The 7 Oldest Mosques in AmericaSmall mosques may have been built in America in the 16th century, but these structures constructed later persist to this day.Read more
6 Ancient Resurrection StoriesJesus wasn’t the only one believed to have risen from the dead. The concept of resurrection appears in ancient cultures around the world.Read more
8 Hanukkah Traditions and Their OriginsFrom lighting a menorah, to giving out gelt, to eating cheese—find out how these Hanukkah traditions began.Read more
Exorcisms: The Centuries-Long History of Expelling EvilFrom biblical depictions of Christ casting out demons, to charismatic Christians in the ’60s, to the story behind the 1973 movie, people have been attempting to expel evil for centuries.Read more
5 Ways Christianity Spread Through Ancient RomeSure, the Roman Empire had that extensive road system. But it helped that early Christians didn’t paint themselves as an exclusive club.Read more
How Timbuktu Flourished During the Golden Age of IslamDuring the 15th and 16th centuries, Timbuktu, located in Mali, served as a major intellectual hub of Islamic civilization.Read more
What’s the Difference Between Easter and Orthodox Easter?The holidays both celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but have some different traditions and are based on different calendars.Read more
Why Black Cats Are Associated With Halloween and Bad LuckAs early as the 13th century, the Catholic Church linked cats to Satan.Read more
How the Renaissance Challenged the Church and Influenced the ReformationAs interest in cultural, intellectual and scientific exploration flourished, support for an all-powerful church diminished.Read more
How the Seven Deadly Sins Began as ‘Eight Evil Thoughts’The idea of listing the vices began in the fourth century.Read more
Who Wrote the Bible?Scholars have investigated the issue for centuries, but many questions persist.Read more
When Galileo Stood Trial for Defending ScienceThe Italian astronomer argued that Earth and other planets revolve around the sun. Then he paid a price.Read more