History's Most Provocative Faith Mysteries

Shutterstock.com

We will unearth some of the most complex faith mysteries of our time that seemed to have never been solved. Jesus, Noah, Buddha, Stonehenge, and others have encouraged researchers to continue to find the truth, or find clues that raise even more questions. They don’t all have to be faith related in the traditional sense, either. Many civilizations believed in aliens, many gods, worshiped nature, and higher powers that remain quite mysterious. Look at the mystery of Stonehenge. Many believe the stones were constructed by aliens. The Aztecs believed in the rain god Tlaloc, who had power over the rain, thunder, and created floods and droughts. They also believed in the god of Huitzilopochti, the deity of war and the sun. The mystery of the Great Flood recorded in the Bible and Jesus’ resurrection, also remains a mystery to many. No matter what that may entail, one can’t deny that the following mysteries will always be something to explore until the end of time.

Jesus

Was there a Jesus? Scholars have been debating Jesus for centuries, and skeptics believe there is no proof that the Messiah existed. The skeptics do believe that there was a Rabbi, but that was all they can agree on. There are fragments of Jesus' life recorded on parchments, and wood chips from the cross He was crucified on was also found in Europe, some believe. The Shroud of Turin, which is believed to be the cloth Jesus was wrapped in after his death that were found. Biblical scholar Marcus Borg, said in an interview with Live Science. "We do know some things about the historical Jesus — less than some Christians think, but more than some skeptics think. Though a few books have recently argued that Jesus never existed, the evidence that he did is persuasive to the vast majority of scholars, whether Christian or non-Christian.” The Shroud of Turin has been examined many times by modern science and has been suggested that it was Jesus by some Christian scientists. However, “the Catholic Church has never taken an official stance on the object's authenticity, tens of thousands flock to Turin, Italy, every year to get a glimpse of the object, believing that it wrapped the bruised and bleeding body of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion,” Live Science explained.

The Birth of Buddha

For years there have been questions surrounding where Buddha was born. According to legend, Buddha’s mother, Maya, gave birth standing under a tree and reached to support herself by holding onto a branch, but that is it. Researchers found evidence that pointed to an unknown timber structure beneath brick temples. “Very little is known about the life of the Buddha, except through textual sources and oral tradition. We thought 'why not go back to archaeology to try to answer some of the questions about his birth?' Now, for the first time, we have an archaeological sequence at Lumbini that shows a building there as early as the sixth century BC,” researcher and archaeologist Robin Coningham said in an interview with International Business Times. Buddha was born a wealthy prince, but decided to find a path of truth after witnessing the poor and hopeless outside his palace. He later changed his name from Siddartha Gautama to Buddha.

Noah's Ark

James Steidl/Shutterstock.com

The Ark has been a big source of controversy over the years as many believed there was not a Great Flood, or a boat that was built. However, science is creating more questions, and likely some answers as well. Researchers in Turkey claim to have found the wood of the Ark in Eastern region. Many researchers claim to have discovered the Ark, but no one can claim it as 100 percent authentic. There has been carbon dating of the wood found at the site to indicate that the artifact is over 2,000 years old. The tests returned, and showed the planks were over 4,000 years old and it fits into the Biblical narrative. Ancient writings were also found to record the events leading to the flood, and a clay tablet was introduced in 2014 as giving an account of the animals that were brought on board. Evidence was found at the site where scientists believe the animal fur and dung at the Ark’s location would solidify the theory that the Ark was and is real.

Extraterrestrials

Shutterstock.com

Before the Spanish invaded the Incas, Aztecs and Mayans, the civilization was successful in technology, and was productive as a civilization. The Mayans were so evolved that they created a calendar that was able to predict the lunar eclipse. The calendar also showed the date when the end of the world was coming to an end. They believed it was in 2012. Additionally, a landing pad for aliens that's over 3,000 years old was found in freest. There is speculation that the their civilization was taught by extraterrestrial visitors with these findings. Ken Feder wrote the book Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries, and said that aliens were not involved. He told Live Science that the Mayans were capable of developing “a calendar, mathematics, a written language and an elaborate agricultural system without the intervention of extraterrestrials," said Feder. "Claims that the Maya were visited by, inspired by, or mentored by ancient E.T. is little more than a tired and trite fantasy, wholly and utterly devoid of any confirming evidence."

Stonehenge

Shutterstock.com

Stonehenge had been a mystery for years and predates history. The famous circle of stones has drawn many people to England over the years. The question always has been who created the famous circle of giant stones? Some believe it was aliens as no man could have attained this without machines. The stones are 20 feet and weigh 45 tons! The site has been excavated for years, but there is no answer to whom or what erected these towers. There was an ancient alien theory “that extraterrestrials with superior knowledge of science and engineering landed on Earth thousands of years ago, sharing their expertise with early civilizations and helping them build architectural wonders such as Stonehenge. They also credit alien visitors for the construction of the Egyptian pyramids, Easter Island’s mysterious statues and a variety of other monuments,” The History Channel reported. Make your own decision on this one.