of forging a trove of Roman artifacts that allegedly show a third-century depiction of Jesus' crucifixion, Egyptian hieroglyphics and the early use of the Basque language. Archaeologist Eliseo Gil and two former colleagues appeared this week in a criminal court in...

Jul 29, 2020

Spooky, soul-piercing 'Jesus Lamb' face is exactly what its original artists intended

Restoration of a 15th-century painting of a sheep representing the sacrifice of Jesus had the internet freaking out earlier this year over the Jesus lamb's uncannily human expression, which had been covered up by conservation work dating to centuries ago. New analysis of the painting reveals how and why that...

Aug 13, 2020

Thomas Cromwell used 'cut and paste' to insert himself into Henry VIII's Great Bible

The Great Bible is often seen as a monument of English reform — but could it also contain the first known example of political photoshopping in early modern England? Printed in 1538-9, it was to be purchased by every parish church in the realm. Its creation was overseen by Henry...

Oct 18, 2020

Was Jesus a magician?

Ancient art throughout the catacombs of Rome, painted on the walls and carved into stone coffins, shows Jesus as he multiplies loaves of bread, heals the sick and brings the dead back to life. These images are unified by one surprising element: In each of them, Jesus appears to brandish...

Nov 2, 2020

Were these nails used to crucify Jesus? New evidence revives controversial idea.

Two corroded Roman-era iron nails that some have suggested pinned Jesus to the cross appear to have been used in an ancient crucifixion, according to a new study. This research has reignited debate over the origin of the nails. The new analysis suggests the nails were lost from the tomb...

Nov 24, 2020

Is belief in God a delusion?

As the pandemic raged in April, churchgoers in Ohio defied warnings not to congregate. Some argued that their religion conferred them immunity from COVID-19. In one memorable CNN clip, a woman insisted she would not catch the virus because she was “covered in Jesus’ blood”. Some weeks later, the cognitive...

Dec 9, 2020

The strange story of how nuns uncovered 'House of Jesus' in Nazareth

The house where Jesus supposedly grew up is back in the news, as archaeologist Ken Dark's new book on the Nazareth home is shining a spotlight on the team of sisters who completed much of the excavation and their discoveries. It was one of the earliest examples of a major...

Jan 3, 2021

What led to the emergence of monotheism?

Over half the world practices Christianity, Islam or Judaism, according to Pew Research Center. These religions are all monotheistic, involving the worship of one God. But according to scholars, our modern understanding of monotheism is a recent phenomenon — more recent even than the religions it describes. So, how did...

Jan 17, 2021

Can science 'prove' there's an afterlife? Netflix documentary says yes.

Is there life after death? A new Netflix series claims to prove there is. But in doing so, the series relies on a confusing mishmash of fully debunked phenomena alongside matters of faith that aren't in the realm of science, as well as questions that science truly hasn't answered yet....

Feb 17, 2021

Stained-glass 'graphic novel' reveals miracles of Archbishop of Canterbury

A medieval stained-glass window shows tales of miraculous healing from castration, lameness and blinding, in vivid panels that resemble the lurid pages of a modern graphic novel. For the first time since they were created in the 13th century, those scenes will be on display outside the window's cathedral home....

Feb 24, 2021

Atheists and believers have different moral compasses

The moral compasses of atheists and believers are different in a few key ways, a new study finds. In some aspects, the moral compass was incredibly alike between the two groups; they both highly rated fairness and protecting the well-being of vulnerable people, for instance, and both highly endorsed liberty...

Mar 27, 2021

Was the 'forbidden fruit' in the Garden of Eden really an apple?

What's the likely identity of the forbidden fruit described in the Bible's Garden of Eden, which Eve is said to have eaten and then shared with Adam? If your guess is apple, you're probably wrong. The Hebrew Bible doesn't actually specify what type of fruit Adam and Eve ate. We...

May 16, 2021

Why is the King James Bible so popular?

Shortly after he ascended the English throne in 1603, King James I commissioned a new Holy Bible translation that, more than 400 years later, is still widely read around the world. This Bible, known as the King James Version (KJV), helped King James leave behind a lasting cultural footprint —...