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Could artificial intelligence solve one of the Bible’s biggest mysteries? A team of researchers used AI-powered statistical modeling to analyze the authorship of the Hebrew Bible and made surprising discoveries about ancient narratives. Credit: Shutterstock A multidisciplinary team of researchers is using artificial intelligence to unravel the authorship of the Hebrew Bible’s earliest books. Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing everything from healthcare to filmmaking to finance. So, why not apply it to one of the most ancient and influential books in history—the Bible? That’s exactly what an international team of researchers set out to do. Among them was Shira Faigenbaum-Golovin, an...

Just one in four Catholic priests and Mainline Protestant pastors in the United States say they're certain that Adam and Eve were real people. In contrast, 80% of Evangelical pastors and 89% of black Protestant clergy affirm this belief with certainty. Data from the National Survey of Religious Leaders reveal significant differences among clergy in their core theological beliefs, including their views on the Bible, Hell, miracles, and the existence of God, as noted by Graphs About Religion on Substack.When asked whether they “definitely believe” Adam and Eve were historical figures, the numbers diverged sharply across denominations, dropping to 25%...

The Protestant Reformation in the 1500's literally changed the course of history. It helped bring Europe out of the Dark Ages, and led to the rise of true religious freedom. Its original principles, although not always followed, eventually found expression in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. When it comes to religion, the governments of earth have no right to control the conscience. True Protestantism teaches salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8), and the supremacy of the Bible above the visible church (2 Timothy 3:16) - above traditions, pastors, priests,...

Luther said “That is the proof of the spiritual and wise man. He knows that he is carnal, and he is displeased with himself; indeed, he hates himself and praises the law of God, which he recognizes because he is spiritual. But the proof of a foolish, carnal man is this. that he regards himself as spiritual and is pleased with himself.”

This multidisciplinary work merges radiocarbon dating, ancient handwriting analysis, and machine learning. In a recent development, AI has been deployed to date the Dead Sea Scrolls with astounding accuracy, radically challenging misconceptions regarding their age and the historical timelines they fall under. The results show that several of the Scrolls might actually be much older than what is assumed, and in some cases, could be from the era of the biblical figures that supposedly wrote them. Pioneered by the University of Groningen, this multidisciplinary work merges radiocarbon dating, ancient handwriting analysis, and machine learning. The outcome is Enoch, the first...

At last the work was completed—the first English translation of the Bible ever made. The word of God was opened to England. The Reformer feared not now the prison or the stake. He had placed in the hands of the English people a light which should never be extinguished. In giving the Bible to his countrymen, he had done more to break the fetters of ignorance and vice, more to liberate and elevate his country, than was ever achieved by the most brilliant victories on fields of battle.

Get places, times and tickets at the link. Can we see the face of the invisible God? Do we know what our Savior looked like? The film The Face of Jesus explores two acheiropoietic images—sacred cloths not made by human hands—the Shroud of Turin and the Veil of Manoppello, as well as the most extraordinary depiction of Jesus painted by human hands: the Vilnius image of the Merciful Jesus. Filmmakers take the audience on a cinematic journey to the tomb in Jerusalem from 2,000 years ago, to Rome, Manoppello, and San Giovanni Rotondo, to discover what our Savior looked like....

At the foot of Mount Sinai -- where Moses is believed to have heard the voice of God -- stands one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world. For nearly 1,500 years, the monks of St. Catherine’s Monastery have kept watch over sacred ground, stewarding the faith through centuries of empire, conquest, and modern upheaval. Their presence a living testimony, not just to history, but to holiness. Now, that sacred presence is under threat. On May 28, 2025, an Egyptian court ruled to transfer ownership of St. Catherine’s Monastery and its assets to the state. Though the government claims...

The teachings of Luther found a congenial soil in the Netherlands, and earnest and faithful men arose to preach the gospel. From one of the provinces of Holland came Menno Simons. Educated a Roman Catholic and ordained to the priesthood, he was wholly ignorant of the Bible, and he would not read it for fear of being beguiled into heresy. When a doubt concerning the doctrine of transubstantiation forced itself upon him, he regarded it as a temptation from Satan, and by prayer and confession sought to free himself from it; but in vain. By mingling in scenes of dissipation...

This month, 1,700 years ago, was one of the most significant and consequential events in all of Church history. Across the Bosporus Straight from Constantinople, in Nicaea, a Council met to settle a question plaguing the Church: Who, precisely, is Jesus? Their work shaped the future of Christian theology. In the first few centuries after Christ’s resurrection, Jesus was understood in a variety of ways. Only the Gnostics doubted His humanity, arguing that Jesus was a purely spiritual being who only seemed human. Others suggested that Jesus was an angel or archangel, or specifically the Angel of the Lord mentioned...

Priest chaplains’ legacy of heroic serviceAmong American Catholics, indeed among American Catholic priests, are heroes too often unsung: the military chaplains.Through two centuries of warfare and peacekeeping, Catholic priests serving as chaplains in the armed services have been a lifeline for the enlisted, inevitably far from home, lonely and in harm’s way. Because of chaplains, they have found strength and consolation in their religion.While religious chaplains have served in the military since the Revolution, priests did not become part of the group, at least not in any number, until the Mexican War, waged between 1846 and 1848, not surprisingly. Anti-Catholicism...

Were the Puritans aligned in their eschatological views? This article examines various theologies of eschatology that emerged between the 17th and 18th centuries, focusing on seven prominent Puritan writers and their unique perspectives. We’re going to look at Owen, Goodwin, the Mathers (father and son), Edwards, Turreting and Wittsius. Each of these Puritan writers offers unique interpretations of eschatology that draw on specific passages from the Bible, particularly the book of Revelation. Their arguments, however, were not without their weaknesses. For example, premillennialists like Cotton Mather faced the challenge of reconciling their beliefs with passages that suggest a more spiritual...

[Catholic Caucus] Will Leo XIV Reaffirm the Forgotten Truths of Paul VI’s 1968 Credo?For those defenders of the Vatican II revolution who consider Paul VI to be a saint, there should be little justification for resisting his 1968 Credo. But the need for Leo XIV to boldly proclaim these truths can be measured by the extent to which they have today been abandoned even by those men who purport to revere the legacy of Paul VI.In his Open Letter to Confused Catholics, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre praised Paul VI’s 1968 Credo of the People of God, Solemni Hac Liturgia, as a...

Luther’s Doctrine of Justification Born of SatanIn our previous post on Luther we cited his famous colloquy with Satan, since these conversations were the genesis of the Protestant Reformation. The same would also give birth to Luther’s doctrine on justification, which the Vatican today dignifies. Through this infernal colloquy, the devil convinced Luther that we must accept our sinful lives as they are, and he instilled in him a false security about the sins we commit.Hence was born Luther’s crackpot idea that Jesus died on the cross so that we may sin freely without the fear of eternal punishment. Consider...

This order of worship was adopted and practiced by the early church: The Greeting – a more formal, biblical greeting or salutation. A Response – the attendees would respond, often with a Scripture that was recited in unison or chanted. Readings and Psalmody – Several passages of Scriptures would be read or chanted, interspersed with a responsive singing or chanting of a Psalm. Psalms – the Psalms, considered God’s hymnal, were sung or chanted, most of the time without instruments. Message – an elder, rabbi or teacher would interpret and explain the relevant meaning of the Scripture(s) that were read....

“I didn’t know that for the first 1,500 years of church history, everyone saw it as the literal body and blood of Christ and it wasn’t until 500 years ago that someone popularised the thought that it’s just a symbol and nothing more. I didn’t know that. I thought, ‘Wow, that’s something to consider.’” “For 1500 years it was never one guy and his pulpit being the centre of the church, it was the body and blood of Christ…” Despite what some bloggers and YouTubers are claiming, I don’t think we can say from this video and short clip alone...

Leo XIV defended the traditional family, unborn babies and the elderly – and that’s great. After American Cardinal Robert Prevost, who made most of his ecclesiastical career as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, was chosen to sit in St. Peter’s throne as Leo XIV, a question has reverberated across the world: is the new Pope woke? Seasoned conservative figures like Steve Bannon perceived the new Pope’s election as a liberal ‘coup’ to continue Pope Francis campaign to destroy the church – Bannon even equated it to the 2020 election steal. Prevost’s brother, on the other hand, has repeatedly stated that...

With the election of a new pope, some have reexamined an alleged prophecy by a 12th century Irish saint who predicted the number of popes before the end of the world. Saint Malachy of Armagh, a Roman Catholic bishop who died in 1148, reportedly had a vision while on a pilgrimage to Rome, where he claimed to have learned the exact number of popes who would reign from his time until Judgment Day. Interest in the purported prophecy was high in 2013 with the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, as the prophecy indicated that the pontiff after him — which...

(Hymn at the link.) With everyone so urgent about who is Pope Leo XIV, we may want to pull back and think about who he will seem to be in a year, 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, after his death, after the next Pope. When God sends the people a scourge because they dispise his blessings, and they are trying to understand why bad things are happening to supposedly good people, you can't just look at the punishment, you need to examine those who are the punished. The punishment for our faithlessness was a Dictator Pope who deliberately promoted...

Pastoring a church in Johannesburg, South Africa, I hear this complaint periodically. Crudely put, Christianity is the white man’s religion and has no place amongst true Africans. In an era where forming an African identity aside from Colonialism is high on people’s agenda, it’s a compelling argument to some. Except that it’s not true. For Christianity was present in Africa 1000 years before the first European Colonialists arrived on African shores. You may be familiar with the strong base for Christianity established in Alexandria, Egypt, in the 1st century. Eusebius even wrote that the Gospel writer, Mark, came to Alexandria...