Topic

Religion & Philosophy

A collection of 32 issues

The Vertical Time Zone: Breaking the Ramadan Fast in the Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa's immense height means residents on upper floors see the sun for longer. Due to the Earth's curvature, those above the 80th floor must wait 2 extra minutes, and those above the 150th floor wait 3 minutes, to break their daily Ramadan fast after sunset on the ground.

Fleeing the Inquisition, Burned by the Reformation: The Tragic Heresy of Michael Servetus

In 1553, theologian Michael Servetus escaped a Catholic death sentence for heresy. Seeking refuge in Protestant Geneva, he was arrested at the behest of John Calvin, tried for the same heresy, and burned at the stake. His story is a stark tale of Reformation-era intolerance.

The Lost Cross of King Harold: A Tale of Miracles, Monks, and a Mysterious Disappearance

An 11th-century stone crucifix, unearthed in Somerset, became a famed healing relic in Waltham after a miraculous journey. Devotedly rebuilt by King Harold Godwinson, the Holy Cross of Waltham vanished without a trace during Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries, its fate a mystery.

The Unbroken Chain: Inside the Kong Family's 2,500-Year, 2-Million-Member Family Tree

The Kong family, direct descendants of Confucius, possess the world's longest family tree. Spanning over 2,500 years and 83 generations, this meticulously documented lineage now includes over 2 million members, a testament to enduring cultural and familial heritage.

Skulls, Powders, and Potions: A Journey into the World's Largest Voodoo Market

The Akodessawa Fetish Market in Lomé, Togo, is the world's largest voodoo market. It offers animal parts like monkey heads and dried snakes, used not for dark magic but as essential ingredients in traditional West African Vodun remedies and rituals for healing and spiritual well-being.

Meet Margery Kempe: The Medieval Mystic Who Wrote the First Autobiography and Wept Her Way Through Europe

Margery Kempe, a 15th-century English mystic, defied convention by writing the first autobiography in English. A mother of 14, she was famous for her loud, public weeping, unauthorized preaching, and repeatedly facing down heresy charges during her extensive pilgrimages across Europe.

The Basilica Built on a Basilica: The Lost History of Old St. Peter's

The iconic St. Peter's Basilica we know today is actually the second version. It was built in the 16th century directly atop the foundation of the original basilica, a magnificent 4th-century structure ordered by Emperor Constantine that stood as the heart of Western Christendom for 1200 years.