The hottest Religious history Substack posts right now

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The Gregorian Calendar Edition

Why is this interesting? • 844 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
đź’ľ History Religious history
  1. The Julian calendar added slightly too many leap days, so by the 1500s the spring equinox had drifted about ten days from its appointed date and this disrupted the dating of Easter.
  2. Reformers fixed the problem by skipping ten calendar days and changing leap-year rules: keep a leap every 4 years, but omit leap days in century years unless the year is divisible by 400.
  3. Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1582 (Thursday, Oct 4 was followed by Friday, Oct 15), and its rules make the calendar accurate to roughly one day every 3,000 years.

Writing about Boston from the old Congregational Library

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 223 implied HN points • 21 Mar 26
đź’ľ History Religious history
  1. Living in Boston makes the city feel invisible — it’s the water you swim in, so it’s hard to notice or write about what really defines it. This closeness makes its character familiar but also hard to describe from the inside.
  2. Boston’s institutions are very old and resistant to change, and much of the city’s power is hidden in slow-moving organizations. That makes it hard for outsiders or even locals to see who really holds influence or how to change things.
  3. The Congregational Library is a symbol of Boston’s legacy: old religious and civic institutions left durable buildings, networks, and norms that still shape the city. Those institutions — universities, hospitals, nonprofits — preserve stability and status in ways money or popularity alone can’t buy.

Middle Age(s)

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 373 implied HN points • 19 Mar 26
đź’ľ History Religious history
  1. Different cultures and thinkers divide life into stages very differently — some use three big parts, others four or six — so there is no single fixed age for “middle age.” Many people today experience their thirties as extended youth, which makes the boundary feel subjective.
  2. Comparing a person’s middle age to the historical “Middle Ages” is misleading because civilizations don’t age like people; historical periods and human life stages serve different meanings and patterns. The medieval era is often framed as decline while personal midlife is usually about responsibility, productivity, or reflection.
  3. Writers and philosophers often treat midlife as a turning point or crisis, giving the concept symbolic power that still resonates today. That symbolism can help people mark transitions (personal or technological), but it remains a flexible story rather than a fixed rule.

Was Christianity the Original Incel Movement?

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 1024 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
đź’ľ History Religious history
  1. Early Christianity was intensely sex-negative, valuing celibacy above marriage and condemning sex outside marriage, and some early believers even debated or practiced castration to avoid sexual temptation.
  2. Protestantism partly arose as a reaction to Catholic sexual strictness, but conservative attitudes about sex and hierarchy between virgins, married people, and others persisted for many centuries.
  3. Modern liberalism can discourage family formation more than rival worldviews yet has still expanded rapidly, posing a puzzle for ideas about cultural evolution and pro-natal advantage.

Not The Re-Enchantment We Ordered

Reactionary Feminist • 21 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religious history
  1. Digital media is overturning the print-shaped mind: it favors short, hyperlinked, emotive attention and weakens the habits of deep, reflective reading that supported modern objectivity and deliberation.
  2. That cognitive shift is driving a broad re-enchantment where ritual, charismatic religion, online fandoms and conspiracy patterns grow, which can revive genuine faith but also sharpen tribalism, political volatility, and the risk of violence tied to apocalyptic thinking.
  3. The right response is cultural formation not coercion: rebuild practices that train memory, attention, and disciplined study (monastery-like institutions), refuse exclusive Christian nationalism, and offer an inclusive, discipling Christianity as a stable centre in a tribal age.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. is the Leader We Need

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 5789 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
đź’ľ History Religious history
  1. He emphasized our shared humanity and the power of love as the basis of leadership, a stance that crosses political lines and might be unpopular today.
  2. He accepted the risks and sacrifices of moral leadership, speaking with a prophetic sense of purpose and readiness to face danger for his cause.
  3. In a moment that feels rudderless and skeptical of spiritual authority, we still need leaders who combine moral conviction and compassion, and his example is important to pass on.

How to build a Goddess

The Abbey of Misrule • 569 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religious history
  1. St Brigid was a sixth‑century Christian abbess and founder of Kildare, celebrated for radical charity, miraculous stories, and leadership of a female monastic community rooted in devotion to Christ.
  2. The modern image of a pre‑Christian 'goddess Brigid' is largely a later construction influenced by Victorian romanticism and contemporary politics, and it often lacks solid historical evidence.
  3. The remaking of Brigid reflects a culture hungry for saints and spiritual symbols, and it suggests that a more fruitful response is to live out her example of charity and care for creation rather than simply reclaiming a fictional past.

How the Bible Helped Smash the Crown

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1465 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religious history
  1. The American Revolution rejected earthly kings and said people’s equality comes from God, not from who holds political power.
  2. Freedom of religion was a radical founding idea that rejected religious uniformity and trusted different faiths to live side by side and thrive.
  3. The flourishing of biblical faith helped ground the nation’s idea of equality, and public cooperation between different religious leaders showed religion would play a central, pluralistic role.

Nonviolence in a Violent Age: Coleman Hughes Live at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 403 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
đź’ľ History Religious history
  1. A live conversation on March 9 in Atlanta will bring Coleman Hughes together with Andrew Young and Jonathan Eig at Ebenezer Baptist Church to discuss nonviolence.
  2. They’ll explore whether Martin Luther King Jr.’s strategy of nonviolence can still help heal polarization and address rising political violence today.
  3. The event is part of an America at 250 series, with limited VIP tickets (including a pre-event reception) and a paid-subscriber presale available until Feb 3 at 3 p.m. ET.

My Mormon Obsession

Castalia • 479 implied HN points • 13 Aug 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religious history
  1. Joseph Smith had unique and complex beliefs about God and spirituality that diverged from the mainstream ideas of his followers. He believed that humans could become like God and that creativity was a path to divinity.
  2. Smith faced opposition and challenges from both within and outside his community, including issues arising from his controversial practices like plural marriage. This led to tensions among his followers and eventually to his downfall.
  3. After Smith's death, the Mormon community experienced a significant shift as leadership changed hands. Brigham Young led the migration to Utah, where the community adopted a more structured approach, moving away from the free-spirited culture that characterized Smith's time.

The Jewish Patriots of the American Revolution

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 783 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
đź’ľ History Religious history
  1. Jewish patriots actively took part in the American Revolution and helped fight British rule instead of waiting passively for their fate.
  2. Individuals like Jonas Phillips publicly supported independence by owning and circulating the Declaration and writing in Yiddish to promote the patriot cause abroad.
  3. The ancient Maccabee story is used as a parallel to show Jewish resistance to tyranny and to emphasize that Jews helped shape the new American republic.

My Mormon Obsession

Castalia • 459 implied HN points • 03 Aug 24
đź’ľ History Religious history
  1. Nauvoo was a unique place in American history where Mormons created a theocratic community led by Joseph Smith. They had a different approach to politics and society compared to the individualistic American spirit.
  2. Despite facing hardships, the Mormons worked hard and grew in numbers, thanks in part to Joseph Smith's leadership and their strong community spirit. Nauvoo became a symbol of resilience for them.
  3. Joseph Smith's personal life was complex, involving multiple marriages and hidden affairs. He justified his actions through his religious beliefs, demonstrating a mix of idealism and ambition.

READING: John Maynard Keynes on Isaac Newton

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 338 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
đź’ľ History Religious history
  1. He was a towering scientific genius who solved deep problems by long, intense intuition and mental concentration, then later put those insights into formal proofs and experiments.
  2. At the same time he was the "last of the magicians": privately devoted to alchemy, apocalyptic biblical study, and anti‑Trinitarian theology, much of which he kept hidden.
  3. His life ran in three phases—an obsessive, solitary Cambridge period of discovery; a nervous breakdown that ended his creative peak; and a later London career as a celebrated but less productive public figure.

Against Hankins: You Can't Use Moral Relativism to Claim a Warrior Is "Great" in Any Sense Connoting Admirability

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 215 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
đź’ľ History Religious history
  1. Using moral relativism to call a warrior "great" because atrocities were "normal then" simply excuses war crimes and is morally dangerous.
  2. Saying conquerors were divinely favored and thus beyond criticism treats violence as sanctified and undermines basic moral and Christian principles.
  3. It’s false that past generations ignored the ethical costs of wartime violence; people then debated actions like firebombing and nukes, so we have standing to judge historic atrocities.

AN ANCIENT CHURCH ON THE BEACH

History, etc • 1356 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
đź’ľ History Religious history
  1. The church on the beach is an ancient tenth-century church dedicated to St Paul.
  2. The church was built by St John the Stranger, who spent around half a century proselytising in Crete.
  3. Visiting Agios Pavlos in southern Crete involves a boat trip from the port-town of Sfakia.

The Scientific Case for Belief and the Religious Case for Science

What Is Called Thinking? • 66 implied HN points • 25 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religious history
  1. The universe is strikingly intelligible, mathematics maps physical reality in surprising ways, and humans feel a powerful need to understand — together these facts suggest the cosmos may have been made to be known.
  2. Purely evolutionary or materialist explanations struggle to account for the reach and trustworthiness of human reason, since survival needs don’t require deep abstract knowledge and if our beliefs are only physical products we have no clear reason to trust them.
  3. Science and religious insight can be compatible: investigating nature can be seen as listening to a rational order or Mind, so scientific inquiry can itself be a form of devotion rather than a rival to faith.

England's Nazareth

The Abbey of Misrule • 525 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religious history
  1. Little Walsingham is a unique village in England where Christian faith is still alive and well. It has a lot of shops selling religious icons and attracts pilgrims from all over.
  2. The village's history dates back to 1061 when a noblewoman named Richeldis had a vision to build a replica of the house where Mary was told she would give birth to Jesus. This site became a major pilgrimage destination.
  3. Despite the destruction of the original shrine by Henry VIII, the village has seen a revival in Christian pilgrimage. New shrines have been built, allowing people from different Christian denominations to come together and honor their faith.

Gnosticism: Origins

Secretum Secretorum • 631 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religious history
  1. Gnosticism emphasizes knowledge ('gnosis') as the key to understanding the universe, viewing it as flawed and created by a lesser god.
  2. Gnostics believe our true essence is divine, and our task is to reconnect with this lost origin and escape the physical world's traps.
  3. The belief system is seen as a reaction to the oppressive religious and political contexts of the time, offering a radical alternative to traditional spirituality.

Gnosticism: Awakenings

Secretum Secretorum • 454 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religious history
  1. Gnosticism encourages personal spiritual journeys and questions conventional religious authority. It's about believing in your own spiritual nature rather than strictly following church rules.
  2. Throughout history, different groups have revived Gnostic ideas, often facing persecution for their beliefs. Figures like Menocchio and movements like Frankism challenged mainstream beliefs, showing the ongoing struggle for spiritual expression.
  3. Recent New Age movements echo Gnostic principles by prioritizing personal experience over traditional teachings. They seek to redefine spirituality in a way that feels more authentic and individualistic.

Inside the Catholic State

Wrong Side of History • 280 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
đź’ľ History Religious history
  1. Caravaggio's life and art were heavily influenced by the religious tensions of his time, particularly the struggles between Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam. This backdrop shaped his perspective and themes in his work.
  2. Milan during the Counter-Reformation was a strict Catholic state, ruled by figures like Carlo Borromeo, who enforced harsh religious laws. People faced severe punishments for crimes seen as against the faith.
  3. The Pope during this time, Pius IV, was known for his intolerance and refusal to consider differing opinions. His death led to violent celebrations, highlighting the public's discontent with oppressive rule.

The Second Coming as Inner Event

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 22 Nov 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religious history
  1. Western civilization feels stalled and regressive because postmodern relativism has been weaponized by authoritarian figures and AI, creating a deep crisis of truth and legitimacy.
  2. The 'Second Coming' or messianic idea is best understood as an inner, spiritual event—an awakening of the higher self or Christ-being within each person—rather than a literal external apocalypse or political spectacle.
  3. Meaningful renewal depends on reviving public political life and deep intellectual cultivation. It also requires steady inner ethical work—learning to think clearly, resist outrage and othering, and let the inner messianic impulse guide action instead of relying on strongmen or technological fixes.

A FĂ©chĂ­n Rumour

The Abbey of Misrule • 300 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
đź’ľ History Religious history
  1. The pilgrimage site of St. FĂ©chĂ­n contains a mass grave from the Great Famine in Ireland.
  2. St. FĂ©chĂ­n's well, known for healing, is now dry and neglected in a field of cows.
  3. Historical rumors suggest St. FĂ©chĂ­n may have played a role in a deadly plague upon society as a response to a request.

Children of Survivors

backstory • 242 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Religious history
  1. Children of survivors may feel pressure to live up to the expectations imposed by their parents, who endured significant trauma.
  2. Jerusalem is a complex city with deep historical and religious significance, where old and new elements constantly intertwine.
  3. Visiting places like the Holocaust Memorial can evoke intense emotional responses and reflections on past atrocities.

The Long History of Magical Fluids

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religious history
  1. Ectoplasm is described as a mysterious, quasi-physical substance said to bridge spirit and matter, often pictured as a milky, fabric-like or vaporous material and likened metaphorically to plasma or life-force.
  2. Some occult thinkers claim female sexual or reproductive energy produces this etheric substrate, making women the ritual bridge to spirits, and they even frame modern online sex work as an unconscious form of sex-magic that pours out that energy.
  3. Investigations and skeptics found many ectoplasm cases were staged with cloth, egg white, wax, or other tricks, so there is no solid empirical evidence, even though spiritualism also served historically as a space for women's leadership and empowerment.