Guided by the moon: how faith follows the lunar cycle
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When you look up at the night sky, you might see a full, glowing moon or just a thin silver crescent. It is beautiful, of course, but it is also deeply meaningful. For thousands of years, people have followed the movements of the moon to guide their lives. In many religions, the moon is more than a light in the sky – it is a way of marking sacred time.
Psalm 104 verse 19 says, ‘He made the moon to mark the seasons.’ This idea – that the moon has a purpose – can be found in several world religions. The moon helps people know when to fast, when to feast, when to reflect, and when to celebrate. In this article, we will explore how the moon helps shape some of the most important religious festivals celebrated in the UK today: Ramadan, Passover and Easter.
Why the moon matters in religion
The moon has long been used as a natural calendar. It takes around 29.5 days for the moon to complete its cycle – from new moon, to full moon, and back again. These regular phases make it easy to track ...
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