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ReligionForBreakfast

ReligionForBreakfast

An educational channel dedicated to the academic, nonsectarian study of religion. We promote improving the public's religious literacy by exploring humanity's beliefs and rituals through an anthropological, sociological, and archaeological lens.

Religion for Breakfast does not endorse any particular religious tradition or non-religious perspective. Please be respectful in the comments!

The host, Dr. Andrew M. Henry, is a scholar of religious studies. His research focus is early Christianity and late Roman religion. He earned his PhD at Boston University. Follow him on Twitter @andrewmarkhenry.
fan Made. no infringement intended.

Links:
Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewmarkhenry
Blog: http://www.religionforbreakfast.com

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  • Tuesday · 35 min

    Why Is Pork Forbidden?

    Go to https://bit.ly/noom_religion and take your free 30-second quiz! Thank you #noom for sponsoring today’s video! Uploaded 29-07-21 Join our Patreon community!: https://www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast One-time donations here!: https://www.paypal.me/religionforbreakfast Check out my favorite religious studies books by following this affiliate link to my Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/shop/religionforbreakfast Credits: Executive Producers: Daniel Cuevas, Maritza Co-Writers: Bailey Benson and Andrew Henry Editor: Mark Henry Bibliography Hesse, B. and Wapnish, P. 1997. Can Pig Remains Be Used for Ethnic Diagnosis in the Ancient Near East? In The Archaeology of Israel: Constructing the Past, Interpreting the Present, edited by N.A. Silberman and D.B. Small, pp. 238-270. Hesse, B. and Wapnish, P. 1998.Pig Use and Abuse in the Ancient Levant: Ethnoreligious Boundary-Building and Swine. In Ancestors for the Pigs, edited by S. Nelson, pp. 123-135. Price, M.D. 2021. Evolution of a Taboo: Pigs and People in the Ancient Near East. Oxford. Sapir-Hen, L., Bar-Oz, G., Gadot, Y., and Finkelstein, I. 2013. Pig Husbandry in Iron Age Israel and Judah: New Insights Regarding the Origin of the “Taboo.” Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palastina-Vereins 129 (1): 1-20. Zeder, M.A. 2009. The Neolithic Macro-(R)evolution: Macroevolutionary Theory and the Study of Culture change. Journal of Archaeological Research 17:1-63. Zeder, M.A. 2012. The Broad Spectrum Revolution at 40: Resource Diversity, Intensification, and an Alternative to Optimal Foraging Explanations. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 31: 241-264. Zeder, M.A. 2015. Core Questions in Domestication Research. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112: 3191-3198. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Tuesday · 21 min

    Agnostics Spiritually Struggle More Than Atheists—But Feel Better About God

    Want to restore the planet’s ecosystems and see your impact in monthly videos? The first 100 people to join Planet Wild with my code RELIGION4 will get the first month for free on me: https://planetwild.com/r/religionforbreakfast/join/4 If you want to get to know them better first, check out their mission creating the world's longest wildlife corridor: https://planetwild.com/r/religionforbreakfast/m37/4 Uploaded 23-04-26 A new psychology of religion study finds agnostics struggle more with doubt, meaning, and morality than atheists, but also feel more drawn to God. As it turns out, nonbelief has a lot to do with emotions. 00:00 Differences Between Agnostics and Atheists 4:42 Spiritual Struggle Explained 6:30 Exline Study's Methods 7:54 Exline Study's Results 12:14 Broader Implications About Non-Religion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Tuesday · 14 min

    Is Religion Biologically Hardwired?

    Join our Patreon community!: https://patreon.com/religionforbreakfast One-time donations here!: https://www.paypal.me/religionforbreakfast Uploaded 05-04-19 Religion is a social thing. It involves beliefs and practices passed on from generation to generation as an integral part of culture. But is there a biological default to religion hardwired in the brain of homo sapiens? For religious studies book recommendations, see: https://amazon.com/shop/religionforbr... Follow me on: Twitter @andrewmarkhenry www.facebook.com/religionforbreakfast Bibliography: Science on Religion: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/scienceonreligion/2013/12/is-religion-anthropomorphism/ Patrican and Burris, “Am I the Stone? Overattribution of Agency and Religious Orientation,” Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 2012, Vol 4, No. 4, 312-323. Harris and Fiske: https://sites.duke.edu/flaubertsbrain/files/2012/08/Harris-and-Fiske-The-Brooms-in-Fantasia.pdf Steven Mithen, "Prehistory of the Mind," 2002. Justin Barrett, Cognitive Science Religion and Theology: From Human Minds to Divine Minds, Templeton Press, 2011. Marc Andersen: https://www-tandfonline-com.ezproxy.bu.edu/doi/full/10.1080/2153599X.2017.1378709 “Learned Faith: The influence of evolved cultural learning mechanisms on belief in Gods. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 7(4), 327-335. Lanman, J. A., and Buhrmester, M. D. (2017). Religious actions speak louder than words: Exposure to credibility-enhancing displays predicts theism. Religion, Brain and Behavior, 7(1), 3–16. Willard, A. K., and Cingl, L. (2017). Testing theories of secularization and religious belief in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Evolution and Human Behavior, 38(5), 604–615. Jonathan Lanman, “On The Nature and Future of Agency Detection and Religion,” Religion Brain and Behavior, 2018. Pascal Boyer, Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought, 2001 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Tuesday · 29 min

    Why Ancient Christian Artists Gave Jesus a "Magic" Wand

    Compare news coverage. Spot media bias. Avoid algorithms. Try Ground News today and get 40% off your subscription by going to https://ground.news/religionforbreakfast Uploaded 30-10-25 Join our Patreon community! https://www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images and Reuters Ancient Christian art often shows Jesus holding what looks like a magic wand. Was he being portrayed as a magician? This video explores the cultural meaning behind these images, and what they reveal about early Christian views of power and miracles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Tuesday · 44 min

    Who is Mithras?

    Join me in Ephesus!: https://religionforbreakfast.com/ Uploaded 20-07-26 Thousands of Romans worshipped a god who killed a bull in a cave. They left no scripture behind. So who was Mithras, where did he come from, and what does that bull-slaying scene actually mean? A look at Rome's most mysterious religion. Thumbnail by @ECHenry Religion for Breakfast videos take a lot of research and collaboration. Patreon support helps fund editors, scholars, and future episodes. Support us here: https://www.patreon.com/c/religionforbreakfast Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images and Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Tuesday · 23 min

    The Origins of Lilith | Adam's First Wife?

    Register for my class "Early Christian Exorcism" here!: https://religionforbreakfast.eventbrite.com/ Uploaded 12-10-23 Thumbnail art by @hotcyder Join our Patreon community!: https://www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast One-time donations here!: https://www.paypal.me/religionforbreakfast Check out my favorite religious studies books by following this affiliate link to my Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/shop/religionforbreakfast According to medieval Jewish folklore, Lilith is a demon who was Adam's first wife before Eve. But where did this idea come from? Dive into the 4,000-year-long history of Lilith, the terrifying demoness. 00:00 Intro 1:00 Mesopotamian Origins: lilu-demons 4:15 Named Mesopotamian demonesses 6:04 Lilith in the Hebrew Bible 8:24 Lilith in 2nd Temple and Rabbinic Judaism 12:12 Adam's First Wife? 14:51 Lilith in Kabbalah 15:22 The Lilith 'rebrand' Select images courtesy of Getty Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Tuesday · 26 min

    Apocalyptic A.I. - A New Religion?

    Go to https://brilliant.org/ReligionForBreakfast to get a 30-day free trial + the first 200 people will get 20% off their annual subscription. Uploaded 28-04-23 Join our Patreon community!: https://www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast One-time donations here!: https://www.paypal.me/religionforbreakfast Check out my favorite religious studies books by following this affiliate link to my Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/shop/religionforbreakfast What happens when the lines between ancient prophecies and modern technology blur? In this video, we explore the striking similarities between religious apocalyptic literature and the predictions surrounding artificial intelligence and the Singularity. Discover how scholars like Robert Geraci and Beth Singler have identified the echoes of ancient apocalyptic narratives in the works of AI theorists like Ray Kurzweil and Hans Moravec. Further reading: Beth Singler, 2019 “An Ethnographic Discussion of Existential Hope and Despair in AI Apocalypticism”, in Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science, vol 54, issue 1; https://doi.org/10.1111/zygo.12494 Beth Singler, 2022 “Left Behind? Religion as a Vestige in ‘The Rapture of the Nerds’ and Other AI Singularity Literature”, in Science and Religion in Western Literature: Critical and Theological Studies, ed Michael Fuller, Routledge. Robert Geraci, 2010. Apocalyptic AI: Visions of Heaven in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality. New York: Oxford University Press. Robert Geraci, 2010. “Popular Appeal of Apocalyptic AI.” Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 45(4): 1003-1020. Robert Geraci, 2008. “Apocalyptic AI: Religion and the Promise of Artificial Intelligence.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 76(1): 138-166. 00:00 Intro 2:17 Part 1: Apocalypticism, not Doomerism 7:55 Part 2: Divine Intervention 10:24 Part 3: Alienated by Biology 15:41 Part 4: Repent, the Singularity is at Hand Select footage and images courtesy of Getty Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Tuesday · 6 min

    Is Coca-Cola a Religion?

    Religion is very difficult to define. The scholar Clifford Geertz offered his own definition, but ironically, this definition is broad enough to apply to even a soft drink brand: Coca Cola. But how could Coca-Cola be a religion? Uploaded 11-12-17 www.facebook.com/religionforbreakfast www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast @andrewmarkhenry www.religionforbreakfast.com Andrew's religious studies book recommendations: http://amazon.com/shop/religionforbreakfast Thanks to our patrons on Patreon! Sources: Mark Pendergrast, "For God, Country, and Coca Cola," David Chidester, "The Church of Baseball, the Fetish of Coca-Cola, and the Potlatch of Rock n' Roll: Theoretical Models for the Study of Religion in American Popular Culture, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Vol. 64, No. 4, (Winter, 1996), 743-765 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Tuesday · 18 min

    Why More Māori Are Rejecting Christianity

    Register for our online lecture with Dr. Sara Rahmani!: https://www.religiondepartment.com/offers/zsbQ2xsX/checkout Uploaded 18-03-25 Atheism series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHsXddZFR9ANbj-eq169yTeOmNenCs8ZB Māori atheism is on the rise, but it's more than just disbelief—it’s tied to colonial resistance. A new study shows how Māori atheists frame rejecting Christianity as a political act. Atheism isn’t just Western—it’s global. Production Team: Producers: Andrew Henry; Andrew Aghapour Writer: Kira Kieffer Consultants: Sara Rahmani; Peter Adds Editor: Mark Henry Join our Patreon community! https://www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images and Reuters Thumbnail art by @hotcyder This video was made possible through the support of Grant 61928 from the John Templeton Foundation managed by The Queen’s University of Belfast. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation or The Queen’s University of Belfast. 00:00 Māori atheism rising 1:36 Māori history in brief 6:15 Atheism defined 7:26 Māori atheism and moral critique 10:36 Māori atheism and indigenous "authenticity" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Tuesday · 34 min

    How to Become Immortal According to Daoism (in 5 not-so-easy steps)

    With my link, you can get 50% off of Nebula. It’s just $30/year, or $2,5/month, at https://go.nebula.tv/religionforbreakfast Watch SarahZ's "Three Dead Girls I Love": https://nebula.tv/videos/sarahz-three-dead-girls-i-love?ref=religionforbreakfast Uploaded 17-04-26 Daoist texts describe a path to transcendence through diet, celibacy, breathwork, and alchemy. From grain avoidance to mercury elixirs, how did Daoists try to live forever—and what did “immortality” really mean? Religion for Breakfast videos take a lot of research and collaboration. Patreon support helps fund editors, scholars, and future episodes. Support us here: https://www.patreon.com/c/religionforbreakfast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Monday · 52 min

    Did Early Christians Think Jesus Was a Ghost? | ft. Travis Proctor

    Join Dr. Travis Proctor’s guided reading, walking through ancient resurrection accounts, including lesser-known texts like the Gospel of Peter!: https://www.religiondepartment.com/resurrection Uploaded 30-03-26 If you enjoyed this conversation, check out Dr. Travis Proctor’s work at www.traviswproctor.com where he’s launching a new blog this summer on The Haunted Bible. Did early Christians think Jesus was a ghost? I talk with scholar Travis Proctor about resurrection narratives, ancient ideas of bodies and spirits, and why the story of Jesus sometimes resembles ancient ghost stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Monday · 14 min

    Was the Gospel of John Changed to Suppress Mary Magdalene?

    Mary Magdalene has a ton of conspiracy theories swirling around her. Most are pure speculation. But a recent study by a Duke University New Testament PhD student, Elizabeth Schrader, argues that the copiers of the Gospel of John may have diminished the role of Mary Magdalene. Uploaded 22-07-19 Full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PThZ6XEp4qw&feature=youtu.be Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast https://www.paypal.me/religionforbreakfast Check out my favorite religious studies books: https://www.amazon.com/shop/religionforbreakfast Follow me on Twitter!: @andrewmarkhenry Follow Elizabeth Schrader too!: @libbieschrader Study: Elizabeth Schrader, "Was Martha of Bethany Added to the Fourth Gospel in the Second Century?" Harvard Theological Review 110 (2017) 360-392 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Monday · 1 hr 4 min

    Why Is Christmas on December 25th? | Dr. Tom Schmidt

    Religion for Breakfast videos take a lot of research and collaboration. Patreon support helps fund editors, scholars, and future episodes. Support us here: https://www.patreon.com/c/religionforbreakfast Uploaded 22-12-25 Read Dr. Schmidt's Christmas publications here: https://tcschmidt.com/christmas-publications/ The Bible doesn't say when Jesus was born...so why December 25th? New Testament scholar Dr. Tom Schmidt explains. 00:00 Intro: The Debate Over December 25th 01:20 What We Know for Sure (John Chrysostom) 05:25 The History of Religions Thesis (Sol Invictus) 07:43 Problems with the Sol Invictus Theory 11:20 The Winter Solstice in Ancient Culture 13:05 The Calculation Theory: Passover and The Equinox 15:34 "Cosmic Perfection": Linking Conception and Crucifixion 19:42 The Hippolytus Statue (222 AD) 22:36 Deciphering the "Genesis of Christ" Inscription 27:14 Calculating the Birth Date from Creation 30:04 Other Early Chronographers (Julius Africanus and Clement) 34:12 How December 25th Spread and "Won" 53:29 Other Holidays: Saturnalia, Kalends, and Brumalia 56:44 Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Monday · 36 min

    Are Babies Born Atheists?

    Register for our Religion and Sports class!: https://www.religiondepartment.com/religionandsports Uploaded 30-06-26 Cognitive scientists say human minds may come pre-wired for theism (agency detection, purpose-seeking, afterlife intuitions). But do those instincts actually make kids believers in gods? And what happens to kids raised without religion at all? Thumbnail by @ECHenry This video was made possible through the support of Grant 61928 from the John Templeton Foundation managed by The Queen’s University of Belfast. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation or The Queen’s University of Belfast. 00:00 Setting up the question: Theistic Babies? 2:32 Cognitive Defaults for Theism? 13:56 Cultural and Social Inputs for Theism 20:33 What about kids raised in nonreligious families? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Monday · 12 min

    Why is "Mana" in Your Video Games?

    Join our Patreon community!: https://patreon.com/religionforbreakfast One-time donations here!: https://www.paypal.me/religionforbreakfast Check out my favorite religious studies books: https://www.amazon.com/shop/religionforbreakfast Uploaded 08-07-20 If you play League of Legends, World of Warcraft, or Magic the Gathering, you've probably heard about "mana." It is the magical power used by sorcerers, magicians, mages, and wizards. But what is mana, and how did it enter video gaming culture? Special thanks to one of our patrons, Esteban, for suggesting the video title! Bibliography: Alex Golub, “The History of Mana,” The Appendix, April 2014: http://theappendix.net/issues/2014/4/the-history-of-mana-how-an-austronesian-concept-became-a-video-game-mechanic Jacques Waardenburg, Russell T. McCutcheon , "Classical Approaches to the Study of Religion: Aims, Methods, and Theories of Research. Introduction and Anthology,” (De Gruyter, 2017). Juliette Blevins, "Some Comparative Notes on Proto-Oceanic mana: Inside and Outside the Austronesian Family,” Oceanic Linguistics, Vol. 47, No. 2 (Dec., 2008), 253-274. Mana study by Office of Hawaiian Affairs: https://www.oha.org/mana Matt Tomlinson, "New Mana: Transformations of a Classic Concept in Pacific Languages and Cultures,” (ANU Press, 2016). Matt Tomlinson, “Retheorizing Mana: Bible Translation and Discourse of Loss in Fiji,” Oceania, Vol. 76, No. 2 (Jul., 2006), 173-185.. Matthew Tomlinson, “In God’s Image: The Metaculture of Fijian Christianity,” (University of California Press, 2009). Wende Elizabeth Marshall, “Potent Mana: Lessons in Power and Healing,” (SUNY Press, 2011) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Monday · 48 min

    Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? | ft. Dr. Brook Wilensky-Lanford

    Join Dr. Wilensky-Lanford for a FREE guided reading of A God-Shaped Nation this summer. Read the book alongside the author and a community of fellow nerds: https://www.religiondepartment.com/godshapednation Uploaded 23-06-26 Was America founded as a Christian nation? Historian Brook Wilensky-Lanford on 500 years of religion in America, including Squanto's real story, Puritans executing Quakers, and who actually fought for church-state separation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Monday · 5 min

    3 Famous People Who Majored in Religion

    A bachelors degree in Religious Studies. Is it a useful degree? Maybe, maybe not. But these three famous people majored in it! Uploaded 30-08-16 Patreon: www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast Facebook: www.facebook.com/religionforbreakfast Twitter: @andrewmarkhenry Blog: www.religionforbreakfast.com Thanks so much to our Patreon Patrons!: Brian B. Daniel D. Kalei W. Alex B. John M. Wilson Cain D. Manny Mark H. Alice C. Bibliography: Good news for Humanities majors: http://www.aacu.org/leap/liberal-education-nation-blog/new-reports-offer-good-news-arts-and-humanities Humanities median salary: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/10/17/positive-reports-humanities-earnings-art-school-job-prospects Rashida Jones Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tgM6ixi1hc Justin Vernon Interview: http://www.cc.com/video-clips/gds7n9/the-colbert-report-justin-vernon Interview with Vernon's Professor: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/on-wisconsin-in-eau-claire-justin-vernon-s-roots-run/article_3d3bad28-60aa-11e1-9172-001871e3ce6c.html Crashcourse: https://www.youtube.com/user/crashcourse John Green Interview: http://www.goodreads.com/interviews/show/828.John_Green John Green commencement address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AriZhzeHbA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Monday · 1 hr 1 min

    What Is the Best Bible Translation?

    Register for our online Koine Greek class here!: https://religiondepartment.com/ Uploaded 13-09-24 Join our Patreon community! https://www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast Thumbnail art by @ECHenry Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images 00:00 Setting the parameters of the question 3:01 Which languages are being translated? 3:58 How manuscript traditions affect translation 13:20 Translation philosophy 21:31 Case Study: NRSV 29:12 Case Study: ESV 33:54 Case Study: NIV 38:15 Case Study: NAB 42:29 Case Study: JPS Tanakh 48:20 Case Study: KJV 51:48 Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Monday · 24 min

    Why Psychedelics Feel So Religious | Entheogens Explained

    Register for Ethnobotany and the Invisible Reality of the Blackfeet: https://www.religiondepartment.com/offers/BWG42LUy/checkout Uploaded 08-01-26 Religion for Breakfast videos take a lot of research and collaboration. Patreon support helps fund editors, scholars, and future episodes. Support us here: https://www.patreon.com/c/religionforbreakfast Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images and Reuters Discover why psychedelics so often spark mystical experiences. This video dives into research on entheogens, exploring awe, unity, and powerful altered states of consciousness. This video was made possible through the support of grant #TRT-2021-10499 from the John Templeton Foundation managed by the Center for Mind and Culture. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation or the Center for Mind and Culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Showing 41–60 of 341 episodes