Are God and the Son identical? – A fascinating charm from the 5th century (P.Vindob. G 42406)

In Antiquity, magical and mystical charms played an essential role, not only in pagan cults but also in the Abrahamic religions. A charm which I find quite interesting is P.Vindob. G 42406 which is Jewish-Christian in its nature and which was described in detail by Christine and Hermann Harrauer. The papyrus can be dated in

My Publications on Korea (Selection)

Articles and Papers: Sketching the basic concept of Korean Shamanism – Theology, Rituals, Societal value. Journal of Ethnophilosophical Questions and Global Ethics 1 (1), 2017, 19-21. The Juche philosophy of North Korea –Philosophical Content and Practical Failure. Journal of Ethnophilosophical Questions and Global Ethics 1 (1), 2017, 52-57. The Crucial Role of New Religious Movements

Christianity in China among Han-Chinese and ethnic minorities

The official religion of the People’s Republic of China is state atheism, based on scientific Marxism. Nonetheless, religion as a private matter can be professed and there are plenty of religions, both native and foreign. Native religions include Confucianism, Daoism, Luoism, Sanyiism, Zailiism, Yiguandao, and Tiandiism. Local Han-Chinese folk religions and folk religions of ethnic

The Red Guards as naughty young people who wanted to become a new elite?

One interesting question which pops up in one’s mind when thinking of the Cultural Revolution is the question, why so many Red Guards fought against each other as they more or less shared the same goals. I think one very striking point which is often ignored is that the Red Guards understood themselves as a

The complexity of the Tibet issue broken down into a few key points

Many people in the West still believe that China annexed Tibet, despite the fact that Tibet was an integral part of China since the 18th century and never left, which is why an annexation is impossible, since this presumes a secession. Nevertheless, here are some simple arguments within all the complexity which undermines the Chinese

The Cultural Revolution in Tibet and the lessons we should learn out of it

The Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) is an important chapter in Chinese history under Party leader Mao Zedong. It changed the country fundamentally and still divides opinions today. First, the Chinese society of the 1980s, 90s and early 2000s could never have developed as it did without this historical chapter (though this is a weak argument of

Joseph and Mary married during her pregnancy as the Gospel of Matthew reports

“Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἡ γένεσις οὕτως ἦν. μνηστευθείσης τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ Μαρίας τῷ Ἰωσήφ, πρὶν ἢ συνελθεῖν αὐτοὺς εὑρέθη ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχουσα ἐκ πνεύματος ἁγίου. Ἰωσὴφ δὲ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, δίκαιος ὢν καὶ μὴ θέλων αὐτὴν δειγματίσαι, ἐβουλήθη λάθρᾳ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν.” Matthew 1:18-19 We learn here that Mary was pledged (μνηστευθείσης) to Joseph, but

[PDF] Timo Schmitz (Trad. & Ed.): “La κάθαρσις du coeur” (2022)

La κάθαρσις du cœur : Extraits et résumés de classiques grecs bien connus, dont les Sept Sages, Hérodote, Sophocle, Thucydide, Xénophon et Aristote Timo Schmitz (Traducteur & Editeur)

Hérodote : Histoires III 39,1-43,2 – La bague de Polycrate

Résumé par Timo Schmitz L’histoire de Polycrate, décrit dans le troisième livre des Histoires d’Hérodote, tourne autour d’un homme, Polycrate, qui eut beaucoup de succès dans ses batailles. En fait, on trouve beaucoup de parallèles avec le Crésus du premier livre : tous les deux faisaient des batailles très brutales. Polycrate a tout pillé sans faire de

Hérodote : Histoires, I 84 – La prise de la ville de Sardes

Traduit par Timo Schmitz. Avec l’aide de la traduction anglais de Godley (1920). Voici comment Sardes fut été prise. Lorsque Crésus fut assiégé pendant quatorze jours, Cyrus envoya des cavaliers dans son armée pour promettre de récompenser celui qui monterait le premier sur le mur. Après ça, l’armée lança un assaut, mais sans succès. Puis,