Chinese Religions Throughout Chinese History

bhoffert.faculty.noctrl.edu

China is one of the most ancient civilizations on Earth and religious practices in this country date back to more than 7000 years. In modern times, we recognize three major Eastern religions in China – Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. However, long before the philosophical and spiritual teachings of Confucius and Lao-Tzu and the arrival of the wisdom of the Buddha in China, religion in China has always thrived in one form and several others. And today, Chinese religion has become a complex amalgamation of folk religion, the Three Religions, and the anti-religious sentiment of the Communist doctrine.

Hence, the term “Chinese religion” as we know it now refers to a diverse and complex collection of many traditions and beliefs. And for us to understand the modern expressions of Chinese religion, it becomes necessary for us to learn how and when various religions formed and reigned supreme, and how much they developed and influenced Chinese civilization throughout its long history.

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER VIDEO

Neolithic China

Phys.org

Orthodox Chinese religions are products of continuous historical development since prehistoric times. Ancient China was inhabited by many nomadic tribes that eventually developed agriculture, and archaeological records indicate that these small villages and communities gradually progressed toward more sophisticated technology and social stratification. There is also some evidence for prehistoric religious activities, particularly involving the dead, who were often buried in segregated cemeteries, with the bodies’ heads positioned toward a single cardinal direction. There was also some concern over the precise ordering of ritual acts, which is perhaps an early version over the importance placed on universal order and pattern in later Chinese cosmology. There is also evidence of people who acted as divination specialists as early as the 4th millennium BCE, while the 3rd millennium BCE saw the rise of interest in building tomb rams and coffin chambers. Early forms of ancestor worship also began during this period.  

Shang Dynasty: 1600 BC – 1050 BCE

Ancient Chinese Dynasties: Advancements and Achievements

By the time of the Shang Dynasty, religion developed to the point that the people established a definite “king of the gods” referred to as Shangti along with many lesser gods of other names. The people also held a strong belief in ghosts, proven by evidence in the form of amulets and charms and the written ghost stories during this time considered to be the earliest form of Chinese literature. Divination also became a significant part of Chinese religious beliefs during the Shang dynasty, with some individuals performing mystical and psychic abilities by telling another person’s future through oracle bones.

 

Religion in the Zhou Dynasty: 1046 – 256 BCE

Pinterest

During the Zhou Dynasty, various regions of China started to become more unified, turning into a single civilization. At the same time, religious ideas from different regions of the area interacted with each other and began to assimilate. Both commoners and the elite believed in gods, ghosts, ancestors, and omens, and they practiced divination, sacrifice, and exorcism. Zhou ancestors were believed to live in a celestial court presided over by the Zhou high god Tian. During the Zhou Dynasty, the Mandate of Heaven concept developed and this Chinese civilization also eventually gave way to the teachings of Confucius and Mo-tzu whose teachings emphasized virtue, humanity, the value of social relationships, and just leadership.

Qin Dynasty: 221 – 206 BCE

In the time of the Qin Dynasty, the emperor Shi Huangti became infamous for his suppression of religion and other philosophical perspectives. During his reign, legalism was the state philosophy of the Qin government and the citizens were subjected to harsh penalties for violating even minor laws. The emperor also banned any books which were not about his family line, his dynasty or Legalism. Though he suppressed his people’s religious beliefs, he was obsessed in conquering death by searching for the key to achieving immortality. However, he failed to succeed in accomplishing this feat, having died in 210 BCE while searching for immortality on tour through his kingdom.

Han Dynasty: 206 BCE – 220 CE

The Han Dynasty was the first dynasty in China to embrace Confucianism, which became the ideological foundation of all regimes from then on until the day Imperial China met its end. The reign of the Han Dynasty was a period of great prosperity, with the emperors of this period having supported and encouraged the development of art, science, technology, literature, and religion. The emperors were seen ruling under the Mandate of Heaven with the important responsibility of mediating between the gods and the people. Then, sometime during the 1st century CE, Buddhism reached China, probably through the travelers who took the Silk Road from northern India. By the 2nd century CE, a variety of other beliefs, practices, and disciplines arose, which eventually gave rise to alchemy, scientific experiments and the Taoist religion.

Six Dynasties Period: 220 – 589 CE

The fall of the Han dynasty began a period of disunity referred to as the “Six Dynasties,” and during this time, Buddhism flourished and became a major religion in China ever since. While this period was almost in constant political upheaval, it is also considered to be an important time for religious development.

The uncertainty and brutality of the period influenced Buddhism in China and Buddhist monks had to meet the people's spiritual needs by developing rituals and practices of transcendence. And so, in the sixth century, new schools of Chinese Buddhism sought to adapt Buddhism to Chinese ways of thinking.

Sui Dynasty: 581 – 618 CE

After three and a half centuries of political fragmentation, China was reunified by the Sui dynasty in 581. The founder of this short-lived dynasty supported Buddhism, particularly the Tiantai school, and used this religion and philosophical movement as a unifying ideology shared by many of the citizens in both North and South.

 

Tang Dynasty: 618 – 906 CE

However, after four decades of rule, the Sui was overthrown in a series of rebellions and ended up getting replaced by the Tang dynasty – a time regarded by historians as a high point in Chinese civilization. The royal family of this dynasty officially supported Taoism because of them claimed blood relations to Lao-Tzu. However, Buddhism also enjoyed great favor and imperial patronage throughout the period. The T'ien-t'ai, Ch'an and Pure Land schools of Buddhism continued to rise in popularity, and many monasteries and temples were built during this time.

Sung Dynasty: 960 – 1279

After a short unstable period, the “Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms,” the Sung Dynasty rose to rule China. Sung intellectuals sought answers to philosophical and political inquiries in the Confucian Classics, and this renewed interest in the Confucian ideals arose alongside the decline of Buddhism. The Sung Neo-Confucian philosophers found a certain purity in the originality of the ancient classical texts and wrote commentaries about them. However, the rigidity of the state’s official creed and philosophy led to the inhibition of societal development in pre-modern China. While this resulted to several generations of political, social and spiritual stability, it also decelerated cultural and institutional advancement in the country up to the 19th century.

When the Mongols conquered North China and established the Yuan dynasty in the 13th century, they did not attempt to impose their religion – which consisted of a cult of Heaven as well as nature and shamanistic practices – on the Chinese people. And so, the existing three religions in China enjoyed comparative freedom under these foreign rulers. During the Yuan dynasty that a large number of Muslim people were brought in to help in the administration of China. During this time that Islam spread all over the empire, establishing major population bases in the western provinces of Yunnan and Gansu.

Ming Dynasty: 1368 – 1644

The populace’s strong feelings against the rule of foreigners led to the peasant revolt that forced the Yuan dynasty out of Chinese territory and the subsequent establishment of the Ming Dynasty in 1368. During this period, Taoism and Buddhism had become poorly-organized popular religions, which led to the rise of new blends of Confucian, Taoist and Buddhist elements so, this paved the way for the rise of many private academies in the 16th century, opening an avenue for widespread philosophical discussions and conflicts.

With the eventual collapse of the Ming empire, the Qing Dynasty came to power - an empire that was founded by the semi-nomadic Manchus. In public policy, the Manchus were strong supporters of Confucianism, but in their private lives, the Qing rulers were devoted to Tibetan Buddhism. Most religious developments during the Qing dynasty were continuations of Ming traditions, except Protestant Christianity as well as the Taiping movement – which is the most significant innovation in Qing religion. The teachings of the Taiping Tianguo or the Celestial Kingdom of Great Peace combined the motifs of Christianity, shamanism and popular sectarian beliefs. Then, in the 19th century, traditional Chinese religions were subjected to waves of persecution, and many religious and institutional religious temples ended up getting destroyed.

The Qing dynasty collapsed in 1911, and with the fall of imperial China, Chinese intellectuals became free to invest themselves in new ideas and political forms. They also were given a chance to avidly study and translate Western writings, including those that spoke of Marxism. The result of this Westernization and secularization left Confucianism and other Chinese traditions vulnerable from attacks which led to the destruction or occupation of thousands of temples. Nevertheless, while these new ideas heavily affected the larger cities, the majority of the Chinese people continued to practice popular religions and traditions as before.

People’s Republic of China: 1949 – present

After the Communist Party’s triumph in the Chinese Civil War under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the People’s Republic of China was proclaimed in 1949. In the early parts of its governance, the People’s Republic of China kept a hostile stance toward religion, which was considered to be emblematic of feudalism and foreign colonialism. Places of worship were then converted into non-religious buildings intended for secular use. Religious beliefs or practices were discouraged because and labeled as "backward" and "superstitious" by the government, later being completely condemned during the Cultural Revolution. Millions of innocent people were killed by the military or injured by fellow citizens poisoned by communist propaganda. It was only in the late 1970s that this attitude relaxed because the 1978 Constitution of the People’s Republic of China supposedly "guaranteed" religious freedom, with a number of restrictions, and as long as religious practices were not perceived to challenge the communist authority of the state.

Today, popular, or folk, religious practice in China has combined elements of the old ancestral rites of previous dynasties and is marked by a propensity for syncretism. For most people in China, there is no problem with combining different beliefs and religious practices, unlike some other cultures that condemn those who follow religious or philosophical movements that are different from their own. While religion in China has several millennia of tumultuous periods of decline and prosperity, what has remained constant is the Chinese people’s ability to select the religious practices and teachings that work best for them at a particular point in time. They have always exercised the freedom to choose which religion could help them in their journey toward a harmonious life.

---

Sources:

• http://www.religionfacts.com/chinese-religion/history
• http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/timelines/china_timeline.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_China#Proto-Chinese_and_Xia-Shang-Zhou_culture
• http://www.ancient.eu/article/891/
• http://www.patheos.com/Library/Chinese-Religion
• http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Writings/Chinese%20Religions%20-%20Overview.htm
• http://asiasociety.org/chinese-religions-and-philosophies
• http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/chinrelg.html
• http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2013/10/01/what-is-religion-in-china-a-brief-history/

The Mysterious Sealed Temple Door No One Can Open

The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of India's most popular and most sacred temples. Located in Thiruvanathapuram in Kerala, India, it is one of the most visited temples in the country. However, inside its heavily-guarded gates is a locked room with supposedly hidden treasures and for sure a deadly legend. And in order to understand the mystery behind the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, one must learn about its history.  

History:

The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of 108 temples of Vaishnavism, or the worship of Vishnu. The Temple has been mentioned as early as the 6th Century in ancient Tamil literature, with renovations occurring in the 16th Century.

Sri Padmanabha, the central Vishnu icon, reclines on the serpent Anantha or Adi Sesha. This pose is highly unlike the portraits of Vishnu in other temples, where the deity is depicted standing. The Adi Sesha in The Padmanabhaswamy Temple has five hoods facing inwards, which symbolizes contemplation.

The Temple's name is taken from the word "Padmanabha," which means, "One emerging from the lotus." This is illustrated well on the Sri Padmanabha icon, which has the deity Brahma emerging from Vishnu's navel on a lotus.

The entire icon is carved out on a massive stone measuring 20 feet high and 2.5 feet thick. Onlookers cannot see the icon from only one of the open doors of the Temple. In fact, one has to look through three doors from the outside in order to see the icon in its fully glory.

The shrine is currently run by a trust headed by the royal family of Travancore. The trust itself was established as early as 1729. The temple and its assets ebelonged to Lord Padmanabhaswamy and the Travancore Royal Family.

However, recent events took the trust away from the family. This decision from the Indian Supreme Court not only uncovered the treasure inside the Temple, but revealed one of its most sacred mysteries.  

Hidden Treasure:

In 2011, Sunder Rajan has filed a case to the Supreme Court appealing that the Travancore Royal Family has mismanaged the assets in The Padmanabhaswamy Temple. As a result of the proceedings, the Supreme Court appointed a seven-member committee to explore the Temple and document its many belongings.

What they discovered were six enormous secret vaults that appear to house many of the Temple's treasures. The doors were made of iron, and lack locks, hatches, or any form of openings. This is what made the chambers very mysterious, even to the eyes of the public.

Upon opening, the Temple appears to have at least 22 billion dollars' worth of golden idols, elephants, necklaces, and coins. They also discovered an assortment of jewels, ceremonial cosutmes, and solid gold coconut shells studded with jewels.

The most impressive of the gems were large diamonds, some of which were even a hundred and ten carats. Some archaeologists and gemologists estimated that a small gold idol of Vishnu from the Temple could very well easily cost 30 million dollars.

Visitors today would see metal detectors, security cameras, and more than 200 guards protecting the Temple and its treasures. However, it seems they are tasked to guard something else - something that even the government may not want to be unveiled.  

Chamber B: The sixth door:

The Padmanabhaswamy Temple has six enormous secret vaults that contained its many treasures. These were named Chambers A through F. The seven-member committee was able to open five of these vaults, with exceptional difficulty.

They have been able to open and reopen chambers C through F through the years. It was said the committee was able to visit these chambers for at least eight times. Chamber A took a bit of time to open. The impressive architecture of the Temple was evident in the door’s construction. It took more than a day to open Chamber A with existing human technology.

Regardless of these efforts, all but one of the six vaults were accessed - the mysterious Chamber B.

In fact, Chamber B is not part of the documented Temple Treasury. No one knows what lies beyond its gates. It is said that the chamber is holy in nature, as it houses an idol of Sri Padmanabha and many valuables of mystic origins. It is said that the chamber may very well have walls of solid gold. It may even contain the largest undiscovered treasure in world history.

Unfortunately, the only thing people have seen is its gates, guarded by two enormous embossed cobras. In fact, aside from these, the steel door of Chamber B does not have and bolts, latches, or other means of entry.

Much to the fascination of the committee members, Chamber B has in fact three doors. The first one has metal grills on it. It is the one visible to the naked eye, and is accessible like the other chambers. However, they discovered a second wooden door behind it. Upon unlocking this door came yet another door, a menacing door made of iron that was slammed shut. There appears to be no way of getting through it.

It is said that any human attempts are made with technology to open the door will unleash an unspeakable calamity in the city. Some even say opening the door against its will can release unspeakable horrors throughout India, and perhaps the rest of the world.

Urban Legends:

The urban legend surrounding the Padmanabhaswamy Temple begins with the seven-member committee. It is said that some of the members have fallen ill while trying to open Chamber B. Another member has apparently lost his mother while investigating the Temple's hidden treasure.

Sunder Rajan, the one who filed the case to re-assess the Temple's treasures in the first place, also died a few years later.

There is very little evidence to suggest a relationship between these events to Chamber B. However, this is eerily similar to other events concerning ancient artifacts. The infamous Hope Diamond was said to cause great calamity to the person who currently owns the stunning piece of jewelry. Unfortunately, it seems an even bigger mystery surrounds Chamber B.

Legends say that Marthanda Varma of the Travancore Royal Family arranged for the creation of the six chambers. Of the six vaults, Chamber B was affixed with a special spell by hundreds of Sidda Purushas and tantriks, or religious officials, from different regions.

The legends add that only a high level Sadhus or priest familiar with chanting what is known as the Garuda Mantra can open the Chamber. If this is to believed, them some Yogic power is protecting whatever is inside of Chamber B.

Some say Chamber B is directly linked to the ocean floor. Anyone who attempts to open the door by force will be met by a torrent of ocean water. Its force is said to be capable of flooding the entire city of Kerala.

Others also say that Chamber B may have some hidden trick. It is quite possible that there is a hidden tunnel beneath the chamber. This will allow its architects to lock the chamber from the inside. At the same time, this method will not allow anyone to access the chamber from the outside. If this is true, then people who knew of the secret tunnel may have been plundering the chamber without anyone noticing.

Regardless, the High Court of India has issued a warning against opening the doors of the chamber. This is possibly due to the repercussions of trying to go against the will of the Naga Bandham guarding Chamber B.

However, just what is the Naga Bandham, and how is this related to the supposed treasure in the temple?

Naga Bandham:

The Naga Bandham is said to the power that is protecting Chamber B. Tourists or foreigners who have heard of this phrase will be looking at a more intricate aspect of Hinduism.

The Naga Bandham is also called a snake-binding spell. A successful spell will have various serpentine deities guard the treasure of a particular place. This is also the reason why there are various snake idols worshipped in temples around the country. In fact, the deity Vishnu is also often depicted riding a snake. There are also special parts of the temple dedicated for these snake deities.

However, the prevalence of snake deities and figures is not exclusive to Indian culture. Ancient cultures such as the Greeks and the Egyptians also feature serpentine and reptilian creatures. In Greek culture, a "dragon" is some form of superior snake. Even Egyptians have deities such as the protector goddess Wadjet who has the head of a snake, and the chaos god Apep who appears as a snake.

The Naga Bandham is Chamber B is said to be unlocked by special sound waves. Some say the lock inside the door can be accessed through sound. Given the right frequency, the sound waves will be amplified and "connect" through the links inside the door. Continuous exposure to the sound will have the links interact and eventually open Chamber B.

If another person tries to open the door with a different spell, or the same spell with the wrong intonation, the sound waves are directed somewhere else. Perhaps this can cause a trap to be opened or, in the case of Chamber B, the aforementioned calamity.

No one knows what lies inside The Padmanabhaswamy Temple and its secret Chamber B. No one has chanted the Garuda Mantra correctly up to this day, and the order of the Supreme Court against opening Chamber B still stands.

Are the legends surrounding Chamber B true? Will there be an unspeakable calamity once its doors are opened by force? Or will there be someone who can chant the spell correctly and give access to its rumored treasure?

---

Sources:

http://www.sreepadmanabhaswamytemple.org/history.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padmanabhaswamy_Temple
https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2015/11/13/a-one-trillion-dollar-hidden-treasure-chamber-is-discovered-at-indias-sree-padmanabhaswam-temple/&refURL=&referrer=
http://www.theeventchronicle.com/study/mysterious-sealed-door-ancient-padmanabhaswamy-temple/
http://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/the-mysterious-last-door-at-padmanabhaswamy-temple
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-real-mystery-behind-Padmanabhaswamy-Temples-seventh-vault

Jesus Was a Shapeshifter According to Ancient Egyptian Texts

The figure of Jesus Christ is undeniably a spiritual and cultural character of significant importance in human history. Jesus Christ is the pillar of one of the largest and most powerful religions of the world, which is probably why most people find it difficult to question the premise of the Christian faith.

For many of us, it remains a mystery how much of what we are taught about the “Son of God” is true to the original figure that lived over 2,000 years ago. Over the centuries that passed and even in the modern times, there are those who believe that the Jesus Christ we know now is not who he was in reality, but is instead only a version of him that was institutionally adapted by the Church to fit its ideals. Stories about him, his abilities and qualities which were up to the premise established by the Church were kept, while those that didn’t were allegedly deemed fraudulent or inaccurate and were heavily discredited.

Though the Bible had become canonized more than a millennium ago, many apocryphal stories have managed to survive and endure even up to now. More recently, a newly deciphered Egyptian text, which dates back almost 1,200 years, details a part of the crucifixion story of Jesus Christ with apocryphal plot twists, some of which have never been heard of before.

1,200-Year-Old Ancient Egyptian Text with Controversial Data About the Crucifixion Story of Jesus

In March 2013, reports flooded the headlines about a 1,200-year-old Egyptian text that tells the story of the life and crucifixion of Jesus, while also supposedly providing conflicting data that could potentially change the story about Jesus Christ.

The text is written in the Coptic language, and is one of fifty-five Coptic manuscripts that were found in 1910 by villagers digging for fertilizer at the site of the destroyed Monastery of Archangel Michael of the Desert near Al Hamuli in Egypt. Apparently, the monk in the tenth century had buried the monastery’s manuscripts in a stone vat for safekeeping.

The monastery ceased its operations around the early 10th century, and the text wasn’t rediscovered until around the spring of 1910. Then, American financier J.P. Morgan purchased it along with other texts in December 1911. His collections, and the particular text about the crucifixion story of Jesus, are currently housed and protected in the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City. A second copy of the ancient text is also available at the Museum of the University of Pennsylvania, but is mostly illegible.

The ancient Egyptian text was written in the name of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, a distinguished theologian who lived during the fourth century. A translation of the text was carried out by Roelof van den Broek of Ultrecht University in the Netherlands, and he published the contents of the text in the book “Pseudo-Cyril of Jerusalem On the Life and the Passion of Christ: A Coptic Apocryphon.”

Based on van den Broek’s translation, not only does it describe Pilate as a faithful disciple and not a traitor, it also recounts a dinner with Jesus prior to his crucifixion in which Pilate offered to sacrifice his own son to spare the life of the Messiah. The text also controversially described Jesus as possessing the magical ability to change shape, which explains why Judas had used a kiss to positively identify Jesus. The ancient text also puts the day of Jesus’s arrest on Tuesday evening instead of Thursday evening, which contravenes the current Easter timeline observed by Christians.

Pontius Pilate’s Dinner with Jesus

While apocryphal stories about Pilate are known to exist from ancient times, van den Broek claimed that he has never seen one before in which Pilate had offered to sacrifice his own son in the place of Jesus.

According to this ancient Egyptian text, Pilate prepared a table and ate with Jesus prior to his crucifixion. Pilate later told Jesus that when the morning comes, he would give the people his only son so that they could kill him in Jesus’s place. However, Jesus comforted him and revealed that he had the ability to escape his fate if he chose to. Then, Pilate looked at Jesus and he saw the Messiah turn “incorporeal” and “did not see him for a long time.”

The text also mentioned that Pilate and his wife both had visions that night that show an eagle - which is a representation of Jesus – being killed.

According to van den Broek, this sympathetic portrayal of Pilate in this ancient text is unsurprising since Pilate is regarded as a saint in the Coptic as well as Ethiopian churches.

The Reason for Judas’s Kiss

In the canonical Bible, the apostle Judas betrayed Jesus in exchange for money and used a kiss to identify him leading to the Messiah’s arrest. While the text did not refute the apostle’s betrayal, this apocryphal tale did explain why Judas had to use a kiss to identify Jesus --- Jesus was allegedly a shape-shifter.

According to the 1,200-year-old ancient Egyptian text, arresting Jesus was not that simple since he did “not have a single shape” and “his appearance changes.” “Sometimes he is ruddy, sometimes he is white, sometimes he is red, sometimes he is wheat colored, sometimes he is pallid like ascetics, sometimes he is a youth,” and “sometimes an old man.”

This conundrum led Judas to suggest using a kiss as means to positively identify him. Had he simply given the arresters a description of Jesus’s appearance, the Messiah could have easily changed shape. But by kissing Jesus, Judas revealed to the people exactly who he is.

The controversial meaning behind the kiss of Judas goes way back. This “shape-shifting” explanation of Judas’s kiss is first found in the work of ancient writer Origen, a theologian who lived between 185-254 A.D. In his work, “Contra Celsum,” Origen stated that “to those who saw [Jesus], he did not appear alike to all.”

Jesus’s Arrest on Tuesday?

The ancient Egyptian text also mentions that the date of Jesus’s Last Supper with the apostles and subsequent arrest took place on a Tuesday. In fact, in this old text, Jesus’s actual Last Supper was not with his disciples but with Pontius Pilate. And in between his arrest and supper with Pilate, he was brought before Caiaphas and Herod.

This information is a significant deviation from what are written in the canonical texts. To present-day Christians, the Last Supper and the arrest of Jesus happened on a Thursday evening, and they observe the event every year as “Maundy Thursday” as part of the services of Holy Week.

However, the way the Egyptian text relates the story of Jesus’s arrest to have taken place on a Tuesday evening makes it seem as if the canonical story about his arrest on a Thursday evening did not actually exist.

So, with all these controversial and supposedly “earth-shattering” information about Jesus Christ, one very important question comes to mind: Is this 1,200-year-old ancient Egyptian text based on real life?

To van den Broek, the answer is “not exactly.” For him, the discovery of the text doesn’t mean that the events detailed in it have actually happened, but that some people who lived at the time of the tale’s existence appear to have believed in them.

In fact, according to van den Broek, the ancient text while written in the name of St. Cyril of Jerusalem may not have actually been written by him. Near the beginning of the text, the writer claims that a book has been found in Jerusalem which contained the writings of the apostles on the life and crucifixion of Jesus.  However, it is very unlikely that such a book was found in real life. Instead, van den Broek theorized that a claim like this would have been used by the writer in an attempt "to enhance the credibility of the peculiar views and uncanonical facts” detailed in the text by means of “ascribing them to an apostolic source.”

Nevertheless, though the accuracy of the details written on this ancient Egyptian text is highly doubtful, the text itself is considered authentic. This meant that 1,200 years ago in Egypt – at a time in which the Bible had already become canonized – many still read and believed in various apocryphal stories to the point that books about them remained popular among Egyptian Christians, especially among monks.  

And so, this ancient Egyptian text, while not a reliable source of information about the real story of the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, offers us a glimpse of what people people thought of and believed about the Christian messiah over a millennium ago, allowing us to understand how far the Christian faith has come and how much the religious institution evolved since then. 

---

Sources:

http://www.livescience.com/27840-shape-shifting-jesus-ancient-text.html
http://www.ancient-origins.net/unexplained-phenomena/ancient-text-describes-jesus-shape-shifter-001361
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=343TrN9KehcC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Pseudo-Cyril+of+Jerusalem+on+the+Life+and+the+passion+pilate&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8uBDUeeIHIGhqgGb0IDwAg&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Pseudo-Cyril%20of%20Jerusalem%20on%20the%20Life%20and%20the%20passion%20pilate&f=false
http://www.ancient-code.com/jesus-christ-was-a-shape-shifter-according-to-ancient-egyptian-text/
https://www.seeker.com/shape-shifting-jesus-described-in-ancient-egyptian-text-1767301334.html
http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/jesus-was-a-shapeshift-ancient-text-reveals-and-an-eagle/news-story/b8fafdd26477f40df7041bae4ff9e004
http://listverse.com/2013/12/28/10-mystical-facts-about-ancient-egypt/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_of_Jerusalem
http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/treasures-from-the-vault-2013?id=74
https://alinsuciu.com/2012/10/12/guest-post-roelof-van-den-broek-pseudo-cyril-of-jerusalem-on-the-life-and-the-passion-of-christ/
http://www.mythicistpapers.com/2016/04/27/jesus-the-shape-shifter-pt-3/
 

5 Christian Relics That Supposedly Have Supernatural Powers

Miracles were once frequent phenomena that confirmed the validity of Christian teachings. According to the Christian faith, God’s purpose in performing miracles was to convince disbelievers of the divine appointment of the perpetrators of these miracles, and thereby proving the reliability of their claims and teachings. In fact, for Christian authorities, a miracle was not really considered a miracle unless it helped prove the truth of the Christian religion.

Thus, it is not surprising that the history of Christianity overflows with claims of miraculous events, and some of them are not just performed by Jesus and the saints, but also by several holy items. Many of these relics are believed to have been preserved since biblical times in hidden places, only to be miraculously discovered later on by devout Christians.   

 Setting aside the prevailing doubt surrounding such holy items, here are five Christian relics that supposedly have miraculous as well as supernatural powers.

1. The Miraculous Medal of the Our Lady of Graces

source: legion of mary

The first relic on this list is the Miraculous Medal. Also known as the Medal of the Our Lady of Graces, the Miraculous Medal was created in response to a supposed request from the Blessed Virgin Mary herself. The design was originated by Saint Catherine Labouré after her apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Rue du Bac, Paris, France. Mary told her that those who wear the medal would receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.

After two years of investigation and observation of Saint Catherine, the request to design the Miraculous Medal was approved and was produced through the goldsmith Adrien Vachette.

The first medals were made in 1832 and were distributed in Paris. As the story goes, the blessing that Mary had promised began to shower down almost immediately on those who wore the medal, and soon, the people of France clamored to have what they called the “Miraculous Medal.” Since then, the use of the medal has spread in different parts of the world, and until now, there are devout Christians who continue to wear the Miraculous Medal around their neck and claim to receive the special graces from God for the body and the soul.

2. The Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Source: crossroads initiative

The Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe had been the subject of many technical studies since 1751 and extensive scientific evaluations in recent years. However, up to this very day, this relic has continued to baffle science, human reasoning and even some skeptics.

The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which marks the day when the Blessed Mother appeared to a 57-year-old peasant named Juan Diego in Mexico back in 1531. According to the earliest reliable account of the story, the Virgin Mary appeared several times before Juan Diego. The surface of his “tilma” – a burlap-type cloak – which bore the image of the Blessed Mother, served as proof of what he had seen. This image on his “tilma” came to be known as “Our Lady of Guadalupe.”

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, until now, continues to be a relic of awe and mystery. According to some experts, this relic possesses qualities that are humanly impossible to replicate. Many duplicates of the image were made to verify the validity of this supposedly miraculous relic, and while the duplicates have deteriorated over a short period of time, the original image has endured until now and remained in a state of perfect condition.

 The “tilma” featuring the image of the Virgin Mary is also believed to be virtually indestructible, having survived two instances that should have completely destroyed the image. For example, in 1921, an anti-clerical activist hid a bomb inside the Basilica at Guadalupe. When the bomb exploded, almost everything was broken except the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The only damage that occurred in close proximity to the “tilma” was a brass crucifix that got twisted and bent back by the blast.

3. The Blood of Saint Januarius

source:  Aleteia

The third relic on this list is the Blood of Saint Januarius. In the very early fourth century, Saint Januarius was a bishop of Beneventum in Italy who died a martyr during the bloody persecution of Emperor Diocletian.

A relic of his dried blood has been preserved to this day and is kept in the cathedral of Naples, where he is the patron saint. In what appears to be a miracle, the blood liquefies on its own on three separate occasions each year, and thousands of people assemble to witness this miracle in Naples Cathedral three times a year.

On rare occasions that the blood of Saint Januarius fails to liquefy, it has historically been attached to an impending calamity. The last time the miracle of blood liquefication failed to occur was in 1980, and the people of Naples associated it with the earthquake of Irpinia during which 2,900 people died in what is considered to be the worst natural disaster in Italian post-war history. In 1973, the blood also failed to liquefy, and believers connected it with a cholera epidemic that visited Naples that year.

 Scarily enough, for the first time in 36 years, the blood of Saint Januarius did not liquefy in the city’s cathedral last year in December. To many people of Naples, the blood remaining solid is considered a premonition of evil.

4. The Holy Lance/The Spear of Destiny

source: vienna muses

The Holy Lance. In Christian tradition, the Holy Lance, also known as the Spear of Destiny, is the spear believed to be the one the Roman soldier Longinus used to pierce the side of Jesus as he hung on the cross.

Christian knights discovered the Holy Lance at Antioch during the First Crusade in 1098. As the story goes, the sight of the sacred relic in the Church of St. Peter inspired the beleaguered Christian soldiers and they successfully routed the Saracens from the city. According to legend, whoever claims the spear and uncovers the secrets it holds will possess supernatural powers that will enable him to conquer the world.

There are currently several relics in various European churches that claim to be the genuine Holy Lance. However, the spear that is on display in the Hapsburg Treasure House Museum in Vienna has been considered the most authentic one.

This particular relic was also known as Constantine’s Lance, and it was used as a symbol of the imperial power of Holy Roman emperors during their coronation. The lance is also believed by some to have been possessed by a series of successful military leaders, including Theodosius, Charles Martel, Charlemagne and Frederick Barbarossa. There is also a theory claiming that Hitler took possession of the Spear of Destiny at some point during his most successful military campaigns.

5. The Holy Grail

source: typewoon.wikia.com

Last but certainly not the least: at number 5, the Holy Grail. Most people identify a single chalice as the only Holy Grail. However, there are those who have pointed out that European legends about this special cup during the 12th to 15th centuries enumerated more than ten different Holy Grails.

In the Christian faith, the Holy Grail is identified as a serving dish or a chalice that was used by Jesus during the Last Supper. This chalice is also considered as the vessel that Joseph of Arimathea used to catch the blood and sweat of the Messiah in after he was taken down from the Cross.

As the story goes, Joseph of Arimathea was imprisoned for several years for expressing his faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the son of God. After he was released, he traveled to Britain and took the grail with him, and when he died, the grail was passed on to his descendants. According to legend, the Holy Grail provided magical qualities to the righteous if they drink or eat from it, or even by just touching it. Its miraculous powers are believed to be capable of healing and enlightening people, and possibly even making them immortal.  

The legend of the Holy Grail has been perpetuated through literature since the 12th century, specifically in tales which involve the knights of Camelot who served the legendary King Arthur of Britain. In modern times, this special chalice has been the subject of blockbuster films like “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” thrusting the legend of the magical cup back to people’s consciousness.

There are many relics associated with Jesus and the Christian faith which have been claimed and displayed throughout the history of Christianity. The authenticity of many of these relics as well as their supposed miraculous and supernatural powers are still heavily disputed until now. However, the firmness in the faith and belief of those who are devoted to these relics and the miracles they are thought capable of performing should not be so easily taken for granted by science or by skeptics.

Nevertheless, it is important to remember that in the Christian faith, homage or respect is not really paid to inanimate objects like relics, but to the holy person they’re connected with. And the veneration of that holy person is itself an honor paid to God. As such, the miracles and cures attributed to these relics are not because of their own power but because of the holiness of the person they represent.

---

Sources:

https://cammonline.org/the-story-of-the-miraculous-medal/
http://catholicism.org/miraculous-medal.html
http://www.marian.org/news/The-Meaning-of-the-Miraculous-Medal-2942
http://infallible-catholic.blogspot.com/2012/04/miraculous-image-of-our-lady-of.html
http://mtncatholic.com/2014/12/11/4-literally-awesome-facts-about-our-lady-of-guadalupe/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/r-andrew-chesnut/the-virgin-of-guadalupe-t_b_8752084.html
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/12/19/bloody-of-st-januarius-fails-to-liquefy/
http://novusordowatch.org/2016/12/not-this-time-saint-januarius-blood-fails-to-liquefy/
http://www.unmuseum.org/spear.htm
http://www.unexplainedstuff.com/Objects-of-Mystery-and-Power/Things-of-Sacred-Power-The-spear-of-destiny.html
http://www.unexplainedstuff.com/Objects-of-Mystery-and-Power/Things-of-Sacred-Power-The-holy-grail.html
http://www.ancient-origins.net/opinion-guest-authors/truth-about-holy-grail-magical-chalices-around-world-005124