Questions tagged [origin]
Questions about the origins of beliefs, concepts, and terminology
166 questions
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What was the source of the image of pelican in Catholic churches?
Many Catholic churches across the world have an image of a pelican with its chicks. The pelican is depicted as cutting its heart open with the beak, with blood dripping down. Understandably, it ...
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What is the origin of the belief that Satan is who tempted Adam and Eve?
Introduction
The Genesis narrative of the serpent tempting Adam and Eve and their subsequent expulsion from the Garden of Eve does not seem to indicate overtly that the character known as "Satan&...
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Where did the praying hands symbol originate?
I've seen throughout my life that the accepted symbol of prayer is both hands put together with the fingers pointing upward. I noticed that no one I can recall has ever prayed like that around me. I ...
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When did the belief that Eden "still exists" originate?
I was reading a (rather sacrilegious) story the other day in which God walks from the location of Eden to the point where the Ark landed, and it got me thinking...
Speculation about where Eden might ...
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Which tradition invented the term "Reverend" for their clergy?
I was sufficiently provoked recently by a Lutheran clergyman identifying as "Rev." That seemed to me to be somewhat a poor fit with a tradition that emphasizes the priesthood of believers. ...
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How can I find more information about my Pope Juan Pablo II Gold necklace medallion that I’ve had for 29 years? I am looking for the age and origin
I have this pendant I’ve been holding on to for about 28 years now and would like to know more about it. It appears to be gold but is not soft enough to leave a depression when bitten however it did ...
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The concept of being a "Vessel"?
I've been hearing more and more of this concept that humans are vessels, either controlled by the spirit of the world (Satan) or the Holy Spirit (if saved) and that there is no "independent self&...
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Why are the gospel writers called the "Four Evangelists" in traditional church commentaries / studies, but not in modern Study Bibles?
In viewing and scanning theological literature and commentaries of the past centuries, the four disciples who wrote the Gospels were called "evangelists", the "Four Evangelists". ...
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What is the basis for the belief "It is possible to have free-will and be incapable of sinning, but it is not possible to be created in that state"?
Some Christians believe that "It is possible to have free-will and at the same time be incapable of sinning, but it is not possible to be created in that state".
For example, in my recently ...
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Where does the idea that faith must be a condition for baptism originate from?
I have been told that I possess a very definitive view of faith in regards to baptism. So far as I believe faith in Jesus as personal Lord and Savior must be present at the time of baptism.
Hence my ...
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Did the religion of Christianity arise in AD70?
It has been suggested that the religion of Christianity arose as a result of the destruction of the Jewish temple and the Jewish priesthood by the Romans in the year 70. This date marks the inception ...
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Where did Christian monasteries originate from?
How did the Christians get the idea to create monasteries? As far as I know, monasteries, monks and nuns did not exist in the religion Jesus was born into and he did not ask, he did not even talk ...
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When were Protestants first called 'Protestants' and what were they, originally, protesting about?
I am asking, precisely, the first time when 'Protestants' were so called, either among themselves or by others. And what, precisely, they were in protestation regarding.
There is a previous question ...
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Can the Pentecostal/Charismatic belief in "territorial spirits" and "Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare" be traced back to prior sources?
According to the Wikipedia article on Territorial spirit:
Territorial spirits are national angels, or demons, who rule over certain geographical areas in the world, a concept accepted within the ...
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Aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis) as alternative to burial or cremation; NY Catholic Conference and Catholic Church's current position?
Wikipedia's Desmond Tutu (the former archbishop of the Anglican_Diocese_of_Cape_Town, theologian, and known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist) says:
A Funeral Mass was held ...