Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Minuscule 475

Minuscule 475 is, I think, a parchment with the New Testament written on it, dated to the 11th century. They say it's beautifully written.

They say a lot of things.


Only eyes that are ready will see the words on this parchment.
Photo: Temari 09 via Flickr (CC)

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Christian Concern For Our Nation

Christian Concern For Our Nation is a group of Christian lawyers in the UK dedicated to protecting freedom for Christians in their country. The group was formed in 2004 to lobby members of Parliament.

The group is a bit controversial.

I have nothing against concern for our nation. And, of course, I have nothing against Christian. But when you put them together as Christian Concern for Our Nation, I start to wonder if maybe they're going to start telling us how we should act and what we should believe and who or what we should have sex with and when.

And I don't like that. I think reasonable people should be able to do what they want.


Concern.
Photo: mgaffney via Flickr (CC)

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Gankyil

Gankyil is a Tibetan Buddhist symbol. It is reminiscent of the yin-yang symbol, but the Gankyil has three elements instead of just two. See a Gankyil for yourself: here.

Three is a very special number. There are three elements of the holy trinity. It takes three legs to make a table stand. There were three bears. Three blind mice. Three wise men. Three little pigs. We each have three arms, three legs, three eyes. There are three days in a week, three weeks in a month, three months in a year.

Three is the magic number. One of my favorite songs.


There are three lemurs.
Photo: Tambako the Jaguar via Flickr (CC)

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Roman Catholic Diocese of Ariano Irpino-Lacedonia

Roman Catholic Diocese of Ariano Irpino-Lacedonia is a diocese.

It is a combination of two other dioceses, the diocese of Ariano and the diocese of Lacedonia. They united in 1986 to form one big diocese. It's similar to Michael Bivins, Ricky Bell, and Ronnie DeVoe coming together in 1989 to form Bell Biv DeVoe.


Big bucks, no whammies, stop.
Photo: Dan44 via Flickr (CC)

Monday, July 27, 2009

Svensky Monastery

Svensky Monastery is a Russian Orthodox monastery. It's in Russia, near the city of Bryansk. When I was little, I was scared that Russia was going to hit me with a nuclear bomb. My dad suggested I write a letter to Ronald Reagan about my fears. I never got around to it.

Russia is where my grandfather was born. His name was Grandpa Eddie. But they didn't call him that in Russia, because he was not yet a grandpa. Grandpa Eddie came to the United States with his family when he was 8 years old. They came on a boat. I'm glad they did. Otherwise I wouldn't exist or have anything to bloog about. Thanks, Grandpa Eddie.


The birth of Grandpa Eddie.
Photo: backpackphotography via Flickr (CC)

Sunday, July 26, 2009

List of non-extant papal tombs

List of non-extant papal tombs is a list of popes whose burial sites are not extant. This means their locations have been destroyed or are unknown.

The best part of the list is that one of the popes on the list is Pope Hilarius. This made me laugh. I had no idea there was a Pope Hilarius. He was Pope in the fifth century. Those must have been side-splitting times for the Catholic Church.

I found Hilarius's tomb.
Photo: Spamily via Flickr (CC)

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Bhuteshwar Temple

Bhuteshwar Temple is a temple in India dedicated to the god Shiva. It is surrounded by water.

Water's great. I drink as much of it as I can. If I built a temple, I'd surround it with water too.


Shiva looks tired.
Photo: estudiogokaburi via Flickr (CC)

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Ceferino Namuncurá

Ceferino Namuncurá was a saintly religious student born in Argentina, who eventually became the object of a Roman Catholic cultus of veneration. Sometimes I wish I were the object of a cultus of veneration.

Not only was Ceferino by all accounts a very kind boy, he also miraculously survived a fall into a river as a young child. Even more amazing, his life was eventually turned into a small musical called Zephyrin: The Musicale.

Sadly, Ceferino died in 1905 at the age of 18. He had pulmonary tuberculosis. In life and in death, Ceferino inspired millions of people throughout Argentina. Ceferino proves that if you inspire enough people, there will be a small musical written about you.


He's the one on the right.
Photo: professorjoaocesar via Flickr (CC)

Monday, June 22, 2009

Primus and Felician

Primus and Felician were two 3rd-century brothers who became saints. Their feast day is June 9, just a couple of weeks ago. I didn't know about Primus and Felician a couple of weeks ago, so I didn't celebrate.

Primus and Felician were martyrs. They were beheaded in Nomentum near Rome in the year 297 A.D. Since 1969, due to "limited worldwide interest in them," it's up to indivdual dioceses to decide if they want to celebrate Primus and Felician's feast day. If I were Primus or Felician, I'd be pissed.


Last year the Saints finished a disappointing 8-8.
Photo: Tusela via Flickr (CC)