Cao Dai incorporates many attributes of the world’s largest religions
Religions often form in very interesting ways. By taking a trip back through history, you can see how one religion became another, and then another, and so on. In most cases, a new religion wil…
Evolving Art of Buddhism
Buddhism and the art portraying Buddha has changed entirely over the religion’s history.
Buddhism is a religion with deep and ancient roots. Originating sometime around the 6th Century BCE, Buddhism has persisted through historical shifts of all varieties and…
Voodoo: Misunderstood and Maligned Spiritual Practices
Voodoo blends of African and European religious influences,involving a complex set of doctrines, traditions and practices.
When you hear the word “Voodoo,” what images come to your mind? You might picture hordes of hungry zombies or small, human-shaped cloth ef…
The Surprising Story Behind the Pentagram
Origins of the use of the Pentagram symbol reach back to ancient history.
The pentagram predates Christianity by as much as 6,000 years, but it’s been defined and interpreted by Christians and non-Christians alike throughout the ages. While it’s been as…
The Ancient Pagan Origins Behind the Christian Concept of Hell
There are Pagan Origins Behind the Christian Concept of Hell
If you grew up as an evangelical Christian, you might have heard all about Hell from the Sunday morning pulpit. A brief survey of the Bible’s New Testament also reveals references in the four Gospels al…
Black Pagans: Unique Spiritual Paths, Unique Challenges
Black pagans discover that they are a “minority within a minority”.
Paganism is sometimes mistakenly seen as a singular religion, but it encompasses a broad variety of traditions and a diverse range of spiritual paths. The last few decades have seen an increase…
From Deities to Magical Helpers: The Religious Significance of Cats
Religious Significance of Cats in ancient Egypt is often shown in the depiction of the Goddess Bastet.
Domesticated felines have shared our lives and homes for most of human history. Of course, there’s the popular joke that they were worshipped as deities in Egyp…
What Does the Word “Jihad” Really Mean?
There are many meanings to the word “Jihad” in the Muslim faith.
“Jihad” is a word that elicits controversy and fear, thanks to several major events in the last two decades. It’s often associated with terrorist acts, but you might be surprised to …
The Surprising Origins of Tarot Cards
Tarot Cards, widely known as a divination tool, has origins in a card game for royalty.
Humans have always sought knowledge or tried to solve complex mysteries. We find ourselves seeking answers to difficult questions, to know more about a present situation beyond …
The Cultural and Religious Stories Behind Henna Body Art
Intricate henna body art is applied to the bride in a prenuptial ceremony with her closest female friends.
You might have seen henna body art before and were enamored with its gorgeous, intricate designs. However, you might not be aware of the cultural and religiou…