First appearing in 1893 at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR), is "recognized as the birth of formal interreligious dialogue worldwide." Since then, CPWR has had Parliaments in South Africa, Spain, and Chicago. This December the Parliament takes place in Melbourne, Australia, and includes speakers such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama...

This Friday, Pope John Paul II will be laid to rest in the grotto of St. Peter's, close to his predecessors and to the tomb of St. Peter, who was the first pope. As the Vatican and the city of Rome brace for the millions of pilgrims who will be in attendance, many commentators continue to discuss, debate, and argue the various aspects of his time as the leader of the Roman Catholic church. Some...

These wonderful recordings come from forty years of programming at the Duke University Chapel. The audio and video offerings here are drawn from a large collection held in the Duke University Archives and were selected by staff of the Chapel and Divinity School for their historic significance. Visitors should start with some of the homilies and speeches by the late Peter J. Gomes and then move on...

The subject of religion is fascinating and, at times, controversial. Fortunately for those with an interest in such matters, Frontline has taken on the subject of the first Christians in this meditative work. The documentary features New Testament theologians, archaeologists, and historians who serve as both "critics and storytellers." It makes for compelling viewing, and it also includes pictures...

Many people around the world aren't terribly familiar with the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was founded in 1830. In this insightful and probing documentary, Frontline looks into the world of the Mormon Church by talking to current church leaders, as well as dissident exiles, historians, and scholars. Visitors to the site can watch the entire four-hour program...

This Web exhibition created by the Getty allows visitors to view Byzantine icons from the remote Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai, the world's oldest continuously operating Christian monastery, and also the largest repository of Byzantine icons. Tools provided on the Web site allow you to zoom in on the icons, and see their details from a much closer vantage point than viewing in the...

If the average reader thinks that understanding Joyce’s Ulysses is difficult (and at times, downright impossible), the stories behind the creation and history of the book we call the Bible is as complex, if not more so. This delightful interactive online exhibit was created by staff members at the Freer & Sackler Galleries Smithsonian Institution, and was created by guest curator, Michelle P....

The earliest May Day celebrations predate Christianity's introduction to Europe. What is left of them now are the unbridled celebration of the end of winter, dancing around a Maypole, and crowning the Queen of May. This collection from Western Oregon University's Hamersly Library & Archives consists of a selection of photographs and postcards related to May Day events between 1916 and 1947. The...

During the Middle Ages the authenticity of important documents was established through the use of a seal. These seals were images carved into a matrix which, when pressed into a soft substance, left behind an inverse of the picture on the seal. This remarkable collection of medieval seals comes from the Medieval Institute at the University of Notre Dame, and the online exhibit was constructed by a...

From triptychs to mixed media, the Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA) in New York seeks to "re-contextualize Judeo-Christian images for the American public, presenting them in a way that sheds light on their original function and continued relevance." They do so with curiosity and intelligence, and their website functions as a nice complement to their brick and mortar presence in Midtown Manhattan....