religion
Ultrarunning: the ultimate experience of being in the world
Ultrarunning is a celebration of living and a rehearsal of dying all rolled up in a single intense experience.
Mooncakes and lanterns: What is the Mid-Autumn Festival?
This is a time for family and friends to gather, watch the full moon and eat mooncakes and other delicacies.
Which philosopher had the strongest arguments?
Which philosopher had the strongest arguments? David Hume, who raised some of the best challenges for science, ethics, and religion.
Wisdom of Daoism: why Yin-Yang is so much more than a tattoo
Harmony and moderation make for a happier life.
The strange case of the dead-but-not-dead Tibetan monks
For some reason, the bodies of deceased monks stay "fresh" for a long time.
How humans came to rely on the kindness of strangers
For the ancients, hospitality was an inviolable law enforced by gods and priests and anyone else with the power to make you pay dearly for mistreating a stranger.
Mystical experiences on demand? Welcome to spirit tech
Brain-based technologies of spiritual enhancement can induce mystical experiences in many people on demand. What does this mean for spirituality today?
Nazis created an anti-Semitic Bible and Aryan Jesus
A Nazi institute produced a Bible without the Old Testament that portrayed Jesus as an Aryan hero fighting Jewish people.
If there is no God, can anything be objectively good?
Apart from divine authority, is there an ethical basis for right and wrong?
The incredible story of Wu Hsin and Roy Melvyn
Must a religious story be confirmed as a true fact to be effective and inspiring?
Climate catastrophes can reshape religion
There were at least four major climate catastrophes that reshaped global religion. It could be happening again.
Does quantum mechanics favor Buddhist philosophy?
No. But Buddhism and quantum mechanics have much to teach each other.
Epicurus and the atheist’s guide to happiness
Seek pleasure and avoid pain. Why make it more complicated?
Mind and God: The new science of neurotheology
Studies show that religion and spirituality are positively linked to good mental health. Our research aims to figure out how and why.
First-ever pregnant Egyptian mummy discovered
The mummy was first thought to be a male priest. But a recent radiological analysis revealed a surprising anomaly.
The nomological argument for the existence of God
Regularities, which we associate with laws of nature, require an explanation.
Rain, caves, and miracles: New study connects weather to ancient tales
A new study provides a possible scientific explanation for the existence of stories about ancient saints performing miracles with water.
Study: Does the label “straight” worsen perceptions of gay people?
A new study explores how using positive labels to describe a majority group may negative impact perceptions of minority groups.
Mysterious “Plain of Jars” in Laos has been dated
After years of speculation a team of researchers has pinpointed the age of this ancient mystery.
New study finds religion alleviates depression. Is it enough?
Intrinsic religiosity has a protective effect against depression symptoms.
Can you be scientific and spiritual?
Spirituality can be an uncomfortable word for atheists. But does it deserve the antagonism that it gets?
Did Einstein believe in God?
Here's what Einstein meant when he spoke of cosmic dice and the "secrets of the Ancient One".
Dyson spheres: The key to resurrection and immortality?
Creating an afterlife—or a simulation of one—would take vast amounts of energy. Some scientists think the best way to capture that energy is by building megastructures around stars.
‘A Glitch in the Matrix’ documentary explores the dark side of simulation theory
What happens when simulation theory becomes more than a fascinating thought experiment?
Turns out those aren’t the apostle St James’s bones after all
Research shows that bone fragments of Jesus's (possible) brother belong to someone else.
Why some people think they hear the voices of the dead
A new study looks at why mysterious voices are sometimes taken as spirits and other times as symptoms of mental health issues.
Can you step in the same river twice? Wittgenstein vs. Heraclitus
Imagine Heraclitus spending an afternoon down by the river...
Survey shows Congress is more religious than America
A new survey shows who believes what and how it differs from what Americans believe as a whole.
Is there life after death?
Is death the final frontier? We ask scientists, philosophers, and spiritual leaders about life after death.
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