Ancient Religion History

The story of Joseph and Aseneth was written between 100 BCE and 100 CE, in a midrash style. This translation is rendered in a modern, easy to read format with history, background, and commentary. Joseph and Aseneth is an epic story of love, desire, sanctification, and forgiveness. It is also a story of religious intolerance, racism, sexism, subterfuge, betrayal, and hate.

This is the first English translation of a portion of Historia Antigua de Mexico, written originally in Spanish by celebrated Mexican historian Mariano Veytia. He relates the history, astronomy, and religious practices he discovered from the charts, diagrams, and paintings of the Native Americans. In addition, he presents an account of America'a first settlers, who left from the biblical Tower of Babel at the time of the confusion of tongues.

Historical Christianity -- The Ancient Communal Faith is not merely another theology book but is the book you've been waiting for to cut through all the platitudes and self-serving egotism you have experienced when trying to understand the history of the Christian Faith. You may have spent your entire life trying to find "the truth", or you are just beginning to look into this religion thing.

The indigenous peoples of the Americas have widespread beliefs related to personal guardian spirits. Natives believe that for any success in life there must be protection by a supernatural power. And, in this, they are absolutely correct. The Natives deified guardian spirits since ancient times; and, as it turned out, not in vain because they are directly related to people, to their psyche. All the guardian spirits of the ancient Natives were part of nature.

Giants have existed on the Earth for most of Earth’s history. We are talking about going back hundreds of millions of years. There were also many giants on Earth in historical times when human civilization existed. There are even credible stories of giants existing on Earth in the present era, such as one killed by US soldiers in the mountains of Afghanistan. North America has had many sightings, and there are stories of wars with giants from the American Indians, as well as stories of cannibalistic giants who were killed by Indians in a cave.

Apart from Jesus, there is no character more vividly presented in the gospels than Peter. To talk of Saint Peter is to talk about a man of action. There is a good reason why he is the apostle with the most mentions in the Gospels, and the most referred to in the New Testament (a total of 195 times). In comparison, John, the next most popular disciple, barely reaches 29 references. It is at decisive moments which require a categorical reaction where the leader of the Twelve shines.

From the earliest days as thinking humans we have had many questions about life. We have had fewer acceptable answers. This is beginning to change as we are learning more and more about life and how it developed. I grew up in the Bible Belt of Mississippi. We were taught that God created all life and then He created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But then I read about ancient fossils of human-like creatures and started learning about evolution. Am I to continue to believe the literal words of the Bible or the findings of archeology and the related scientific evidence?

La biblioteca de Nag Hammadi es tan importante para el estudio del cristianismo primitivo, como los escritos de los esenios para la comprensión del judaísmo en la época de la ocupación romana.

The beauty of a spider web cannot be appreciated if only one single strand thereof is seen; nor can only one piece of a jigsaw puzzle make the whole thereof understood. It is only when all the pieces are fitted that the significance and importance of each part can be appreciated. Even so the covenant that God established with Abraham has its prelude far in the past, and its development and consummation reach far into the future.

Jesús de Nazareth fue un maestro judío de origen rural que vivió en el primer tercio del siglo I de nuestra era. Durante una celebración de la Pascua en Jerusalén fue condenado a la pena de muerte - específicamente crucifixión - por la autoridad imperial de Roma, que en ese momento tenía el control de su país. Muchas cosas más podrían decirse de su vida, pero aparte de este pequeño resumen y quizá uno o dos detalles más, sería complicado que todos los académicos estudiosos de la Biblia levantaran su mano en señal de acuerdo.

Mary Magdalene is one of the most talked about figures in modern Christianity, a woman who mainstream media and modern sensibilities can hold with more conviction. The media, press, movie industry, and airport literature have been obsessed with this redhead for more than 100 years, a fascination that reached its climax in the first decade of this century and does not seem likely to end anytime soon. Mary Magdalene is frequently depicted as young and attractive, liberated and intelligent, a symbol of a freer spirituality, and not controlled by a male-dominated church. In the minds of many, she embodies opposition to a system dominated by old men in white cassocks, the "sacred feminine."

Hoy, el profeta de Nazareth sigue despertando un vivo interés en una amplia cantidad de círculos ortodoxos y heterodoxos. Los libros sobre él son tan abundantes como la proverbial planta de mostaza. Jesús, cuya muerte ocurrió hace casi dos mil años, continúa siendo la más célebre figura religiosa, seguida por cuando menos dos mil millones de personas en todo el mundo, y fuente de inspiración para algunas más.

Que Jesús de Nazareth (ca. 4 AC-30 DC) fue crucificado es una de las afirmaciones más cercanas a un hecho histórico que pueda hacerse sobre su él. Sobre los detalles de qué hizo o dijo la academia ha pasado siglos debatiendo, pero en este hecho, que sufrió la pena capital a manos de la autoridad romana por medio de la crucifixión, coincide la abrumadora mayoría de los historiadores del mundo antiguo. Este volumen sigue la complicada trayectoria de las dos reliquias existentes más importantes del cristianismo....

The ark of the covenant is perhaps the most legendary and mysterious relic mentioned in the Bible, fascinating Jews and Christians for thousands of years and even spurring some to search for it. It is mentioned in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, as well as the Qur'an. Sources agree that the ark was the holiest relic in possession of the Israelites, and it was carried with the utmost care by priests during the Exodus out of Egypt.

Because Israel has contributed so much to all of us, what was once just an Israelite culture has grown to become what is by and large an inherited world culture. As the scriptures promised to Abraham, "I will make your descendants countless as the dust of the earth; if anyone could count the dust upon the ground, then he could count your descendants." I believe that this scripture does hold true.

Is December 21, 2012 the end of the world as we know it? Climate change seems inevitable, with countless hurricanes, earthquakes and innumerable disasters around the globe in recent years. What did the ancient Maya know and why did they place such significance on this date? As we near the final date of the Mayan calendar, mankind must face what is perhaps the most difficult hurdle of all...a profound change in ourselves.

The life story of Jesus of Nazareth, considered by billions of Christians to be the messiah prophesized in the Old Testament of the Bible, is perhaps the most famous in history. Described in detail in the New Testament, Jesus comes from both divine yet humble roots, born in a manger to a young woman, but in time he leads a fervent following as tales of his miracles spread across the Holy Land.

At a time in antiquity when most of Europe was covered with forests and wandering tribes, Mexico had already developed complex civilizations, beginning with the Olmecs and followed by the Maya, a civilization with advanced knowledge of medicine, engineering and astronomy. The Maya calculated the precession of the equinoxes and cycles of the Pleiades, on which they based their year, since they believed they had come from that constellation.

If the world had a navel, it would be the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth where one can still stand on dry land. The photographs of this unique lake seem to be taken from a science fiction movie, or a land devastated after a nuclear holocaust. To others, the fluffy shores could remind them of Antarctica although it is in one of the warmest spots on the planet. Its white, creamy masses, scattered along golden beaches, are not ice floes or frozen water, but effervescent salt formations.

Christmas is the most important holiday of the year. After the corresponding days that exalt the national pride of each country, such as Independence Day in the United States, Victory Day in Russia, or Bastille Day in France, it's December 25 that articulates the life, the work, and the economy in much of the world, including many non-Christian countries. Since ancient times, the beginning of winter has been the occasion for most people to eat, drink, dance, and get together to beat the drum and take a break.