Latest news with #Jesus
Buzz Feed
14 hours ago
- General
- Buzz Feed
God-Guided BDSM: My Journey As A Christian Dom
I started praying to the Holy Spirit to guide my sessions. Holy Spirit, come guide me, shine your light, and show me how to help this individual have a healthier, fulfilling relationship with their sexuality and with spirit. I quickly saw that God was not separate from our sexuality or erotic desires. God was present in the desires. I saw how God could work through kink to bring out the hidden, shamed parts of a person's psyche that had never felt seen or loved before. Once these parts felt loved and liberated, their lives would begin to open up in miraculous ways. Professionally, I now openly represent myself as a Christian dominatrix who uses Christian rituals to heal the connection between sexuality and spirit. My clients often come to me because I work specifically with the deconditioning of the religious wound that has caused harmful beliefs around their sexuality. I encourage my patrons to put those suppressed desires before God. Out of the shadow of shame, they are no longer 'wicked' or 'evil'― they are holy. Tiptoeing my way back into Christianity has been a delicate process, and at times, I've had to sit with a massive inner conflict: Why am I choosing to return to a religion that stigmatizes the very thing I am trying to liberate? Fortunately, I've landed in some Christian circles that encourage having the 'tough' conversations about Christianity. But I'll admit, it's an ongoing struggle to openly and honestly represent myself, my profession and my beliefs. My partner and I have experienced judgment and discrimination for living together outside of marriage, so I can only imagine what the reaction would be to discovering that I'm a dominatrix for a living. At church, when I am asked what I do for work, my heartbeat starts to race. I usually stutter something like, 'I'm a relationship coach,' and then shift the conversation to something else as quickly as I can. When I have mustered up the courage to tell a few open-minded Christians about being a dominatrix and why I do it, I've been able to have beautiful, meaningful conversations. I've seen it open people up to be honest about the shame and guilt they've been carrying about their sexuality, and the ongoing struggle of feeling they have to choose between their faith and their authentic sexual expression. Most modern Christian churches shame and suppress sexuality, discriminating against the LGBT+ community, sex workers and anyone choosing to engage in sexual activity outside of marriage. These are toxic and outdated beliefs, and they need to go. But when I go back to the tried and true teachings of Jesus, I am able to look past the harmful parts to how incredible Jesus actually was. He spoke out against oppressive systems and called out spiritual leaders on the rigid religious laws that were making God inaccessible to all people. In the Bible, there are multiple accounts of Jesus welcoming, spending time with and performing miracles for prostitutes and adulterers, the 'sexually immoral' people in society at that time. Jesus never cast anyone out, and he never denied anyone the miracles, signs and wonders that flowed through him; he wanted everyone to have a personal relationship with God, free from the constraints of organized religion. So even though many Christians would view me as 'sinful' and even undeserving of a relationship with God, I reject that view, because I know Jesus loves me and wants the best for my life. And if a 'dirty' dominatrix like me is worthy of miracles, then I believe a meaningful relationship with God is available to everyone who wants it.
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Worship news: Mother-daughter high tea and speaker series
Bethel Church: 10202 Broadway — Bethel Church will begin a women's summer bible study on June 10. Bethel women are invited to join at the Crown Point campus every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to explore accounts of Jesus and watch videos filmed on location in Israel. Register here: The church will have 'Steps' beginning at 6:30 p.m. June 2. Steps is a 12-step care and recovery ministry that offers practical steps, care, encouragement, accountability and community to anyone struggling with life hurts. There are groups designed to tackle and overcome addiction, anxiety, trauma, family issues and a host of distress. There will also be a limited online option. Register online St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church: 101 W. Burrell Drive — St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church will have a 'Growing in Grace' mother-daughter high tea from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 1. For more details or to register, visit St. Matthias will have a 'Pick 7' food distribution event on May 31 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Parish Hall. Those interested will be able to pick seven items from available options, and the shopping order will be determined by a random draw. For more information, call 219-663-2201. Faith Church: 100 W. 81st Ave. — There will be a 'Men of Faith' event from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on June 7 to provide an opportunity for men to grow in their relationship with Jesus and each other. For more information, visit Cathedral of the Holy Angels: 640 Tyler St. — Cathedral of the Holy Angels will have a 'Hope Does Not Disappoint: Understanding the Jubilee Year' mass at 10 a.m. on June 1. The Jubilee will feature mass and be followed by light food and refreshments, and a powerful message from speaker Paul Jarzembowski, Associate Director for the Laity USCCB and Co-Coordinator of Jubilee Resources for the U.S. For more information, visit: The cathedral will have a day of service and 'Neighborhood Cookout with Christ in the City' from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 31. There will be volunteer training at 11 a.m., prep for lunch at 12 p.m., lunch from 1-3 p.m. and cleanup from 3-4 p.m. Those interested can register here: Marquette Park United Methodist Church: 215 N. Grand Blvd. — All are welcome to worship at 11:15 a.m. Sundays at Marquette Park United Methodist Church. There will be refreshments to follow in the Fellowship Hall. Bethel Church: 704 W. County Road 700 North — Bethel Church Hobart-Portage campus will have a women's morning Bible study from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday mornings beginning on June 5. The Bible study will go for eight weeks and will be reading through 'When You Pray' to explore different types of prayers modeled in Scripture. Childcare is available for $25 per child. To register, visit: River Pointe Country Club: 6700 Country Club Rd. — Bethel Church will have a Men's Golf Scramble beginning at 12 p.m. May 31 at the River Pointe Country Club. All levels of golf are welcome to attend for fun, food and fellowship. The cost is $60 per person and includes greens fee, a cart, prizes and dinner. Register here: The Gathering Church: 360 E. Lincoln Hwy. — The Gathering Church will have its Worship Night, held on the first Friday of every month, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 6. The event is a night of worship and prayer. For more information, call 219-765-2124. St. John Evangelist: 11301 W 93rd Ave — Young adults aged 18 to 39 are invited to the 2025 Young Adult Summer Speakers Series, held each Wednesday evening from May 28 to June 25. The next session will begin at 7 p.m. on June 4 with speaker Sister M. Josetta Rose O.S.F. who will discuss 'hope and ceaseless adoration.' Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for food and fellowship, with a bonfire to follow, pending weather.
National Geographic
2 days ago
- General
- National Geographic
How the Council of Nicaea changed Christianity forever
Icon depicting the Emperor Constantine and the fathers of the Council of Nicaea of 325 with the Greek text of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of 381 in its liturgical form. Artist unknown. Photograph by Signal Photos/Alamy Stock Photo This May marks 1,700 years since the convening of what is arguably the most important and influential council in Christian history. For three months in 325 CE, Emperor Constantine gathered hundreds of bishops from across the empire in Nicaea, on the northern coast of what is now Turkey. The resulting statement of belief—the Nicene Creed—was the first official declaration of Christian faith and remains foundational for Christians around the world to this day. Attend Sunday school or a Christian church of nearly any denomination, and you will encounter principles derived from the Nicene Creed. The debate The task of the council was enormous: to establish correct Christian doctrine, fix the date of Easter, define episcopal jurisdictions, and devise protocols for addressing local schisms and dissent. But the most urgent matter under discussion at the council concerned the teachings of Arius, a prominent presbyter from Alexandria who had come into conflict with his bishop, Alexander of Alexandria. Despite common misrepresentations, both Arius and Alexander affirmed that Jesus was the Son of God and divine. Both agreed—following the opening of the Gospel of John—that Jesus was present at the creation of the universe. Their disagreement did not concern whether Jesus was divine, but rather the manner of that divinity and his relationship to God the Father. Arius contended that 'there was a time when [Jesus] was not'—a brief, primordial moment in which the Son did not yet exist. This view implied that Jesus was subordinate to the Father, or at least that the Son's divinity was contingent on that of the Father. Alexander, by contrast, asserted that Jesus had eternally coexisted with God the Father and was fully equal to him. The First Council of Nicaea as depicted by Italian painter Cesare Nebbia (1536-1614), on display at the Vatican Museums, Rome. Photograph by Album/Alamy Stock Photo Underlying this theological dispute were key philosophical concepts drawn from Greek thinkers such as Plato. If the Father and the Son were too unified, as Alexander and his successor Athanasius argued, then the suffering experienced by the Son during the crucifixion would also have been experienced by God—an impossibility according to Platonic philosophy. On the other hand, if they were too separate, as Arius proposed, then Christianity appeared to abandon its monotheistic roots and embrace multiple deities. Each side emphasized a different concern about the nature of God. At the council, representatives of each faction proposed a different term to express the relationship between the Father and the Son. Arius and his supporters favored homoiousios—meaning 'of a similar substance'—while Alexander's camp insisted on homoousios, or 'of the same substance.' Remarkably, the entire controversy hinged on the inclusion of a single Greek letter, iota—giving rise to the expressions 'an iota of difference' or 'a jot of difference.' (What archaeology can tell us about Jesus' crucifixion) The Emperor weighs in Constantine himself had a fairly tenuous grasp of the philosophical and theological nuances of the debate. At one point, according to his biographer Eusebius of Caesarea, he complained that the dispute was a fight 'over small and quite minute points.' Why, then, did he bother to convene such an expensive and time-consuming meeting? Roman emperors had long maintained that concord and uniform religious practices were essential to the success and stability of the empire. Constantine spent much of his career using force to reunify a divided realm; he could not tolerate discord within the Church. As renowned historian of early Christianity Paula Fredriksen puts it in her recently published book Ancient Christianities, Constantine and church leaders agreed that 'proper religion should be unanimous, the identity of and unity of the true church unambiguous.' Division in the church, Constantine said, was worse than war. (Why Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas in January) The outcome The deliberations at the Council of Nicaea were marked by intense conflict. According to a14th-century legend, Saint Nicholas—the figure later associated with Santa Claus—became so enraged during the proceedings that he struck Arius across the face. While the historical accuracy of this episode is doubtful, it accurately reflects the fierceness of the debate. Ultimately, the council ruled against Arius and produced a formal theological declaration: the Nicene Creed. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor. Only about 20 bishops initially refrained from supporting the creed, and just three—Arius and his two closest allies—refused to sign it. The remaining dissenters were later compelled to endorse the statement under pressure from Emperor Constantine. Although Constantine did not vote himself, he did intervene in the drafting, insisting on the inclusion of the term homoousios ('of one substance') in the final creed. The oldest surviving copy of the Nicene Creed, dating to the 6th century. Photograph by Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo For supporters of Arius, as Fredriksen notes, there were significant financial and political incentives to break ranks: Constantine transferred wealth to orthodox bishops, allowed them to travel at public expense, granted them legal authority as magistrates, and provided grain distributions for their churches. Arius himself was exiled from Egypt and branded a heretic. Even after his death, orthodox Christians continued to attack him. They spread rumors of an undignified death—alleging that he died of explosive diarrhea in a public toilet. According to the legend, the force of his bowel movements caused his intestines to be expelled from his body. The story feels far-fetched. As Ellen Muehlberger, a professor at the University of Michigan, has written, this is one of a slew of early Christian fictions in which heretics and schismatics die in dramatic bathroom incidents. It had the effect of smearing Arius's teachings with excrement and bolstering the reputation of Nicaea and its decisions. (Where is Santa buried? The resting place of the real St. Nick.) The lost church For all its influence, the actual location for the meeting of the Council of Nicaea was, until very recently, completely unknown. Then, in 2018, after a century of fruitless efforts, scientists announced the discovery of ancient Roman ruins beneath the surface of the lake in Iznik, Turkey. Mustafa Şahin, the current head of archaeology at Bursa Uludağ University, had been searching the shores for years before he was shown some government survey pictures in 2014 that clearly revealed the outline of a large church beneath the water. The structure, which is located 165 feet off the coast of Iznik, is submerged 6-10 feet beneath the surface of the lake. Şahin and his collaborator biblical scholar Mark Fairchild believe that this is the place where the Council of Nicaea met. Archeological investigation revealed that the underwater basilica collapsed during an earthquake in 740 CE and was never rebuilt. Over time changes in the water level of the lake submerged the ruins entirely. For intrepid travelers there are plans to make the ruins accessible to visitors. In 2018 the mayor of Iznik, Alinur Aktas, said that professional diving classes would be available to tourists who want to visit the site. For Christians today, Nicaea remains a symbol of a time when the Church was less divided. Though the attendees were anything but unified and civil at the time, religious leaders now see the Nicene Creed as a symbol of shared agreement and belief among the denominations that make up modern Christianity. It predates the schisms that eventually separated the various branches of Orthodox Christianity from Roman Catholicism. Prior to his death, Pope Francis had hoped to join the Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, in Nicaea for the anniversary. Pope Leo XIV will make the trip in November, expressing a desire to 'continue the dialogue between East and West [Orthodox Christianity and Roman Catholicism].' All of which shows that even when submerged under water, Nicaea still stands as a beacon of hope for Christians around the world.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Jesus did have children with 'wife' Mary Magdalene 'lost Gospel' proves
A controversial manuscript that is nearly 1,500 years old claims that Jesus Christ was married to prostitute Mary Magdalene and the couple had two children - despite no historical accounts of the marriage A bombshell manuscript said to be nearly 1,500 years old has sparked fresh debate by suggesting Jesus Christ was wed to Mary Magdalene and the pair had children. Dubbed the "Lost Gospel", the document, which surfaced in the British Library, reveals these shocking claims after translation from Aramaic as reported by The Sunday Times. While many scholars have historically downplayed Mary Magdalene's role, translators of this text believe she held much more prominence. Professor Barrie Wilson and writer Simcha Jacobovic devoted months to translating the ancient text, concluding that it identifies the original Virgin Mary as Jesus's spouse rather than his mother and asserts they conceived two children. Mary Magdalene's presence is woven throughout traditional gospel narratives, witnessing key events in Jesus's life, but this "Lost Gospel" isn't the pioneer in proposing she was Jesus's wife, reports the Express. The audacious idea previously surfaced in Nikos Kazantzakis's 1953 novel "The Last Temptation of Christ" and was famously echoed by Dan Brown in his bestseller "The Da Vinci Code". Known from the four canonical gospels as a devout follower who journeyed with Jesus, Magdalene's story remains interlaced with his, her significance perhaps greater than ever imagined. She is also thought to have been present at his crucifixion and subsequently, his resurrection. She is named a dozen times in the canonical gospels - more than most of the apostles. It's widely acknowledged among secular historians that Mary Magdalene, like Jesus, was a real historical figure. She is also referred to more than any other woman in the gospels, apart from Jesus's family. Magdalene is recognised as a saint by several religions including the Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox and Lutheran churches. In 2016, Pope Francis elevated the level of liturgical memory on July 22 from memorial to feast, and declared her to be known as the "Apostle of the apostles". In some Protestant Churches, she is celebrated as a heroine of the faith, while the Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates her on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers. During the Counter-Reformation in Roman Catholicism, the descriptor "penitent" was appended to her name on her feast day.
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- General
- Extra.ie
House where Last Supper occurred 'still standing' millennia later
Archaeologists have claimed that the house where the Last Supper is said to have occurred is still standing over 2,000 years later. The room where Jesus Christ had his supper with his 12 disciples before his crucifixion was mentioned in the book of Luke 22:11-13, which saw Jesus ask for a large, furnished upper room of a house so they could have their passover meal. The room, also known as the Cenacle on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, is a tourist attraction and prayer room — and despite it being said as the room where the famed supper occurred, there was a lack of archaeological excavation that could confirm if the room was around during Jesus' time. Archaeologists have claimed that the house where the Last Supper is said to have occurred is still standing over 2,000 years later. Pic: sedmak/Getty There have been several ancient depictions of the house, which had limestone walls and a red sloping roof, including in 1585 when a fourth century carving saw Jesus before Mary Magdalene post resurrection with a distinctive slanted roof in the background. Other illustrations depicting what appears to be proof of the house include in 1846, when a sixth century illustration found in Italy depicted Jesus entering the old city of Jerusalem on a donkey with the Cenacle visible in the background. Greek Orthodox Christians also found what was thought to be the earliest map of Jerusalem that dated back to 560 AD, with the map showcasing the Cardo Maximus and two structures at the southern end of the map that were identifiable by red roofs. The Cenacle in Mount Zion, where the Last Supper is said to have occurred. Pic: Richard T. Nowitz/Getty Images In more recent times, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) underwent peeling back the modifications of the Cenacle using laser technology and photographic imaging to try and uncover what state it would have been in during the time of the Last Supper. After intense scanning of the room to create 'accurate models of the space,' features that were previously unknown were discovered, including obscure artwork such as Agnus Dei (the Lamb of God) and the Lion of Judah on the ceiling. 'The lion was the symbol of King David,' Amit Re'em of the IAA told Fox News at the time. 'According to ancient scriptures, Jesus was a descendent of King David.' Pic: minoandriani/Getty Images Despite the historical significance of the room, it still cannot be confirmed 100% if that is indeed where the Last Supper took place; with Mr Re'em saying at the time that further research is needed. 'From time to time, when we have an opportunity, we're continuing to document other parts of the holy complex,' he said. 'I hope that maybe, in the future, we will have the opportunity to conduct a small-scale classical archaeological investigation.'
