Religion

John Dee was a famous adviser to Queen Elizabeth I, often using magical items—including a literal crystal ball—to attempt to foretell the future. Among these items was an obsidian mirror believed for centuries to have been made by the Aztecs, but doubts persisted as no one knew how Dee could have acquired it. Recent scientific analyses revealed the origin of the obsidian as from volcanic rock located in Pachuca, Mexico, establishing it as a legitimate Aztec item.

On the Day of the Dead, ghosts enjoy earthly delights amid Mexican cemeteries. Baskets of sweet breads and tamales grace graves, while altars honoring the departed display hot chocolate and chicken legs. Hear from experts why this morbid day emphasizes the significance of offering foods loved by the dead. Intrigued? You can learn to make them yourself with recipes provided.

The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1 and 2, and is a time to remember the lives of deceased loved ones. It has roots in Aztec and other pre-Hispanic cultures and influences from Spanish Catholicism. Many view the holiday as a way for the living to communicate with the dead. On the Day of the Dead, families build altars and decorate them with photos, candles, food, and other offerings. They also hold vigils and pray for their souls. The Aztecs believed death was not the end, but rather a transition to another life.

Sikhs in the northern Punjab province of India—as well as those of the global diaspora—have long advocated for a Sikh homeland, dubbing it Khalistan, which means the land of purity. The Sikh religion, which is distinct from Islam and Hindu, was founded in the 15th century and is believed to be the fifth largest religion in the world. Explore the Sikh separatist movement's history with this article. Tensions started amid the late 1940s partition of India into Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India, with no space carved out for the Sikhs. The conflict escalated in the 1980s with a large Sikh-led insurgency in Punjab, which led to reprisals from the Hindu government and the assassination of Indira Gandhi. More recently, farmer protests in India, largely led by Sikhs, reignited discussions about Khalistan. The movement has support from the Sikh diaspora in Canada, the UK, and Australia. Canada, in particular, has a significant Sikh population and has faced accusations of providing a safe haven for Khalistani militants.

We naturally avoid pain and see it as a negative experience. But many traditional cultures incorporate extremely painful rituals into their religious ceremonies, claiming they, in fact, provide ample benefits. Researchers were able to observe boosts in happiness and a sense of belonging in a tribe of Mauritians after they undertook a rigorously painful religious ritual. Read about the study here.

This article delves into the witch "panics" and hunts that roiled across Scotland between 1590 and 1662. The witch hunts in Scotland were unusually deadly, with the country having five times the average European execution rate per capita. Their...

Over 2 million pilgrims travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, every year during the Hajj pilgrimage, a central tenet of the Islamic faith. The route traces one the Prophet Mohammed is said to have once walked, and involves challenging rituals including...

In 1478, Spain's Catholic monarchy launched a campaign tackling heresy throughout the collection of kingdoms that would ultimately become modern-day Spain. This six-minute animated video overviews the Spanish Inquisition, a wave of religious...

Sikhism is a religion founded in the 15th century by Guru Nanak in the northern regions of India. It is the fifth-largest religion in the world, with nearly 30 million adherents. Get to know the basic tenets of this lesser-known religion with this...

A scholar explains the rich historical roots of Easter and how it has evolved over the centuries.