“What is a pagan? What is paganism?”……Answer: From a Christian viewpoint, pagans are generally characterized as those who are caught up in any religious ceremony, act, or practice that is not distinctly Christian. Correspondingly, Jews and Muslims also use the term "pagans" to describe those outside their religion. Others define the term "paganism" as any […]
“What are the origins of Halloween?”……Answer: Whatever its origins or history, Halloween is celebrated in many different ways by all sorts of people around the world. Traditionally, it was known as All Hallows' Eve, when the dead were remembered. Over time, it became cultural. For Americans, it has become extremely commercialized. We begin to see […]
“Who was Simon the Sorcerer?”……Answer: Simon the Sorcerer, sometimes referred to as Simon Magus or Simon of Gitta, is mentioned by Luke in Acts 8:9-24. He appeared in the wake of the newly established Christian church. A minor figure in New Testament history, Simon also appears in Gnostic texts in which his character and biography […]
“What is a succubus? What is an incubus?”……Answer: According to medieval folklore, a succubus is a demon that takes the form of a woman in order to have intercourse with a man in his dreams. The name comes from Old Latin, and means "to lie under." In Islamic superstition, there is a similar demon called […]
“Who were the sons of God and daughters of men in Genesis 6:1-4?”……Answer: Genesis 6:1-4 refers to the sons of God and the daughters of men. There have been several suggestions as to who the sons of God were and why the children they had with daughters of men grew into a race of giants […]
“Who were the spirits in prison?”……Answer: Speaking of the time between Jesus' death and resurrection, 1 Peter 3:19 declares, ". . . He went and preached to the spirits in prison├ö├ç┬¬" Who were these "spirits in prison," why was Jesus preaching to them, and what was He preaching to them? As background, please read our […]
“What is the difference between religion and spirituality?”……Answer: Before we explore the difference between religion and spirituality, we must first define the two terms. Religion can be defined as "belief in God or gods to be worshipped, usually expressed in conduct and ritual" or "any specific system of belief, worship, etc., often involving a code […]