Topic

Religion & Philosophy

A collection of 32 issues

Zera Yacob: The 17th-Century Ethiopian Philosopher Who Pioneered the Enlightenment

Decades before Descartes, Ethiopian philosopher Zera Yacob fled persecution and, in a cave, wrote the Hatata. This treatise used pure reason to critique religious dogma and advocate for individual conscience, challenging our Eurocentric view of the history of philosophy.

The Maid, The Fairy King, and the Seven Lost Children: The Bewitching Case of Karin Svensdotter

In 1656 Sweden, maid Karin Svensdotter claimed the King of the Fairies fathered her seven children before taking them to his realm. Declared bewitched by Satan, her case ended not with execution, but with a silver cross that banished her supernatural lover forever.

Vultures Over the Seven Hills: The Bloody Augury That Founded Rome

Rome's legendary founding began with fratricide. When brothers Romulus and Remus sought divine guidance through augury—interpreting bird behavior—to choose a location, a dispute over vulture sightings ended with Romulus killing Remus and establishing the city that would bear his name.

Holy War in North America: How Mexico's Laws Against Priests Ignited the Cristero Rebellion

In 1926, Mexican President Calles enacted a harsh anti-clerical law, banning public worship and even priestly attire. This "Calles Law" triggered the Cristeros War, a bloody 3-year conflict where citizens fought the state for their right to religious freedom.

The Ghost Mountain: Why the World's Highest Unclimbed Peak Will Remain Untouched Forever

Gangkhar Puensum in Bhutan is the world's highest unclimbed mountain. Four expeditions failed before Bhutan, viewing its peaks as sacred homes of spirits, banned mountaineering in 1994 and then completely in 2003, ensuring the summit remains a pristine, unconquered mystery.

The Curse of Countess Margaret: Did a Medieval Noblewoman Really Give Birth to 365 Children?

A medieval legend tells of Countess Margaret of Henneberg, who was cursed after insulting a beggar. On Good Friday, 1276, she allegedly gave birth to 365 tiny offspring, a story blending divine punishment with a plausible, yet rare, medical condition.