Topic

Religion & Philosophy

A collection of 34 issues

The Martyr on the Scaffold: Why King Charles I Chose Death for His Church

King Charles I is venerated as a martyr by High Church Anglicans. They argue his execution was a direct result of his refusal to sacrifice the episcopal structure and sovereignty of the Church of England to a Puritan-led Parliament, choosing death over violating his sacred coronation oath.

History Religion & Philosophy Wars, Conflict & Heroes

Georgium Sidus: The Planet We Almost Called 'George'

In 1781, discoverer William Herschel tried to name the seventh planet 'Georgium Sidus' (George's Star) after King George III. The name proved unpopular outside of Britain, and German astronomer Johann Bode's mythological suggestion, 'Uranus,' ultimately prevailed after decades of debate.

Science & Nature History Religion & Philosophy

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.

Religion & Philosophy Science & Nature Geography & Places

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.

History Religion & Philosophy Biography & Personal Stories

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.

History Religion & Philosophy Wars, Conflict & Heroes

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.

History Biography & Personal Stories Religion & Philosophy

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.

Religion & Philosophy Geography & Places Art, Culture & Design

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.

Biography & Personal Stories History Religion & Philosophy

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