Tag: Religious History
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Beth Shean Sarcophagi: Why are these finds significant?
A collection of clay coffins excavated in Beth Shean dating to the New Kingdom of Egypt have led to a number of competing theories regarding their provenance. Eleonora Soteriou discusses the significance of this find and what it might reveal about identity and acculturation during a time of Egyptian expansionism.
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Were The Reigns of Catherine de’ Medici and Mary I of England as violent as popular historic thought have allowed us to believe?
Written by Sophia Aiello. The reigns of both Catherine de’ Medici and Mary I have been largely defined by the extraordinary violence of their rules. However, exploring the position of contemporary religious dissenters can help shed light on their egregious reputations.
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Norns and Moirai: The Fates of Norse and Greek Mythology
Written by Fiona Macrae. The idea of the ‘fates’ is one repeated throughout mythology, three goddesses who spin the thread of life. Fiona Macrae examines the Fates of Norse and Greek mythology, comparing their depiction and asking why the similarities are important.
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Should we be Applying the Term “Religion” to Ancient Societies?
Written by Kavisha Kamalanathan. Is justifiable to project the term “religion” backwards to ancient societies? Kavisha Kamalanathan discusses the nuances of ancient Greek and Roman belief systems, their relation to nature, society and the state, pointing to them being in many crucial ways fundamentally different from our modern notions of religion.
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Are the Gospels Reliable Sources? Part Seven: ‘I am he.’ – So what…
Written by Alex Smith. In the conclusion to his semester-spanning critical examination of the gospels as historical documents, Alex Smith pauses to reflect over their full significance.
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‘Educated’ by Tara Westover: Uncovering Radical Mormonism in Rural America
Written by Sally Dolphin. Tara Westover’s 2018 memoir tells the story of her life growing up as a Mormon in rural America. An isolated childhood, Westwood’s experiences leaving such a sheltered environment can shed light on our own cultural awareness.
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Are the Gospels Reliable Sources? Part Six: “They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths…” – The ‘extracanonical Gospels’
Written by Alex Smith. In the sixth part of this article series asking whether the Gospels are reliable sources, Alex Smith examines the ‘extracanonical Gospels’ and whether these nonbiblical sources can provide any reliable information on the life of Jesus.
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Are the Gospels Reliable Sources? Part Five: ‘Since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning…’ – The content of the Gospels
Written by Alex Smith. In the fifth part of this article series asking whether the Gospels are reliable sources, Alex Smith examines the content of the Gospels, looking at places and names within these texts.
Retrospect Journal 