faith-based

1. Bible Possibly Written Centuries Earlier, Text Suggests - I also love that the article uses BC and has to explain what BCE means.

Until now, many scholars have held that the Hebrew Bible originated in the 6th century B.C., because Hebrew writing was thought to stretch back no further. But the newly deciphered Hebrew text is about four centuries older, scientists announced this month.

"It indicates that the Kingdom of Israel already existed in the 10th century BCE and that at least some of the biblical texts were written hundreds of years before the dates presented in current research," said Gershon Galil, a professor of Biblical Studies at the University of Haifa in Israel, who deciphered the ancient text.

BCE stands for "before common era," and is equivalent to B.C., or before Christ.

2. Mark Shea on fasting:

I think that down deep many of us look at fasting and other mortifications as, well, a little self-abusive—sort of like Dobby the House Elf in Harry Potter ironing his hands to atone for speaking ill of his Master, Lucius Malfoy. But that’s 180 degrees opposite the spirit of Christ’s mortifications. It is directly after hearing “You are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” that Jesus goes into the desert to fast for forty days. His fast and mortification is undertaken, not in a spirit of self-loathing, but in the serene confidence of his identity as the Beloved Son of the Father. He knows where he comes from and where he is going. Our fasting needs to be done in the same spirit. We offer our bodies a living sacrifice, says St. Paul, in the assurance that they are holy and pleasing to God. That is why it is our “spiritual worship” (Rom 12). Our fasting is done, not because we are not loved and must earn approval, but because we are loved and must therefore master our unruly passions as He did and make offering in union with Him for the good of his Church. How all that works I do not know. How my fast can benefit, strengthen, open the doors of healing, and call down grace upon somebody a thousand miles away from me is a mystery I don’t grasp in the least. But the Church, following Jesus has always recommended it. And that’s good enough for me.

3. A long article that isn't directly about what the headline says still reveals some cool news: Pope Finished With Vol. 2 of Jesus of Nazareth.