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Does any church follow the Apostolic Tradition of Baptism ‘in the nude’, or was that never the tradition? The Apostolic Tradition was the work of Hippolytus, written somewhere between 215 and 400 AD. Recent scholars seem to take the later date ( source ). The whole writing can be found here: Apostolic Tradition . Amo...	At the time all baptisms were done in the nude, but usually these were infant baptisms.
For what purpose were the "Chosen People" chosen? I have a good friend who is Jewish, and he often refers to being one of the "Chosen People". I understand that God "chose" Abraham and his descendants. With a New Testament perspective, as the answer to this question indicates, Christians are "chosen people" as well...	They were chosen to record Scripture
What practical effect do stock worship phrases, like "God be magnified", have? In our worship to God many times we utter phrases like "God I magnify you" or "God be magnified". I used to wonder, is God really magnified by saying those words? How can we really magnify God or have him magnified? <Q> Clearly, those phrase...	When we say "God be magnified" we are saying we are focusing on Him and only Him in our moment of worship.
How did Peter recognize Elijah and Moses? Matthew 17:3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” I am wondering how Peter recognize...	Perhaps Jesus called them by name and Peter overheard.
Do Calvinists believe that it is possible to be saved without believing the doctrine of predestination? From a Calvinist theological view, is it possible for God to predestine that XYZ be saved, but for XYZ to reject the doctrine of predestination throughout his or her life? <Q> All that is required to be considered 'p...	Without any question any person who never believes in predestination can still be considered a saved and regenerate predestined Christian by a Calvinist.
Has the Roman Catholic Church ever issued an official response to the accusations of the Reformers? I just started reading Luther's Tabletalk , and the preface , written by Dr. John Aurifaber in 1569, roundly condemns the Roman Catholic Church, presenting an analogy which compares Christians' "servitude" under the ec...	Often the Church's official response is to simply clarify the points of doctrine which were in dispute and move on.
Does the Dome of the Rock have any importance to Christianity? The Dome of the Rock is right beside Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, Israel. Is it considered a sacred place in Christianity? If so, in what way? <Q> From Wikipedia : <S> The Dome of the Rock is located at the visual center of a platform known as the Tem...	The Dome on the Rock itself is not significant to Christianity or Judaism, other than that it's a shrine to another god, from another religion, that exists on the property where the temple should be.
Is Salvation a State Function? Does the salvation of a believer depend on the present state of her faith or are the different life transitions taken into account? Suppose a believer leads a life of faith in Christ. At the end of her life she falls away for some reason, say persecution. Is she saved? There are verses ...	Salvation is a point of time experience where a sinner goes to God in prayer, asks forgiveness for sin, states his/her faith in the completed work of Christ on the cross, and places faith in the resurrected Saviour.
How does a Christian justify free thinking? What types of Christianity promote free thinking or thinking for yourself? The more I go to church, the more I feel guilty for free thinking and feel I should be passive to let the Holy Spirit guide me (but I find it is the will of other men that becomes bigger). So what do...	Christianity proclaims itself as a logical, rational, convincing truth.
According to the Bible, is it a sin to marry a non-virgin? According to the Bible, is it a sin to marry someone who is not a virgin? For the purpose of this question, lets exclude dealing with the following scenarios: the special cases of somebody not being a virgin due to the death of their spouse. the practical d...	It is not sinful to marry someone who is not a virgin.
Where did the religious symbol of the 'halo' come from? I once read somewhere that the 'halo' was inherited by Christianity from ancient worshippers of the Sun. However, although this seems believable I never bothered to verify its historic credibility - something I suppose would not be that difficult, one way or the ...	When Zoroastrianism traveled to the Roman Empire in the form of Mithraism, or the Mysteries of Mithras, the Hvrena was depicted as a halo on the head of Mithras.
Should we have realistic unbelief? Jesus makes it pretty clear that because of our unbelief we will not see miracles in our life (see below). However, psychological experts warn against the dangers of unrealistic expectations. See Psychology Today: The Danger Of Having Unrealistic Expectations In summary, unre...	To the extent that the supernatural realm is "real", it would be best to believe in it .
According to premillenial view, What is the point of the Millenium reign? Here's my understanding: Some people believe during the tribulation. They make into the 1000 year reign. During this reign, there is peace on earth. At the end of the 1000 years, Satan is released. Some of the descendants of the believers foll...	The millennium fulfills the promises to Israel as well as serves to demonstrate our need of God.
Jesus got angry in the temple - should we do that too? I think we know the story. Matthew 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves Can we emulate this as Christians? ...	We as Christians can certainly have righteous anger and probably do whenever we here of murder and violence throughout the world.
Looking for a resource discussing the Biblical principles on how to avoid a victim mentality Beyond the obvious of: Jesus died on the Cross and drank down God's wrath, what do we have to complain about? All things that happen were things allowed by God to sanctify us. Read the book of Job what are some deep theol...	The only book I can think of that properly deals directly with the subject and is a classic, is Dr. Martin-Lloyd Jones, ' Spiritual Depression:
What is the significance of the inverted pentagram symbols on the LDS Temple in Salt Lake City? The Temple in Salt Lake has several inverted pentagrams as decorations. (To see a few, just google "lds temple salt lake inverted pentagrams" and click on images. Or click here ) According to Wikipedia , the inverted p...	Some have also suggested that there are also some influences between some of the garments used in the LDS temple and the robes of the Freemasons and also having members-only ceremonies, though these may be more coincidental.
Is there a concept of Christian State in Christianity? In some of my other questions, I have read that State and church are kept separate in Christianity. I am curious to know, is there any concept of Christian state where Biblical laws and doctrines are enforced or facilitated? Or simply Christians are never supposed ...	The separation of church and state is a " Baptist Distinctive " but is not commonly held across the remainder of the Christian spectrum.
Is there any evidence that Jesus had no children? There is no evidence that Jesus had children. But is there anything in the Bible indicating that he certainly did not? The reason for asking about the evidence of the negative: If someone says "Jesus might have children, I might have his blood in my veins" I may answ...	In the case of Jesus, there is zero evidence of any children, and zero evidence he was even married.
Is there a name for someone who believes in Jesus as God and Savior, yet follows no sect? Do not know if I worded that right. But was wondering what you call someone who does not believe in organized religion at all. They may go to church but never as a member or follower of any particular group. <Q> It refers to peo...	I believe the word you are looking for is 'nondenominational', as in 'nondenominational Christian'.
What traditions fully embrace the concept of a "local parish church"? As far as I understand it, the concept of having parishes and parish churches means that regions are divided up geographically, that each region will have a church that is specifically dedicated to that region, and that everybody in that region is ex...	The Church of England falls into the "partial" category.
Does Satan actually laugh? I've watched a lot of horror movies and I can't help noticing Satan or any demons are often portrayed 'diabolically' laughing somewhere in the movie. But then, Satan is supposed to be our prosecutor* at the Last Judgement and a professional prosecutor would NOT laugh for other reasons. So, my...	If you interpret the serpent in Genesis to be Satan, he doesn't laugh.
Are other religions treated differently by any major branch of Christianity? In Judaism, some religions are considered to be Avodah Zarah , and others are not. So, for example, if Christianity or certain of its denominations is Avodah Zarah, that has implications for Jews' interactions with those religions and wit...	Christians view Judaism differently than we view any other religion.
Why did Satan tempt Jesus in the desert? In Matthew 4:1-13 and Luke 4:1-11 , Jesus was in the desert for 40 days and tempted by Satan. Of particular interest is the first temptation. Luke 4:3-4 (NLT) 3 Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 But J...	Satan is questioning whether Jesus was who He said He was (and whom His Father had just attested to at the baptism) - He was trying to get Jesus to fail in His earthly life
Does Christianity have any other books besides the Bible that the disciples use for following? Does Christianity have any other book beside Bible which narrate stories of the Jesus and Moses and is considered auspicious or sacred? Are there any other such books other than Bible which kind of augments/completes the Bibl...	The Community of Christ, formerly Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, recognizes the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Revised Common Lectionary. You could argue that the New Testament itself is the "other book" in addition to the Old Testament which is based either on the Masoret...
Why is the book of Hebrews named that? The book of Hebrews in the New Testament shares a name with the Hebrew people of the Mosaic Law. Why was that book named Hebrews? <Q> It's called that because it was written as a letter to Hebrews. <S> Most of the Epistles are titled after the group they were written to. <S> (...	Hebrews is the original name of Judeans (or later called "Jews" in English) due to the fact that they are the descendants of Heber.
Why does Jesus feel only certain people that come into physical contact with Him? Luke 8 43 A woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on doctors, but no doctor was able to heal her. 44 The woman came behind Jesus and touched the bottom of his coat. At that moment, her ...	There is no indication that Jesus didn't know or feel the needs of anyone else.
What does it mean to magnify or glorify the Lord? 'Magnify' can mean to make something look bigger than it is, but this is not possible to do with God. Certainly God can't obtain more glory than the infinite worth he had from all eternity. So if we can't make God seem bigger or more glorious than he already is, what d...	Magnification doesn't make objects bigger, it alters our perception of an object, making it appear bigger to us.
Eating of which non-fish animals does not go against the dietery law of the Roman Catholic Church? During lent a Roman Catholic may not consume meat other than that of a fish. However, there are some non-fish animals that have been considered okay to consume during that time, like beaver for example . What other non-f...	Usually seafood was permitted and occasionally cold-blooded animals might be acceptable in certain areas.
Are there any sects of Christianity that still practice animal sacrifice? Are there any modern sects who originate from or claim affiliation with Christianity that still practice any sacrificial rites? If so, who are they and what specifically is their understanding of the nature of sin and forgiveness in relation to s...	Santeria is kind-of sort-of a Christian denomination, and they practice animal sacrifices.
What is the "paradise" that Jesus references in Luke 23:43? Luke 23:43 - Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." At first glance, I casually assumed "paradise" was referring to heaven, but if Jesus was dead for 3 days after His crucifixion and didn't ascend to heaven until m...	Our Church (a Baptist Church) teaches that "Paradise" is a temporary holding place for those who have died and are awaiting Christ's return.
What is the evidence that suggests that the Apostle Paul was married? I have heard people say over the years that it is likely that the Apostle Paul had been married at some point, perhaps prior to his conversion. However, there doesn't seem to be any biblical evidence to this end. What, then, is the evidence in supp...	The evidence for Paul being married is fairly scant.
What person(s) of the Trinity were the people of the Old Testament interacting with? When a someone or groups of people were interacting with God, as recorded in the Old Testament, in general were they simply interacting with person of 'God the Father' within the Trinity? Or were they interacting with the 3 in one at t...	The nature of the Trinity means that if you are interacting with one, for most purposes you may as well be interacting with all.
Are animals under the curse? Animals without a doubt go against the commandments of God. There are gay animals, animals that kill each other for no reason, etc. Does it say in the bible that the animals are under the curse of sin as well? If so, how is that justified? As in, why should animals suffer the curse of sin ...	Paul does say that "the whole creation" (including animals, presumably) suffers because of the fall:
Is the Bible an inexhaustible source? "I have heard many pastors on online and in sermons make the statement that the bible is inexhaustible. I am trying to wrap my mind around that. Isn't it a finite book. can't you know what it says completely? I would love for it to be inexhaustible because I love to learn new thin...	So, from a Biblical perspective, the Bible, as the very words of God which reveal the nature of God, is, as a result, inexhaustible.
What is the difference between holiness and righteousness? Both holiness and righteousness are used to describe God. Additionally, we as Christians are called to be holy and righteous as well. These are two distinct words, so they must have distinct meanings. So, my question is what distinguishes holiness from right...	" Righteous " means "made right" (justified), or "being right", not in the sense of "correct", but as in "not wrong" - being pure, honest, sinless.
What does INRI stand for? On the crucifix there is sometimes a plate above Jesus' head that has the letters INRI. What does INRI mean or stand for? Why is it there? <Q> According to John 19:19-20 , 19 <S> And Pilate wrote a title, and put [it] on the cross. <S> And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF TH...	INRI is an acronym meaning Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum , or "Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews."
Is the genealogy in Matthew a complete Genealogy, or did he abreviate it for a specific reason? The genealogy in Matthew 1 lists the names in 3 groups - From Abraham to David, David to the Exile, The Exile to Jesus. I'm just interested to know is this a complete family history for Jesus, or is it done "poetically" so ...	Matthew is tracing Jesus' genealogy to show he is the heir of David; by dividing the genealogy into groups of 14, Matthew is simply reinforcing this point.
According to Roman Catholic doctrine, why does Mary refer to God as her Savior if she was born without sin? In the Magnificat, Mary refers to God as her Savior. According to Roman Catholic doctrine, Mary was born sinless and remained sinless throughout her life. So, why does Mary refer to God as her Savior if she...	Mary was saved because her Savior prevented her from falling into sin.
Why appoint Matthias to replace Judas only to later appoint Paul as a thirteenth Apostle? It seems that twelve is a number with a lot of meaning in the Bible, and thirteen not so much. So why not make Paul the twelfth Apostle and just skip Matthias? Later in Revelation the church seems to be still presented as based ...	Matthias was appointed for a very specific purpose: to fill the void in the Twelve once Judas had died.
Apostolic Succession in the Catholic church Wikipedia says: In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle. cf. Pope \| Wikipedia As someone who isn't Catholic I don't want to argue how true this is or how significant this is. What I'm interested to know is there an of...	In Roman Catholic theology, the doctrine of apostolic succession states that Christ gave the full sacramental authority of the Church to the Twelve Apostles in the sacrament of Holy Orders, making them the first bishops.
Somebody was born into a culture that has no knowledge of the Christ - could he still "find him"? If somebody a) has no access to the Bible or any other written document on the Christand b) has no chance of hearing of "him" through the word of mouth either (because he lives in a culture that has no knowledge of the C...	"Yes, a person who has no access to the Bible or other Christians can still find Christ if he seeks God, because God can answer his seeking by sending him what he did not originally have."
Why do churches have steeples? What purpose do steeples serve? Are they put high up on church buildings as some sort of marketing tool so it can be seen from far away or is there some other reason(s)? <Q> Interesting question. <S> I managed to find an article, The History of Church Steeples , that actually addresses...	The early church believed that the church could communicate the truth of the Bible in pictures and symbols to those who were illiterate, such as using the picture in the stained glass to tell stories, as well as the steeple, which helped by pointing upwards devotedly to Heaven.
Does the Christian Old Testament have the exact same list of books as the Jewish Bible? Does the Christian Old Testament include exactly the same books that are in the Jewish Bible (called the Tanakh in Judaism)? Are there any differences between the Christian Old Testament and the Jewish Bible? <Q> The Christian Old...	The Old Testament is based on the Jewish Bible with often the same books.
Where is the Trinity in the Bible? Possible Duplicate: Biblical basis for the doctrine of the Trinity I've heard of the Trinity multiple times and under the basis of it. He is one God, but with three personalities. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But nowhere do I ever see the word Trinity mentioned i...	Catholics believe the Trinity is part of Sacred Tradition, not Sacred Scripture.
What makes someone an antipope? Rather straight forward question. There have been multiple men declared antipopes. Is it different each time, or generally the same set of circumstances that causes this? <Q> Flinn points out that there have been 39 antipopes in the history of the Catholic Church and that the criteria fo...	Frank K. Flinn's Encyclopedia of Catholicism defines an antipope as "a person who lays claim to the office of bishop of Rome and tries to act as head of the Roman Catholic Church, in opposition to the person duly holding that ecclesiastical office in the eyes of the church as a whole."
Have witches ever been executed by the Eastern Orthodox Church? If we don't count lynchings, have people ever been executed for witchcraft by the Eastern Orthodox Church? In western Christianity, the execution of witches was condemned until 1484 , four centuries after the schism of the eastern and western churches, s...	Without getting into the confounded history of witch-burning , it is generally held that theologians prior to the 10th century did not believe in witches .
Are there any accidents (philosophical term) in God? Accident being defined as an attribute or property contingent upon the existence of something else, from the Latin word accidēns , or the Greek word συμβεβηκός ( symbebēkos ). Do accidents exist in God? <Q> St. Thomas Aquinas addresses this directly in the Summa ....	Briefly, there are no accidents in God.
What substitutes for prayers for the Pope's intentions during sede vacante? One of the requirements one must meet to obtain an indulgence is to pray for the intentions of the pope. When there's no pope, what's the substitute? I guess it's the conclave and the next pope, but I don't know the exact rules on this. <Q> It'...	The answer is awesome: Communion of Saints !
Why did Protestants abandon Liturgy of the Hours? In Divine office or Liturgy of the Hours as it is practiced in Catholic Church there's nothing bad for Protestants (or at least nothing of which I know that Protestants consider bad); prayer is good for all Christians and Psalms are a good basis. However, most Protest...	While more open-minded Protestants may consider the Liturgy of the Hours helpful in its structure (ignoring prayers to the saints/dead), many would categorize it as just another reading/prayer plan similar to ones you could buy at a Christian bookstore. I don't know of any Protestant teaching that would discourage some...
What is the "city of seven hills" in St. Malachy's Popes Prophecy? Reading through St. Malachy's Popes Prophecy , I couldn't understand a particular phrase: Peter the Roman, who will nourish the sheep in many tribulations; when they are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed , and the dreadful judge ...	The seven hills are: Aventine Hill (Latin, Aventinus; Italian, Aventino) Caelian Hill (Caelius, Celio)
What does the LDS Church teach about Jesus being married, having children, and His position on polygamy? In the Journal of Discourses, LDS apostles suggest that Jesus Himself was married, that He had children, and that He and His disciples endorsed polygamy. It will be borne in mind that once on a time, there was a m...	True there is no reference to Christ being married in the bible directly.
What is the biblical basis for considering gender to be not merely physical/biological? From the perspective of the tripartite nature of man--that men and women have a body, a soul, and a spirit--is there a biblical basis for the position that gender is not merely present in the body or the physical nature, but that it...	I would say that the principal argument in favor of the assertion that gender is not limited to physical creatures, is that God the Father is spirit ( John 4:24 ) and invisible ( 1 Tim. 1:17 ), yet He is always referred to by masculine-gendered pronouns in the New Testament.
What is the significance of priest breaking the bread (Host) in a Catholic mass? In a Catholic mass, just before the distribution of communion to people, the priest breaks the Host in to pieces and people simultaneously acclaim: Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us....... What is the sign...	The meaning of the fraction of bread is, that Christ is 'distributing himself' to the Faithful.
How is it significant that Jesus rose on the 3rd day? Christianity teaches that Jesus died on the cross and on the Third day rose from the dead. His resurection is significant for all sorts of reasons which I don't want to go into in this question. What I'm interested in is why did he rise THREE days later? Why not 4...	In the symbolic language of the Bible, a three day period points to an act of divine intervention which impacts Salvation History.
What do the words Catholic and Protestant mean? Also, what is the history of use and what languages do they come from? Is it a fitting name today or is it outdated? How do the two relate to each other? <Q> Catholic can have a few different meanings. <S> It could refer to: The Roman Catholic Church Eastern Catholic c...	They are called Protestant because they protested the teachings of the Roman Catholic church.
How does a Catholic church support itself without Tithe? Usually, in Protestant churches, the church's income is mostly from tithes and then offerings, and secondarily from any outside sponsors the church may have. I am less informed how the Catholic church raises their funds. I learned from this post that Catholics...	The Catholic church benefits from a large member base and their obligation to give out of their ability to the needs of the church.
According to Roman Catholic orthodoxy, is Jesus Christ a human person, a divine person, both, or none? I'll give you an example of a divine person: God the Father.I'll give you an example of a human person: the apostle Paul. According to Roman Catholic orthodoxy (note: cite it), is Jesus Christ a human person, a divi...	Christ is however one person which is both God and human.
Why does God command the Israelites not to boil a goat in its mother's milk? Some of the laws I can directly see why they were given, however I do not understand the last part of the verse below regarding not boiling a kid in its mothers milk. Deuteronomy 14:21 NIV Do not eat anything you find already dead. You may ...	One is that the practice was cruel and inhumane, but given the animal sacrifices for sin, that just doesn't make sense to me. In this case about a goat and its mother, the lesson is we ought to respect the tender relationship of an animal and her young.
Does Jesus have a last name? I heard "Christ" isn't the last name He got from His parents. Is that true? Does He have a last name? If He does not have a last name, then how does that work? If that wasn't His last name, and there were other people named Jesus, then how could people even know which Jesus people were tal...	Jesus had the name before he came to earth, but he received it as the son of man/God, in this form, where he is now in heaven still in this form making intercession for us.
Who do mainline Protestants believe an "archangel" (such as Michael) to be? Some sects including Jehovah's Witnesses believe the archangel Michael to be one in the same with Christ . The basic premise of this claim seems to stem from the unique usage of the role archangel rather than just any-ol-angel. Michael is th...	An archangel, in the Protestant definition, is simply an angel with a high rank, often referred to as a "chief" angel .
Which Person(s) of the Trinity were in Jesus? The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that God is one, and God is three (Father, Son, Holy Spirit.) From what I understand the Eternal Son came in human flesh, and we know that resultant man as Jesus of Nazareth. So would it be accurate to say God the Son was operating in a h...	Answer : yes the Holy Spirit was in Him, no the Father was not in him (he was in Him in a metaphorical sense though) All three persons of the Trinity are in a perichoretic union.
Was Jesus God's only Son? In some places, the Bible uses wording like "children of God" or "sons of God". One example of this use is Genesis 6:2 , and another is Galatians 3:26 : 26 For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. 26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, [ alternate ...	Jesus is the only Son of God.
Why did Jesus not want people to talk about his healing? There are numerous instances in the gospels of Jesus healing someone, and then Jesus in some form or another instructing them to keep silent about it. One example, in Matthew 9:27-31 27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have...	I think that had Christ performed miracles then went around bragging about it, the faith would have died shortly after The ascension.
Does God have the capacity to sin? Can God sin? To clarify, this question is not asking for a "justification" of those times, described in the Bible, when God struck someone dead. Life is His to take. the question is also not asking strictly whether Jesus had the capacity to sin. The answer should not hinge on whet...	God cannot do anything that is contrary to His holy character.
What is the significance of presenting the Apostles as acting foolishly many times in the Gospels? Multiple times in the four Gospels, the Apostles seem to act foolishly. They are around Jesus for a long time, witness miracles, and still lose faith pretty easily. Another example: Jesus says a parable, they don't unders...	The unflattering details included in the writings of the Gospels attest both to their accuracy and to apostolic authorship.
According to Protestantism, what is the significance of Jesus and the Mount of Transfiguration? Matthew, Mark and Luke all record the story of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. Matthew's version is provided below. It seems that each writer simply records that the event occurred, but none of them seem to indicate...	By appearing with "the Law" (Moses) and "the Prophets" (Elijah), Jesus is shown to be fufilling all of Scripture.
Why was the New Testament Written in Greek? New Testament was written in Greek. But Jesus lived in Israel and was supposed to be the next King of Israel. I think it is probably fair to assume that he and his twelve apostles spoke Hebrew. Then why would the New Testament be written in Greek? I would think at least the G...	Greek was (only incidentally) the most popular language of the time, so it turned out to be the primary language the authors used
What is "your peace" in Matthew 10? In Matthew 10, Jesus is instructing his disciples, whom he is sending out to preach to the children of Israel as follows: 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greet...	As you enter a house, wish it peace.
What does the story of Noah's Ark foreshadow in the New Testament? I have seen Noah's Ark listed one of the "types" in Scripture -- something that occurred, but that also foreshadowed something else that would come later. What exactly, then, does the story of Noah's Ark foreshadow? <Q> The flood is explicitly used typ...	Literarily speaking, the Ark of Noah is the vessel through which the world (Noah and the animals of creation) is saved from destruction.
Did the sun and the moon really stop rotating? Or, the better question is: did the earth really stop rotating? Joshua 10:12-14 New International Version (NIV) 12: On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, mo...	The passage states that both the sun and the moon stopped moving.
Why do Matthew and Luke contain genealogies of Jesus, while Mark and John do not? Both Matthew and Luke contain genealogies of Jesus, Matthew to Abraham, and Luke to Adam. However, neither Mark nor John contain genealogies. What is the reason for this--both for why Matthew and Luke do contain genealogies, and for why...	John is in a completely different format than the other gospels. Mark portrayed Christ as a Servant, which was stated already, and as such the author intentionally left out the genealogy.
Did God ever talk about his other creations? I have always been a lover of all things "Science", space, other life forms, etc. I excelled in Science in School but a few years ago I started questioning things and now believe that "Science" and God can coexist - something that most people I've spoken to disagree with. ...	What I found was that there is no explicit mention of other life in the universe apart from what is on earth and the spiritual/heavenly realm.
Did God create other people besides Adam and Eve? After Cain killed Abel, he was cast away and said "whoever finds me will kill me", there he took a wife. I think this indicates there were other people on the face of the earth created by God, but are there any other explanations? The reason I ask this is that Adam an...	So according to Genesis Eve was the mother of all living, so that means there were no other directly created people.
What is the difference between Protestantism vs Protestants? According to me Protestants are the one who doesn't pray to Mary. I also came across the Protestantism which speaks about the 95 Theses which Martin Luther started against indulgence . I don't see any relationship with Protestants and Protestantism. A...	"Protestantism" is the name of a movement. " Protestants base their beliefs and actions on Scripture (the Bible), and since the Bible doesn't recommend praying to saints (who, after all, are dead), we just stick to praying to God.
Why did the conclave elect Pope Stephen I, when he died prior to taking office? According to Wikipedia , Pope Stephen I was elected to the papacy in March of 752 A.D., but died a few days later, prior to being installed. As I understand it, Catholic teaching indicates that God's will is accomplished through the votin...	As far as I know, the Catholic Church teaches that a man acquires the power of the papacy as soon as he has been duly elected and has accepted the office (provided he is already a bishop; otherwise he'd have to be consecrated a bishop first), even before any official installation, coronation, or even public announcemen...
Why is Rome the holy city? Why did Rome become the seat of the Pope and the central location for the Church? I would think that Jerusalem would be the first choice. There are also a number of other cities that I would personally pick over Rome because of location and centrality to the early Church. Maybe the issue is t...	Rome is the holy city to western Christianity because it became the seat of the Pope. Part of it has to do with the fact that it was a fairly significant city even apart from religion.
Does the word 'testament' in the titles OT and NT imply the death of the testator in both covenants? A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his estate and provides for the transfer of his property at death. This property an inheritance. What I am...	Old and New Testaments just means old and new covenant.
Why isn’t the soul (ψυχή) considered to be a “person” (ὑπόστασις)? From my understanding, the unity of spirit, soul, and body is considered to be a ὑπόστασις, or “person.” But, what argument is there against the soul itself (apart from the body) being a ὑπόστασις? It seems the soul possesses reason. It exists by itself...	A soul cannot be considered without the body.
Why do Mormons/LDS refer to God as "Heavenly Father" rather than "Our Heavenly Father"? I have noticed a very subtle distinction in the way Protestants and LDS refer to God. When Protestants pray to God, he may address Him as "Heavenly Father", but when they speak about God, they seem to refer to Him as " Our He...	Heavenly Father is used so often in a indirect manner because of the personal relationship LDS feel they have with God.
What is the spiritual significance of swearing on a Bible among the various churches and denominations? When someone is deposed in court, they are asked to swear on a Bible. My premise is that the use of a printed Bible in this instance is derived from a pagan ritual or rituals, rather than a practice that the holy Sc...	The bible is clear that swearing on anything and taking oaths is sinful.
What is the background of the verse Heb 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 What would be the reasons to give up meeting? And a sub question, How can we motivate others for Sunda...	Another possibility I have always considered is that the assembling together could have referred to the Feasts found in Levitucus 23, which were actually the only assemblies that were commanded and required of ancient Israel.
Will people in hell be able to remember people in heaven? I've heard many times that once you go to heaven, you'll no longer remember your past life, or those that never made it to heaven. Does the same apply in hell? <Q> that it doesn't apply in either. <S> (Didn't want to just say "yes" or "no" because that would ha...	Yes, those in hell can remember their past life; no, I know for a fact (according to the Bible; if you don't consider the Bible a valid source, then I got nothin :) )
What are the "signs of grief" for which a pastor should be on the look out? So, in my seminary pastoral care class, I remember being taken to a funeral home, and walked through the mechanics of a funeral. During that visit, I was told that "everyone's grief process is different," and I have seen wide variation in this....	A preoccupation with distressing thoughts about the death event * Recurrent or growing pangs of painful emotions with intense yearning and longing for the dead loved one Shock or Disbelief Denial Anger
Has any church organization refused lottery winnings as donation? Sometimes I've played the lottery when it gets over $100 million, thinking I could retire on a small fortune and then give tens of millions away to charity, including of course, Christian ones. Has anyone ever seen a congregation or parachurch organizat...	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has an official policy of not accepting any tithing from winnings having to do with gambling, this includes the lottery.
Torah and the Old Testament Both Torah and the Old Testament relate to Jews. How different or similar is Torah and the Old Testament of Bible? <Q> I've found "Judaism 101" at jewfaq.org to be a reasonably sound site when looking for answers to questions about Judaism. <S> Here's their basic definition of Torah: <S...	Torah in it's simplest definition is the first five books of Hebrew Bible ( Tanakh ). Canonization may be different but the individual books are same, only the list is different.
What Doctrine Supports The Christian Gun Culture? In America, there is a large group of people where being a Christian, active in the gun culture and protecting their right to fire arms is proudly the basis of their identity. For example, at the shooting range you may see a bumper sticker on a car stating " All I n...	Roman Catholic "Just War" doctrine doesn't seem related to the issue, though someone with better knowledge of the Church of Rome may know otherwise.
What do Protestants who deny transubstantiation do with the remainders of wine and bread after the Eucharist? What do Protestants who deny transubstantiation do with the remainders of wine and bread after the Eucharist? For example, in Eastern Orthodox Church, after the liturgy the priest must consume (I mean eat) all...	Additionally, if the bread or wine goes bad or if there is anything left over after an observance, they can be just thrown away.
Apostle John lived in Ephesus - what sources claim that? Which earliest sources does Christianity posses that claim that apostle John spent the last years of his life in Ephesus? <Q> Revelation 1:9 explicitly states that John was on the island of Patmos when he wrote revelation: <S> I, John, your brother and compani...	The oldest tradition I could find but was not qualified for the word of God and also is not used as cannon and probably is just made up and is definitely gnostic is the acts of John .
What will happen to the Trinity when the Bride of Christ is revealed? Are there any Christian teaching that address What will happen to the Trinity when the “Bride of Christ” is established, will it then be a Quadrinity? Revelation 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of ...	Ultimately, nothing can happen to the Trinity based on those verses.
How have major theological traditions handled "continuing to indulge in sin when saved?" There is interest in the question of what happens to someone who continues to indulge in a specific sinful habit while (apparently, originally) saved. What happens to this person? So far, I've asked a Truth Question, and to make m...	The Catholic position is that there are certain sins that remove one's State of Justification, if one commits such a sin and dies, they will be condemned.
What is the meaning and origin of bridal veils in Christian weddings? Does the practice of brides wearing veils have its origin in either the Bible or Christian tradition? If so, where exactly did it originate and what is it supposed to symbolize? <Q> Tertullian.sayeth <S> Let virgins alone be veiled, and this when ...	Veils were used as a symbol of virginity and purity for brides given to their mates. Veils are indeed Scriptural, as St. Paul, in Chapter 11 of his First Letter to the Corinthians, instructs women to cover their heads in church: every woman praying or prophesying with her head not covered: dishonorest her head …
What is role of speaking in tongues in Assemblies of God denomination? A previous question was answered listing perhaps only one denomination, and it wasn't AOG, that held speaking in tongues as sign of spiritual maturity. Does the Assemblies of God group speak in tongues? <Q> Assemblies of God strongly believe and ...	According to this website , the Assemblies of God denomination really does speak in tongues as an important part of the faith.
Why did Jesus refer to humans as salt? As with reference to the verse Matthew 5:13 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Why did Jesus refer to people as salt? Why i...	Salt is also important as a preservative and a seasoning.
Why is being gay considered more sinful than being divorced or commiting adultery? I am looking for Biblical evidence that homosexuality is a greater sin than adultery or divorce (for any reason other than adultery). Prohibitions of "sexual immorality" could cover homosexuality, and I understand that Christian marriag...	If you head into homosexual activity, you enter an addiction that causes you to miss out on something better.
Why did Daniel consider the allotment of food and wine to be wrong for him to eat? When Nebuchadnezzar conquered Israel and took Daniel and other Jewish men into his court, he assigned them food and wine from the king's table. The king appointed for them a daily ration from the king’s choice food and from the wine wh...	Daniel was probably suspicious about the source of the food or he saw that it was offered to idols first and refused to eat it.
Must everyone live a quiet life? 1 Thessalonians 4:11 says, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, If this was a blanket statement to everyone, people like Billy Graham would be sinning by living famous lives in the public ...	Living a quiet life : Paul instructed the Christians in Corinth to live peacefully and not fight among themselves.
Is there any evidence for the claim that the Catholic church suppressed translation of Scripture? There is a popular Protestant polemic that Catholics don't (or didn't) want people to read the Bible. It is often furthermore assumed that the Catholic Church went so far as to ban people from having the Bible in their ...	The evidence that the Church has ever completely forbidden the translation of scripture is dubious at best .
Are there any examples of Jesus praying publicly? As a follow up to this question: Is it ok to pray in public? There are many examples where Jesus prays privately and he will intentionally separate himself from his disciples, but are there examples where he actually prays out loud (not including the Lord's prayer whe...	JESUS prayed publicly even from the cross...
Is "the observer on earth" view common among Creationists? According to these sources, source 1 , source 2 , source 3 , source 4 , the Genesis account was narrated from the viewpoint of an observer on the earth's surface. from source 1 : As in any scientific experiment, you make observations of what is occurr...	The "observer on earth" perspective is common and key to OEC, while it is tangential to the YEC interpretation.
Is Jesus the Creator? The following verses clearly credit Jesus Christ with “Creation.” How do Christians view the role of Christ in Creation? Ephesians 3:9: And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesu...	The Catechism of the Council of Trent teaches that Creation is the common work of the Three Divine Persons

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