Latest news with #Gospel
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Scientists ‘disprove' one of Jesus Christ's best-known miracles as study claims it was just ‘a natural phenomenon'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TEAM of scientists claims to have debunked one of Jesus Christ's most famous miracles — saying the Son of God may not have fed 5,000 people with just five loaves and two fish after all. Instead, researchers believe it could have been a freak natural event in Israel's Lake Kinneret — known in the Bible as the Sea of Galilee — that brought a massive haul of fish to the surface for easy collection. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Ghent – Crucifixion paint on the wood from side altar in underground chapel of st. Baaf's Cathedral from 16. cent. on June 23, 2012 in Gent, Belgium. Credit: Getty 4 A vintage illustration of Jesus Christ, published in Germany, circa 1900. (Photo) Credit: Getty - Contributor The story of the 'Feeding of the 5,000' is told in all four Gospels, where Jesus is said to have blessed a small amount of food and miraculously distributed it to feed a vast crowd. But in a 2024 study published in Water Resources Research, scientists monitored oxygen levels, water temperature, and wind speed across Lake Kinneret — and say they discovered evidence of sudden mass fish die-offs caused by unusual weather patterns. Strong winds sweeping across the lake, they say, can churn the water and cause an 'upwelling' of cold, low-oxygen water from the bottom, which kills fish and sends them floating to the surface. According to the researchers, to anyone watching from the shore, it would look like fish were suddenly appearing by the thousands — creating the illusion of a miracle and allowing them to 'be easily collected by a hungry populace'. The team believes this could explain the Gospel passage where Jesus tells his disciples — after a fruitless night of fishing — to cast their nets on the other side of the boat, suddenly hauling in a bounty. However, Biblical scholars aren't buying it. Critics slammed the theory for missing the point entirely, pointing out that no fish were caught during the miracle of the loaves and fishes. The article on hit back, saying: 'Jesus simply took the five loaves and two fish, thanked God, broke the loaves, handed everything to his disciples, and the disciples handed the food out. No fish were caught!' According to Matthew 14:13–21, Jesus 'saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.' Brit shares 'proof' he's found Jesus's TOMB & Ark of the Covenant in cave When his disciples told him to send the people away to find food, he replied: 'They need not go away; you give them something to eat.' After blessing the five loaves and two fish, the Bible says: 'they all ate and were satisfied. 'And they took up 12 baskets full of the broken pieces left over.' Despite the backlash, the researchers argue that understanding how fish may have mysteriously appeared in huge quantities doesn't take away from the spiritual message of the event — which many see as symbolic of generosity and faith. Still, religious sceptics say the study adds weight to theories that Jesus' wonders may have had natural explanations — while believers insist some things just can't be explained away by science. It comes after a stunning AI-generated video claims to reveal the true face of Jesus Christ — using images based on the mysterious Turin Shroud. Believers say the Shroud of Turin was the burial cloth wrapped around Jesus after his crucifixion. 4 AI has created a video of Jesus Christ by feeding it the Turin Shroud Credit: X 4 Christ can be seen smiling, blinking and praying in the video Credit: X Now, photos of the ancient linen have been processed through Midjourney, an AI image generator, to create a realistic image and video of Christ. The video shows Jesus blinking, smiling, and praying — potentially as he did before his crucifixion around 33AD. He appears with shoulder-length brown hair, a beard, brown eyes, a straight nose, and high cheekbones. His skin tone is pale, which has sparked debate among academics and online. Last year, The Sun also used AI to recreate the Son of God's appearance. The Gencraft tool was fed the prompt 'face of Jesus based on the Shroud of Turin' and returned images of a man with hazel eyes, a gentle expression, a neat beard, clean eyebrows, and long brown hair. Under his weary eyes, signs of exhaustion were visible. Many researchers agree that the man wrapped in the Shroud appeared to be between 5ft 7in and 6ft tall, with sunken eyes and a full beard. The markings on the cloth also show what some believe to be crucifixion wounds — including injuries to the head, shoulders, arms, and back, consistent with a thorn crown and Roman whips. The Bible recounts that Jesus was scourged by Roman soldiers, crowned with thorns, and forced to carry his cross before dying in agony.
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Scientists ‘disprove' one of Jesus Christ's best-known miracles as study claims it was just ‘a natural phenomenon'
A TEAM of scientists claims to have debunked one of Jesus Christ's most famous miracles — saying the Son of God may not have fed 5,000 people with just five loaves and two fish after all. Instead, researchers believe it could have been a freak natural event in Israel's Lake Kinneret — known in the Bible as the Sea of Galilee — that brought a massive haul of fish to the surface for easy collection. 4 Ghent – Crucifixion paint on the wood from side altar in underground chapel of st. Baaf's Cathedral from 16. cent. on June 23, 2012 in Gent, Belgium. Credit: Getty 4 A vintage illustration of Jesus Christ, published in Germany, circa 1900. (Photo) Credit: Getty - Contributor The story of the 'Feeding of the 5,000' is told in all four Gospels, where Jesus is said to have blessed a small amount of food and miraculously distributed it to feed a vast crowd. But in a 2024 study published in Water Resources Research, scientists monitored oxygen levels, water temperature, and wind speed across Lake Kinneret — and say they discovered evidence of sudden mass fish die-offs caused by unusual weather patterns. Strong winds sweeping across the lake, they say, can churn the water and cause an 'upwelling' of cold, low-oxygen water from the bottom, which kills fish and sends them floating to the surface. According to the researchers, to anyone watching from the shore, it would look like fish were suddenly appearing by the thousands — creating the illusion of a miracle and allowing them to 'be easily collected by a hungry populace'. Read more on religion The team believes this could explain the Gospel passage where Jesus tells his disciples — after a fruitless night of fishing — to cast their nets on the other side of the boat, suddenly hauling in a bounty. However, Biblical scholars aren't buying it. Critics slammed the theory for missing the point entirely, pointing out that no fish were caught during the miracle of the loaves and fishes. The article on hit back, saying: 'Jesus simply took the five loaves and two fish, thanked God, broke the loaves, handed everything to his disciples, and the disciples handed the food out. No fish were caught!' Most read in Tech According to Matthew 14:13–21, Jesus 'saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.' Brit shares 'proof' he's found Jesus's TOMB & Ark of the Covenant in cave When his disciples told him to send the people away to find food, he replied: 'They need not go away; you give them something to eat.' After blessing the five loaves and two fish, the Bible says: 'they all ate and were satisfied. 'And they took up 12 baskets full of the broken pieces left over.' Despite the backlash, the researchers argue that understanding how fish may have mysteriously appeared in huge quantities doesn't take away from the spiritual message of the event — which many see as symbolic of generosity and faith. Still, religious sceptics say the study adds weight to theories that Jesus' wonders may have had natural explanations — while believers insist some things just can't be explained away by science. It comes after a Believers say the Shroud of Turin was the burial cloth wrapped around Jesus after his crucifixion. 4 AI has created a video of Jesus Christ by feeding it the Turin Shroud Credit: X 4 Christ can be seen smiling, blinking and praying in the video Credit: X Now, photos of the ancient linen have been processed through Midjourney, an AI image generator, to create a realistic image and video of Christ. The video shows Jesus blinking, smiling, and praying — potentially as he did before his crucifixion around 33AD. He appears with shoulder-length brown hair, a beard, brown eyes, a straight nose, and high cheekbones. His skin tone is pale, which has sparked debate among academics and online. Last year, The Gencraft tool was fed the prompt 'face of Jesus based on the Shroud of Turin' and returned images of a man with hazel eyes, a gentle expression, a neat beard, clean eyebrows, and long brown hair. Under his weary eyes, signs of exhaustion were visible. Many researchers agree that the man wrapped in the Shroud appeared to be between 5ft 7in and 6ft tall, with sunken eyes and a full beard. The markings on the cloth also show what some believe to be crucifixion wounds — including injuries to the head, shoulders, arms, and back, consistent with a thorn crown and Roman whips. The Bible recounts that Jesus was scourged by Roman soldiers, crowned with thorns, and forced to carry his cross before dying in agony.
Herald Malaysia
3 days ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
CELAM celebrates 70 years with a telegram from Pope Leo XIV
The bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean gather for the 40th Ordinary General Assembly of CELAM, marking 70 years since the first General Conference of the Episcopate was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1955. May 31, 2025 The bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean have gathered for the 40th Ordinary General Assembly of CELAM By Sebastián Sansón FerrariIn a spirit of gratitude, living memory, and renewed commitment, the bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean have gathered for the 40th Ordinary General Assembly of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM), marking 70 years since the first General Conference of the Episcopate, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1955. To commemorate this occasion, Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to Cardinal Jaime Spengler, Archbishop of Porto Alegre and president of CELAM, warmly greeting the Council and emphasizing the continuing importance of ecclesial communion. The Pope's message summarizes the role CELAM has played in the life of the Church on the American continents: an expression of episcopal collegiality, an instrument of pastoral coordination, and a driving force for evangelization in diverse and often painful contexts. 'I join you all in giving thanks to the Lord,' the Holy Father states, 'for this joyful anniversary, which reminds us how the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council is a sign of collegiality […] at the service of the holy and faithful People of God who journey on that beloved continent.' A direct message The message does not shy away from the painful reality facing Latin America where 'a great number of men and women are suffering tribulation and poverty caused by ongoing crises at both the continental and global levels.' In the face of these challenges, the Pope encourages the bishops not to lose sight of the centrality of the Risen Christ, who 'protects and guides the Church, rekindling hope within her.' His call is clear: go out and meet those who dwell in the peripheries, wounded by injustice, and proclaim to them the Gospel with 'the joy that springs from a personal encounter with Him.' Both witness and participant Since its foundation seven decades ago, CELAM has been both witness to and participant in crucial ecclesial conferences: Medellín in 1968, Puebla in 1979, Santo Domingo in 1992, and Aparecida in 2007. Each of these was an expression of communal discernment in light of the signs of the times. Today, in the era of synodality, this path takes on new dimensions and new challenges. From Bogotá, Colombia—where CELAM is headquartered—the assembly not only looked back on its past, but projected itself forward with a missionary spirit. As Pope Leo noted, the aim is to 'seek, in true and effective communion, pastoral initiatives that offer solutions grounded in the criteria of Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium.' At the close of his telegram, the Pope entrusts the bishops to the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, mother of the peoples of the Americas. He asks them to pray for him and imparts his apostolic blessing as a 'pledge of abundant heavenly gifts.'--Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
4 days ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
A deep longing for unity
Reflecting on our Sunday Readings with Fr Sixtus Pitah OFM May 30, 2025 7th Sunday of Easter (C) Readings: Acts of the Apostle 7:55-60; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20; Gospel: John 17:20-26In today's readings, we hear a deep longing for unity — unity with God, unity with one another, and unity in truth and love. It's a unity that isn't abstract or just a nice spiritual idea. It's a unity born through real effort, real pain, and real faith — and it's what Jesus prays for before facing the Cross. St Stephen, in the First Reading, is being stoned to death. And yet, in the middle of that violence and hate, he gazes into heaven and sees Jesus. What does he do? He doesn't curse his killers. He doesn't beg for his life. Instead, he prays to be united with Jesus and even forgives those attacking him. That kind of faith, that kind of unity with Christ, is not soft or easy. It's costly. But it brings peace, not just to Stephen, but also — eventually — to a man named Saul, who stood there approving his death. Saul, who would become Paul, because of the witness of that unity. In the Gospel, Jesus prays for all of us — not just for His disciples at the Last Supper but for you and me today in our world, in our parishes, our BECs, our families. He says, "That they may be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You." Jesus wants our unity to reflect the same deep relationship of love within the Trinity — a unity rooted in self-giving, in listening, in mercy. But we live in a time where unity can be hard to be attained. There's just a lot of noise. We are constantly bombarded with messages online and in real life that divide: Us versus them. Right versus wrong. My truth versus your truth. And in this year's 59th World Communications Day, Pope Francis speaks right into this: he invites us to rediscover 'the language of the heart' — a way of communicating that brings people together instead of pushing them apart. He quotes St Paul: 'Speaking the truth in love' (Eph 4:15). That's not just about being nice. It's about learning how to speak with truth and tenderness. And more importantly, how to listen — to listen deeply, patiently, humbly. Pope Francis reminds us that 'listening is the first act of communication.' In our homes, in our WhatsApp groups, on Facebook, at the Mamak's shop or Kopitiam — are we listening? Or just reacting? In Malaysia, where we live side by side with people of many races, cultures, and beliefs, unity is not an ideal. It's a necessity. And as Christians, we are called to be a sign of that unity — not by force or pretending we are all the same, but by loving sincerely, communicating respectfully, and living with open hearts. The Pope also warns us about artificial intelligence — not in fear, but with caution. He reminds us that while technology can help us communicate faster, it cannot replace the warmth of human connection. He says: 'Machines can imitate us, but they cannot feel with us.' That's such an important reminder — especially for young people glued to screens. Real unity requires real people. Real encounters. Real hearts. As we approach Pentecost next week, we remember how the Holy Spirit united people who spoke different languages. Not by making them the same, but by helping them understand one another. That's the kind of unity we are invited into. Not uniformity, but harmony. So today, let's take Jesus' prayer seriously. Let's be people who don't just consume messages but communicate life. Let's speak with our hearts, forgive like Stephen, listen like Jesus, and build unity wherever we are — in our families, our parish, our communities, and even online. And maybe, like the final words of Revelation say, our hearts too can cry out: 'Come, Lord Jesus!' — not because the world is perfect, but because we long for the unity He brings. 'Unity begins with one open heart willing to love beyond comfort.' May that heart be ours today. Friar Sixtus Peter, OFM is the Vice Chairman of the Episcopal Regional Commission for Social Communications (ERCSC) Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (CBCMSB)
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Students put on big performances at City Hall festival
'Our teachers work really hard at our schools every day — practicing with their students, teaching them skills," said Amy Wedge, executive director for the Arts of BPS. 'This is an opportunity for them to be able to perform.' Advertisement On Tuesday, students and teachers from the Warren-Prescott School, Boston Latin School, Thomas J. Kenny Elementary, and more brought a lively, albeit chaotic, energy to the plaza. Students, finished with their performances, took pictures in their costumes — some in pirate-like green garbs and pointy hats — while others took to the hot concrete to create colorful chalk drawings as the next school took to the stage. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Boston Latin School Gospel Choir Director Koriana Lewis Bradford looked out onto the scene fondly. 'It's the highlight of the year,' she said about her students' yearly field trip to City Hall. 'It's the one time that we get to all be together, all these different Boston Public Schools.' Advertisement Bradford teaches seventh- and eighth-graders who performed 'oldies, but goodies of Gospel music,' including 'This Is The Day' by Fred Hammond and 'You Are Good' by Israel Houghton. 'These kids are my heart,' Bradford said. 'It's a joy to be able to share everything that I've poured into them. To see it come to life on stage takes everything to another level.' Bradford, eyes welling with prideful tears, said she felt inspired by the sight of the talent her students displayed. 'This is an opportunity to really showcase what they've been doing [in the classroom], but on a wider scale,' Wedge said. 'I think it's important for our students to share their voice, an opportunity for them to tell their own stories and see themselves as artists, as part of the community.' While Tuesday brought theatrical scenes to Downtown Boston with the 'Arts Extravaganza,' the coming days will offer a variety of experiences for attendees. Wednesday's 'Music: Wired' will fill the Plaza with modern tunes of jazz, pop, rock, and R&B from upbeat student ensembles, as well as a special performance from GBH Music's Quartet in Residence, the Ulysses Quartet. The next day, musicians from several groups will bring a rawer energy to the scene and amps will be unplugged in favor of acoustic and concert bands and choirs for Thursday's 'Music: Unplugged.' Friday's 'Dance and Theatre Finale' clears the way for young dancers from various companies to hit the makeshift dance floor, courtesy of the Boston Dance Alliance. Boston's own Naheem Garcia, an actor and performing arts educator, will reprise his role as festival host once again. Advertisement Students from the Eliot K-8 Innovation School Band performed on Boston City Hall Plaza as part of the Boston Public Schools Citywide Arts Festival May 27, 2025. Annielly Camargo Marianna Orozco can be reached at
