The Dalai Lamas are believed by Tibetan Buddhists to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and … More
Category: Religion
– the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama
A couple of years ago, during a meeting of Tibetan leaders in Dharamshala in India, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai … More
Avalokiteśvara – compassion of all Buddhas
In Buddhism, Avalokiteśvara ( Sanskrit: अवलोकितेश्वर /ˌʌvəloʊkɪˈteɪʃvərə/) is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. He has 108 avatars; one notable avatar being Padmapāṇi, the one who holds the lotus … More
If Evangelicals Truly Cared About Abortion
Let’s cut to the chase. White, male-driven, conservative Evangelicalism would love for us all to believe that, despite some of … More
Jesus was on the side of the poor and exploited
In the church I grew up in it was culturally assumed that Christians would vote Liberal. Jesus wasn’t party-partisan, we … More
6 Bible Quotes That Are Blatantly Socialist
Throughout history, the Bible has been used to justify all kinds of movements and ideologies — from the Crusades, to … More
Eid al-Fitr – ‘Holiday of Breaking the Fast’
Eid al-Fitr (/ˌiːd əl ˈfɪtər, -trə/; Arabic: عيد الفطر, romanized: ʿĪd al-Fiṭr, lit. ‘Holiday of Breaking the Fast’, IPA: [ʕiːd al ˈfitˤr]) is the earlier of the two official holidays celebrated within Islam (the other being Eid al-Adha). … More
Sun God in Ancient Synagogues in Israel
At least seven synagogues in Israel built 1,500 to 1,700 years ago feature mosaics of the zodiac, of all things. … More
Clashes erupt again near the Al-Aqsa Mosque
Israeli police on Sunday entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City to secure the way for Jewish visitors … More
Ramadan greetings
Following the citing of the Ramadan crescent moon by Islamic committees in several Middle Eastern countries, the first day of Ramadan will … More
Christian Soldiers – NOT!
The lynching and torture of blacks in the Jim Crow South weren’t just acts of racism. They were religious rituals. … More
America’s Myth of Religious Tolerance
The idea that the United States has always been a bastion of religious freedom is reassuring—and utterly at odds with … More
Jesus Is Not a Republican
It appears that the Trump presidency will go out with a bang, rather than a whimper. As we arrive at … More
Jewish history’s forgotten Turkish roots
New research suggests that the majority of the world’s modern Jewish population is descended mainly from people from ancient Turkey, … More
Al-Masih ad-Dajjal : the false messiah
Al-Masih ad-Dajjal (Arabic: المسيح الدجّال, romanized: al-Masīḥ ad-Dajjāl, lit. ‘the false messiah, liar, the deceiver, the deceiving messiah’) or Dajjal, is an evil figure in Islamic eschatology who will … More
The Mahdi – “the rightly guided one”
The Mahdi (Arabic: ٱلْمَهْدِيّ, romanized: al-mahdiyy), meaning “the rightly guided one”, is an eschatological Messianic figure who, according to Islamic belief, will appear at the end of times to rid … More
Isa al-Masih
In orthodox Islam, Isa al-Masih (عيسى المسيح usually translated as Jesus Christ) is believed to be a prophet, second in rank to Muhammad, and not … More
ARCHANGEL MICHAEL
“Michael the head of the heavenly: he is the first: among the angelic ranks: serving before the Lord. God sends us unto … More
Malak: Messenger, Sent One, ANGEL
Angel/Messenger/Sent One: malak- (masculine noun) (Strong’s 4397) Root: מֲלְאָךְ Sounds like: mal-awk Angels we have Heard on High is a song that gets a … More
The Tree of Jesse
The Tree of Jesse is a depiction in art of the ancestors of Jesus Christ, shown in a branching tree which rises from Jesse of Bethlehem, … More
Michael Ruark 