By Dwight Swanson

Thursday evening I stood on the rooftop of the house that has been my home when in Jerusalem. This was the last night of a two-week stay, after having brought a group of college students on a study visit of biblical sites. This roof-top is a place for contemplation, for prayer; and I spent the evening in both.

There is a non-stop intensive energy in Jerusalem that is difficult to describe. The day we arrived, careering uphill from the airport in the Nesher shuttle, I was uncertain that I actually wanted to be there. That energy can be wearing on the spirit as well as the body, and I was already weary. Could I cope? There is a well-known phenomenon called the ‘Jerusalem Syndrome’, in which people with strong religious passions seem to be tipped over the edge of reality when they arrive here. This trip we met two Messiahs; one a rather short woman, and the other a bearded man from London; both dressed in white. The man had a priestly sort with him, who didn’t seem to speak. They were not the first crazies I have met over the years.

This is the point. The first time I came to Jerusalem, nearly twenty years ago, the dominant impression I came away with was, ‘There is too much religion here.’ (more)

By Dwight Swanson

Let me tell you a love story. Its not the story you will see on any television screen tonight, or in the cinema, where the beautiful people instantly fall deeply into bed and then decide they are in love and then discover a reason why their love cannot be fulfilled and then fall into bed again anyway after saving the world. Or, while saving the world.

This is a real love story. (more)

By Dwight Swanson

This mosaic comes from the 4th Century Church of the Shepherd's Field, near Bethlehem. This portion depicts a decorative cross inside the Star of David.

By Dwight Swanson

Do trees have a secret life?

By Dwight Swanson

Facts:

Dan Brown actually exists. He must, because according to his own website he has made appearances on CNN, The Today Show, National Public Radio, Voice of America, as well as in the pages of Newsweek, Forbes, People, GQ, The New Yorker, and others. His novels have been translated and published in more than 40 languages around the world. Reading them is a practice known as ‘corporal mortification’.

The Roman Catholic Church is a real organisation. There is also a Catholic Church, which is made up of all Christians everywhere, but most people are familiar with the Roman version (that is, with its centre in Rome). There are many deeply devout Christians, including Roman Catholics

All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this report are accurate. (more)