ReligionForBreakfast

Watch @toldinstone's video, How 4 Forged Books Changed Christianity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cbTUvIu298

Uploaded 29-05-26

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Apophatic theology is one of the most mystical branches of Christian thought, which traces from Plato and Neoplatonism to Gregory of Nyssa, Pseudo-Dionysius, and Byzantine mystics.

00:00 Apophatic Moses on Mt. Sinai
3:16 Cataphatic vs. Apophatic Defined
7:16 Roots of Apophatic Theology
9:44 The Cappadocian Fathers
13:17 Pseudo-Dionysius Explained
16:55 Apophatic Ritual and Hesychasm



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Join our Patreon community!: https://patreon.com/religionforbreakfast
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Check out my favorite religious studies books: https://www.amazon.com/shop/religionforbreakfast

Uploaded 31-10-19

Self-flagellation. Body mortification. Fire-walking. Global religion has bunches of examples of extreme, painful rituals. But why do humans do them?
Watch full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRdi0hNqVSw&feature=youtu.be

Full picture: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/9bz875/do-anthropologists-consider-the-ice-bucket-challenge-an-extreme-ritual-106

All photographs are courtesy of Dr. Dimitris Xygalatas unless otherwise stated.
Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast
One time donations: https://www.paypal.me/religionforbreakfast
Follow me on Twitter: @andrewmarkhenry

Other photo credits:
Wikimedia Commons, tajai : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:15ème_Fête_de_Ganesh_(4939345552).jpg | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thaipusam7.jpg

Bibliography:
Dimitris Xygalatas, "How Extreme Rituals Forge Intense Social Bonds," https://aeon.co/essays/how-extreme-rituals-forge-intense-social-bonds

Fischer et. al., "The Fire-Walker’s High: Affect and Physiological Responses in an Extreme Collective Ritual," February 2014 | Volume 9 | Issue 2
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0088355&type=printable

Xygalatas et. al. “Effects of Extreme Ritual Practices on Psychophysiological Well-Being,” Current Anthropology, Volume 60, Number 5, October 2019.



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Uploaded 10-01-20

Thank you so much. Thank you to the 100,000 people who have subscribed. And thank you to the 200 people who have supported this show financially. I am so grateful, and I'm excited about the future of religious literacy education on YouTube. Here's to 2020!



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Register for Thorn's seminar American Paranormal!: https://www.religiondepartment.com/AmericanParanormal

Uploaded 30-09-25

The number of witches in the U.S. has increased dramatically. I sit down with scholar and practicing witch Thorn Mooney to talk about Wicca, WitchTok, misconceptions, and what it means to be a witch in 2025.



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Demonology meets the archaeology of ancient Roman latrines.

Uploaded 01-04-18

Andrew's religious studies book recommendations: http://amazon.com/shop/religionforbreakfast

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twitter: @andrewmarkhenry
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Bibliography:
Primary Sources:
Life and Miracles of St. Thecla, Miracle 7

Suicide by xylospongium found in Seneca's letters: Epis. Mor. 70.20-21

Pompeii "Cacator Cave Malum" fresco found in Taberna IX 7, 22.

Clemens quote: Protrepticus 4.51

Secondary Sources:

Brenk, F.E. “Demonology in the Early Imperial Period.” Aufstieg und Niedergang der romischen Welt. II.16.3, (1986): 2068-2145.

Dunbabin, Katherine M.D. “Baiarum Grata Voluptas: Pleasures and Dangers of the Baths,” Papers of the British School at Rome, Vol. 57, British School at Rome, (1989): 6-46.

Koloski-Ostrow, Ann Olga, "The Archaeology of Sanitation in Roman Italy: Toilets, Sewers, and Water Systems," 2015

Koloski-Ostrow, Ann Olga. “Cacator Cave Malum: The Subject and Object of Roman Public Latrines in Italy during the First Centuries BC and AD,” in Cura Aquarum in Sicilia. Proceedings of the Tenth International Congress on the History of Water Management and Hydraulic Engineering in the Mediterranean Region.(2000)

Jansen, Gemma C. M., Ann Olga Koloski-Ostrow, and Eric Maria Moormann. 2011. Roman Toilets: Their Archaeology and Cultural History. Peeters Publishers and Booksellers.



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Register for our class "Who are the Hungry Ghosts?:" https://religionforbreakfast.eventbrite.com/

Uploaded 30-10-24

Buddhism has a reputation of being an atheistic religion. But is this true?

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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 Intro: Theravada, Mahayana, Secular Buddhism
3:14 Buddhist Cosmology and Devas
7:25 Can the devas help us? (Theravada perspective)
13:46 Bodhissatvas and Mahayana Buddhism
15:26 Tibetan Buddhism
16:19 Buddhist Modernism
19:48 Secular Buddhism
24:47 Conclusion



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Teaching neutral, academic religious studies courses in American public schools is tricky. Many people don't even realize that it is legal! But one school district in Modesto, California is proving that a world religions requirement for all students can help improve religious literacy and foster respect for religious freedom.

Uploaded 19-07-16

Twitter: @andrewmarkhenry
Blog: www.religionforbreakfast.com
Patreon: www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast

Thanks to our Patreon patrons!:
Brian B
Dan D
Alex B
John M
Wilson
Cain D
Manny
Mark H

Sources and photo attributions:

First Amendment Center report: http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/madison/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/FirstForum_ModestoWorldReligions.pdf

Report on outrage over Islam class: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/19/us/lesson-on-islam-shuts-down-virginia-school-district.html

Sued School District: http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/83461841-story

Bible Belt report: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/teaching-not-preaching-in-ca-bible-belt/

Religion Dispatches: http://religiondispatches.org/reading-writing-religion-back-to-school-at-the-first-public-school-in-the-country-to-require-a-world-religions-course/

Classroom Image: By Nan Austin of Modesto Bee



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Uploaded 17-07-25

Who is the angel Gabriel in Islam? Known as Jibril, he’s the messenger who revealed the Quran to Muhammad. This video explores his role in Islamic tradition, how he compares to the biblical Gabriel, and why he’s considered the chief of all angels.

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Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images and Reuters



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30 CE? 70 CE? 135 CE? 200 CE?

Uploaded 19-01-16

Twitter: @andrewmarkhenry
Facebook: www.religionforbreakfast.com/facebook
Blog: www.religionforbreakfast.com

Animation: EC Henry www.echenry.com
Design: Chris Maghintay http://www.chrismaghintay.com/
Music: Kevin MacLeod www.incompetech.com

All images my own or Public Domain.



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Salem is a small city in Massachusetts, most famous for being the site of the Salem Witch Trials. Because of this dubious history, Salem has become a hub for New Religious Movements. Tens of thousands of people travel there in October every year to celebrate Halloween (or Samhain), making it something like a modern pilgrimage site.

Uploaded 08-11-16

Patreon: www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast
Twitter: @andrewmarkhenry
Facebook: www.facebook.com/religionforbreakfast
Blog: www.religionforbreakfast.com

Thanks to our supporters on Patreon!:
Brian B.
Daniel D.
Kalei W.
Alex B.
Mark H.
Alice C.
Wilson
Cain D.

Photo Attributions and Bibliography:
Satanism Headquarters: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/north/2016/09/20/satanic-headquarters-hopes-for-quiet-opening-salem/GcS4kooiHUCdDGdRHVq9xK/story.html

Varanasi photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:India_-_Varanasi_-_027_-_pilgrims_getting_ready_to_cruise_(2146282405).jpg

1876 Painting of Witch Trials: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_witch_trials#/media/File:Witchcraft_at_Salem_Village.jpg

1892 Lithograph of Witch Trials: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_witch_trials#/media/File:Salem_witch2.jpg



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