Weekend Stories
I enjoy going exploring on weekends (mostly). Here is a collection of stories and photos I gather along the way. All posts are CC BY-NC-SA licensed unless otherwise stated. Feel free to share, remix, and adapt the content as long as you give appropriate credit and distribute your contributions under the same license.
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The Apostolic Council: A turning point in the expansion of early Christianity
The Apostolic Council, often referred to as the Council of Jerusalem, was a pivotal moment in the history of Christianity. Held around 48–50 CE, this gathering addressed a critical question: Could non-Jews, or Gentiles, join the community of Jesus’ followers without first converting to Judaism? This decision marked a decisive shift, transforming the Jesus movement from a Jewish sect into a universal faith accessible to all people. The outcomes of this meeting not only facilitated the rapid expansion of early Christianity but also fundamentally reshaped its identity and relationship with Judaism.
Dura-Europos: One of the earliest Christian house churches and oldest synagogues in a religious melting pot
The house church and synagogue at Dura-Europos, an ancient city on the Euphrates River in modern-day Syria, offer unique insights into the coexistence and evolution of early Christian and Jewish communities. Dating to the mid-3rd century CE, these structures are among the oldest known dedicated spaces for Christian and Jewish worship. Their simultaneous presence within the same urban setting – along with temples dedicated to Greco-Roman, Palmyrene, and local Mesopotamian deities – illustrates the intertwined histories of Judaism and Christianity, highlighting a time when these faiths developed side by side before Christianity emerged as a dominant religion within the Roman world.
The life and practices of early Christians
The early Christians community developed in the decades following the emergence of beliefs about Jesus as the Messiah. This period was marked by efforts to define their practices and theology while navigating their place within both Jewish traditions and the broader Greco-Roman world. This article explores the life, practices, and self-perception of these early communities based on the current state of research.
The spread of early Christianity
The emergence and spread of Christianity is one of the most significant transformations in human history. Rooted in Jewish apocalyptic expectations, early Christianity evolved into a universal religion that transcended its origins. Central to this transformation were historical figures such as Paul of Tarsus and the networks of early Christian communities throughout the Roman Empire. In this post, we examine the historical development of early Christianity, focusing on its dissemination, the role of key figures, and the cultural and social dynamics that facilitated its spread.
Did Jesus’ teachings shape the apostolic missions? A theological exploration
The question of whether the theological constructs attributed to Jesus were primarily perceived as a message about the imminent end of the world — and whether this perception shaped the apostolic missions — invites a closer look at the early Christian movement. In this post, we examine the historical and theological context of these attributed teachings, the role of apocalypticism in early Christianity, and the adaptability of the Gospel message over time.
The core teachings presented in the Gospels: A universal and transformative message
Understanding the essence of the teachings attributed to the figure of Jesus, as recorded in the New Testament’s Gospels, requires a focus on the values and themes central to these narratives. While the historical authenticity of these accounts remains debated, the ethical and spiritual vision they convey is radical and transformative. At the heart of the Gospel message is a call to universal love, humility, non-violence, and personal spiritual transformation. This narrative emphasizes inner moral integrity and compassion over external rituals or societal hierarchies. Thus, without the necessity of a historical Jesus, the message from the Gospels also works as a powerful and relevant framework for ethical and spiritual life.
Speculating on Lazarus as the beloved disciple of Jesus
In contemporary scholarship on early Christianity, few scholars have stirred as much controversy as Richard Carrier. Known for his mythicist position — that Jesus may not have existed as a historical figure — Carrier often encourages us to read the Gospels not as reliable historical records, but as mythological and theological narratives created by early Christian communities. It is within this framework that we can examine one of his provocative suggestions: the possibility that the ‘beloved disciple’ in the Gospel of John, traditionally identified as John himself, was actually Lazarus — whom Carrier provocatively describes as Jesus’ closest companion, or, in modern parlance, his ‘boyfriend’.
Twelve Apostles, one myth: Debunking the foundation of institutional Christianity
The figure of Jesus in the Gospels is considered, according to Richard Carrier’s mythicist theory, to be an invented mythological character developed by early Christian communities. If Jesus himself is a mythic construct rather than a historical person, the narrative of the twelve apostles must similarly be viewed through a symbolic and theological lens rather than as a literal account of historical events. This perspective challenges the foundational claims of apostolic succession and institutional authority within the Church and underscores the core message of personal spiritual transformation, rather than a dependence on institutionalized mediation. In this post, we take a closer look at the mythicist critique of the twelve apostles and its implications for both the institutional Church and the personal Christian faith.
How Jesus became God: Exploring Bart D. Ehrman’s thesis on the development of Christian belief in Jesus’s divinity
Bart D. Ehrman’s How Jesus Became God: The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee offers a meticulously researched account of how early Christians came to view Jesus as divine. Ehrman’s work traces the evolution of Jesus’s divinity from a historical Jewish preacher to a figure exalted by his followers after his death, culminating in the formalization of his divine status in the 4th century. While Ehrman argues for a historical Jesus who was gradually deified, Richard Carrier, a leading proponent of the mythicist position, rejects the idea of a historical Jesus altogether. Carrier posits that Jesus was originally conceived as a celestial figure whose story was later euhemerized — that is, placed into a historical narrative. In this post, we examine Ehrman’s thesis in light of Carrier’s theories, exploring how both perspectives illuminate the complex development of early Christian belief.
The resurrection of Jesus as a mythological tool for early Christian legitimization
The resurrection of Jesus stands at the heart of Christian theology and has long been a central symbol of faith, hope, and redemption. However, its mythological character and constructed nature deserve deeper scrutiny. Within early Christianity, the resurrection functioned both as a theological cornerstone and a strategic narrative tool for legitimizing Jesus as the Messiah, fulfilling Jewish prophecy and providing continuity after his death. Furthermore, the theological implications of the resurrection have profoundly shaped Christian philosophy and institutional power, positioning the Church as the steward of divine authority. In this post, we take a closer look at the resurrection of Jesus as a mythological construct and explore its theological significance and institutional implications.