ReligionForBreakfast

Most people know that Pokémon is a Japanese video game, but did you know that many Pokémon designs were influenced by Japanese religion, mythology, and folklore? If you look closely, you can see Shintoism and Buddhism throughout the entire franchise.

Uploaded 14-11-18

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Follow me on Twitter @andrewmarkhenry
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Bibliography:
Karen Ann Smyers (1999). The Fox and the Jewel: Shared and Private Meanings in Contemporary Japanese Inari Worship. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.

Michael Dylan Foster, "The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore, " 2015

Michael Dylan Foster, "Pandemonium and Parade: Japanese Monsters and the Culture of Yokai," 2009

Helen Hardacre, "Shinto: A History," 2017

Most photographs and video from Japan was shot by my brother EC Henry. Check out his channel at https://www.youtube.com/echenry



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Uploaded 09-11-23

Watch Cogito here: https://nebula.tv/videos/cogito-yt-what-is-hinduism?ref=religionforbreakfast

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Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is the festival of lights. It is celebrated mostly by Hindus, but many Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists recognize Diwali as well. The festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

00:00 The Basics: When and what?
2:49 Day 1: Dhanteras
3:18 Day 2: Choti Diwali / Naraka Chaturdashi
4:17 Day 3: Lakshmi Puja
5:44 Day 4: Govardhan Puja / Annakut / Bali Pratipada
7:37 Day 5: Bhai Dooj
7:47 Diversity of Practice
9:49 Diwali Outside of Hinduism
10:26 Origins and Mythological Narratives
12:35 Diwali Outside of India

Select images courtesy of Getty



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Thank you to Wondrium for sponsoring today’s video! Signup for your FREE trial to Wondrium here: http://ow.ly/HCzg50O5nF4

Uploaded 25-05-23

You may have heard of Qi before. It appears in discussions surrounding acupuncture, Tai Chi, cupping, and traditional Chinese Medicine. But it also appears in martial arts media as a superpower. So what is qi?

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00:00 Introduction
02:00 Qi and Cosmology
04:29 Mutual Resonance
05:15 Qi and the Body
10:29 Inner Alchemy
11:49 Outer Alchemy
15:04 Qi in 21st c.

Select footage and images courtesy of Getty



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Sign up for New Insights into the New Testament here!: https://religionforbreakfast--ehrman.thrivecart.com/nint2023/

Uploaded 14-09-23

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Most scholars agree Jesus had a brother named James. But a bunch of ancient Christians thought he had another brother. An identical twin brother: Judas Didymus Thomas. Where did this belief come from? And what was its significance?

Bibliography:
Gregory Riley, "Didymos Judas Thomas: The Twin Brother of Jesus," in Kimberley Patton (ed.), "Gemini and the Sacred: Twins and Twinship in Religion and Mythology," Bloomsbury Academic, 2023.

M. David Litwa, “I Will Become Him”: Homology and Deification in the Gospel of Thomas, Journal of Biblical Literature, SBL Volume 134, Number 2, 2015. pp. 427-447

Select footage courtesy of Getty



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Everyone assumes that early Church authorities chose December 25th for Christmas to coincide with the already popular Roman holiday of Saturnalia. This may have some basis in reality, but there is another theory: That Christians believed Jesus was conceived and died on the same day (sometime in March or April). When you calculate 9 months forward from that purported day of conception, you get December 25th or January 6th.

Uploaded 09-12-15

For more reading, see: http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/new-testament/how-december-25-became-christmas/

Twitter: @andrewmarkhenry
Blog: www.religionforbreakfast.com

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



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The Dalai Lama, the spiritual and [formerly] political leader of the Tibetan people. But what even is the Dalai Lama? And if he gets his way, will he be the last one?

Uploaded 15-03-19

Check out Step Back History's video "What do Buddhists Believe?" for an overview!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8m8ur_tE1o

Become a member of our Patreon community!: https://patreon.com/religionforbreakfast
You can also donate to the show at: https://www.paypal.me/religionforbreakfast
For religious studies book recommendations, see: https://amazon.com/shop/religionforbreakfast

Follow me on:
Twitter @andrewmarkhenry
www.facebook.com/religionforbreakfast

Bibliography:
BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-30510018
NYT Magazine: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/magazine/the-last-dalai-lama.html
Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism: https://books.google.com/books?id=cy980CH84mEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=intro+to+tibetan+buddhism&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiH0bCb0svgAhWDZd8KHfbCDX0QuwUILTAA#v=onepage&q=reincarnation&f=false

Dalai Lama's address on his reincarnation: https://www.dalailama.com/messages/retirement-and-reincarnation/reincarnation

Chinese Government Spokesperson on the Dalai Lama's succession: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/t1465639.shtml



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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 10-10-19

American Civil Religion Episode 1: "Americans Are Religious About America."
This episode is an introduction to American Civil Religion. It launches a 5-part series on the topic. Basically, American Civil Religion is when Americans are religious about America. The series argues that Americans are being religious when they create and curate American identity and ideals. Stay tuned for future episodes.

Follow me on Twitter at: @andrewmarkhenry
Special thanks to the Foundation for Religious Literacy for sponsoring this series: https://tfrl.org/

Thanks to Dr. David McConeghy for researching and writing this episode! Follow him on Twitter at: @dmcconeghy

Referenced videos:
Coca-Cola is a Religion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTVC2uVGEL0&t=118s

What is Religion?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5KHDR8jdbA

Image credits:
National Anthem protest: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._national_anthem_protests_(2016%E2%80%93present)#/media/File:Oakland_Raiders_National_Anthem_Kneeling_(37444579735).jpg



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Hell is well-known in popular culture and is a widespread belief among Christian communities today. But where did this doctrine come from? Jewish apocalyptic literature from the 2nd Temple period reveals the idea was evolving even before the rise of Christianity.

Uploaded 31-10-18

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

Religious studies book recommendations: https://www.amazon.com/shop/religionforbreakfast

Bibliography:
Pope John Paul II quote, General Audience July 28, 1999: http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/audiences/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_28071999.html

John Collins, "The apocalyptic imagination: an introduction to jewish apocalyptic literature."

John Collins, “Apocalpyticism in the Dead Sea Scrolls”

Kim Papaioannou, “The Geography of Hell in the Teaching of Jesus, Gehenna, Hades, the Abyss…"

Aristotle Papanikolaou, Elixabeth Prodromou (eds.), "Thinking Through Faith: New Perspectives from Orthodox Christian Scholars," p. 195

Photo attributions:
Valley of Hinnom, author Deror Avi: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gehenna#/media/File:Valley_of_Hinom_PA180090.JPG



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Uploaded 20-02-25

Korean Shamanism (Musok) is a dynamic religious tradition rooted in spirit mediation, ritual healing, and ancestral veneration.

Join our Patreon community! https://www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images and Reuters

00:00 Basic overview
1:25 What is Shamanism?
5:46 Shamanic Deities Explained
7:38 Who are the shamans?
12:40 Shamanism in Korea's religious landscape
14:25 Why the stigma?
18:26 Korean Shamanism in the 21st c.
21:37 Sign up for Nebula!



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Uploaded 21-10-25

Few prophets in Islam are as mysterious as Idrīs. In this video, we explore his identity, tracing how Muslims connected Idrīs with Enoch and Hermes Trismegistus, and why this ancient figure became a bridge between prophecy and esotericism.

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Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images and Reuters



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