ReligionForBreakfast

Last week I had the opportunity to speak at George Mason University in Virginia. Had a blast taking over a few classes and giving a lecture on magic in the ancient world. Shoutout to the incredibly dynamic religious studies department there and especially to the smart students of the Society for the Study of Religion.

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5 hours ago | [YT] | 1,344

ReligionForBreakfast

The Religion Department’s Black Friday sale is live! Study religion with world-class scholars and an ever-growing course catalog. Get 25% off annual memberships with code BF25 at: religiondepartment.com/membership

5 days ago | [YT] | 355

ReligionForBreakfast

Ran into a few familiar faces at the Society of Biblical Literature conference in Boston. Always a blast talking shop with Dan McClellan, Josh Bowen, and Kipp Davis. If you don't already, follow them here:‪@maklelan‬, ‪@DigitalHammurabi‬, ‪@DrKippDavis‬ .

1 week ago | [YT] | 2,666

ReligionForBreakfast

What happened to the Lost Tribes of Israel? A while ago, I made a video about Dr. Andrew Tobolowsky’s book "The Myth of the Twelve Tribes of Israel." Now he’s joining The Religion Department for a live talk that dives even deeper. Register: www.religiondepartment.com/offers/txFFRzLX/checkou…

Hope to see many of you there! It’s a great opportunity for deeper engagement and live Q&A with Tobolowsky himself! He’ll tackle questions like:

Why did ancient writers imagine Israel as twelve tribes?

What happened to the so-called “lost ten?”

And why have cultures across the world, from Ethiopia to India to early America, claimed descent from them?

3 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 544

ReligionForBreakfast

My recent video on fantasy-world religion tropes vs. real-world religion sparked a ton of discussion, and honestly, some of the best comments I’ve seen in a while. A bunch of you pointed out a few fantasy-world religions that actually nail it…ones that feel lived-in, believable, and culturally deep. So I’m thinking this topic deserves a sequel. What are some examples of fictional religions that do it right? Books, movies, games, whatever.

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 1,799

ReligionForBreakfast

Our Intro to Coptic course is back! Learn the final stage of the ancient Egyptian language, reading from the Gospel of Thomas with Harvard-trained scholar Dr. Lydia Bremer-McCollum. Starts THIS WEEK: www.religiondepartment.com/coptic

Level 1: Oct 27–Dec 15 (Beginner-friendly!)
Level 2: Starts Jan 5 (For returning students)
Live classes + recordings + discussion forum

Members of The Religion Department get 50% off all seminars. Join & take Level 1 for $199 total.

1 month ago | [YT] | 667

ReligionForBreakfast

Is the Buddha a historical figure? Join us for a special lecture TODAY with Dr. Donald S. Lopez Jr.: www.religiondepartment.com/offers/f2wRFo6Z/checkou…

Dr. Lopez is one of the world’s leading scholars of Buddhism, and he'll be discussing his new book The Buddha. In this talk, Dr. Lopez explores what’s at stake in the question of the Buddha’s historicity, tracing ancient biographies, modern scholarship, and the enduring power of myth. Attend live today (Oct 21st) at 2:30 PM Eastern.

1 month ago | [YT] | 1,889

ReligionForBreakfast

I recently sat down with Alex O'Connor (aka:‪@CosmicSkeptic‬) to talk about one of my favorite topics: magic and miracle in the ancient world. We dug into the question: when ancient audiences saw Jesus healing the sick or casting out demons… would they have thought of him as a magician?

1 month ago | [YT] | 224

ReligionForBreakfast

Longtime fans of the channel might remember Dr. Abel Gomez. He guest starred in my Intro to Indigenous Religions video five years ago! Dr. Gomez is back for a live lecture on indigenous spirituality TODAY. Join here: www.religiondepartment.com/offers/YhTLCz27/checkou…

For many Indigenous peoples around the world, land is central to identity, religion, politics, and culture. Creation stories often recount Indigenous nations being both FROM a place and OF a place, and ceremonial practices often situate Indigenous peoples within a web of relationships and responsibilities to land.

Join Dr. Gomez as he explores how land and spirituality intertwine. The lecture starts in just a few hours — 1:00 PM EST!

1 month ago | [YT] | 1,496

ReligionForBreakfast

I sat down with the fine gentlemen over at ‪@bibleandarch‬ (awesome channel btw, go subscribe) for an "Ask Andrew Anything"-style interview. Go watch my random musings about religion for 50-minutes.

2 months ago | [YT] | 151