religion
How Bernini sculpted the Roman Catholic Church during the Counter-Reformation
Bernini created art for 8 different popes. In the process, he helped reinforce and redefine Christianity’s visual culture.
The mysterious origins of human sacrifice
Human sacrifice appears to be as old as humanity itself. Still, experts disagree on how and where the practice first originated.
Can near-death experiences prove the afterlife?
Millions of people have had a near-death experience, and it often leads them to believe in an afterlife. Does this count as good proof?
Can mathematics be spiritual? Ask Einstein
Mathematics and religion both embody awe-inspiring, eternal truths.
Why it’s time to confess your darkest secrets
If secrets are a kind of poison, confession is the antidote.
The Four Enemies to a happy life and how to defeat them
There is a lot of truth in the ancient wisdom found in almost all religions. Love really is the answer to most problems.
System 1 vs. System 2 thinking: Why it isn’t strategic to always be rational
People believe that slow and deliberative thinking is inherently superior to fast and intuitive thinking. The truth is more complicated.
The surprising reason Inca children were drugged before human sacrifice
A toxicological study shows that the victims of human sacrifice consumed coca leaves and ayahuasca before they were killed, but not for reasons we originally thought.
The strange case of Benedetta Carlini: how the Catholic Church investigated fraudulent saints
"Immodest Acts" tells the story of Benedetta Carlini, a lesbian nun who claimed to be a mystic visionary but failed to convince the leaders of her faith.
Atheism is not as rare or as rational as you think
Many atheists think of themselves as intellectually gifted individuals, guiding humanity on the path of reason. Scientific data shows otherwise.
Why the future of the world’s largest religion is female
Catholic sisters outnumber priests and religious on every continent.
Kama Sutra isn’t just about sex. It’s a guidebook for pleasure
There is much more to the Kama Sutra than just sex. It's a guide to anyone wanting more pleasure in life, however they take it.
Science vs. God: Understanding reality is not a battle between reason and faith
Many people perceive the struggle to understand our Universe as a battle between science and God. But this is a false dichotomy.
What does Buddhism offer physics?
The relationship between these two ways of thinking about the world deserves deeper exploration.
How the Protestant Reformation set the stage for the Scientific Revolution
By toppling medieval Europe’s mightiest political power, the Protestant Reformation ushered in a new age of freedom, religious and otherwise.
Modern Stoicism: From Christians to atheists, everyone can learn from these ancient Greeks
Modern applications of Stoicism show up in unexpected places, from the latest techniques in psychotherapy to texts on Christian theology.
If religion makes you happier, why not give it a go?
A growing body of research shows that religious people seem to enjoy more psychological well-being compared to others.
Japan’s Shinto religion is going global and attracting online followers
Online Shinto communities have existed since the birth of the internet as we know it.
Mormon geography: why some Latter-day Saints are digging for a ‘lost city’ in southeastern Iowa
Using the Book of Mormon as a sacred but ambiguous atlas, the Latter-day Saints have been looking for the lost city of Zarahemla for decades.
The different types of atheism
There are different types of atheism and atheists. In general, they can be classified as the non-religious, the non-believers, and agnostics.
What do students’ beliefs about God have to do with grades and going to college?
Religion fosters traits that are helpful in a school system that relies on authority figures and rewards people who follow the rules.
Why do we value human life?
We value human life in a way that assumes we possess a sacred something not found in beings like lambs, turkeys, or mosquitoes.
What is walking meditation?
Thich Nhat Hanh, the late Vietnamese monk, thought walking could be a profound contemplative practice.
You’ve just been declared a patron saint by the Catholic Church. What’s next?
When Saint Ambrose of Milan was venerated, his life became public property, its meaning expanding with the unique interpretations of each new generation.
Who was the smartest person in the world?
The smartest person in the world was Isaac Newton, a true polymath whose brilliance never has been, nor ever will be, surpassed.
What 13th-century Christian theologian Thomas Aquinas can teach us about hope in times of despair
Is hope more realistic than despair? Aquinas thinks so.
“God is dead”: What Nietzsche really meant
The death of God didn’t strike Nietzsche as an entirely good thing. Without a God, the basic belief system of Western Europe was in jeopardy.
End-of-life conversations can be hard, but your loved ones will thank you
“I need to think about the future. Will you help me?”
Is there such a thing as “Eastern philosophy”?
Non-Western thought is vast and ancient, so why don't some consider it philosophy?