Jediism came to prominence in 2001 during the UK census when a bunch of people claimed to be "Jedi" as their religion. But there also is a real-world movement of people calling themselves Jediists, followers of Jediism. How should...

You don't need to be religious to study religion. This might sound really obvious to you...but from my experience, lots of people assume this.

In this episode we examine the topic: Is Religion the Opium of the People?

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...

Religious bullying is a common occurrence at schools in the US. What are some examples, and what can we do about it?

In this episode we examine the topic: Mandaeism: The Last Gnostic Religion?

In this episode we examine the topic: Who Are the Samaritans?

In March 2020, Google searches for "prayer" surged to its highest level in 5 years. Presumably, more and more people are searching for answers about prayer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Does this indicate a surge in religiosity as well?

Anthropologists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries hypothesized that animism was the earliest religion. But later scholars have called this theory into question. What is animism? And how should we categorize it? This video was...

In this episode we examine the topic: The History of Demons

How Did the Nicene Creed Form? This famous statement of Christian orthodoxy is recited all over the world today. But it was actually composed in the 4th century during a theological controversy. What was this controversy? And what can it...

A bachelors degree in Religious Studies. Is it a useful degree? Maybe, maybe not. But these three famous people majored in it!

Many define "religion" as a "belief system." But religion encompasses a lot more than "belief" and "doctrine." In fact, many religions don't emphasize personal faith much at all. For many people, their religious identity is derived...

Marcion...hated heretic or influential maverick?

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...

Animal sacrifice. It is one of humanity's oldest rituals. But how old? When did this ritual originate?

Any world religion textbook will include Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. But how many include indigenous religions? What even are indigenous religions and how do we study them?

Bibliography: Michael Jackson citation at 4:37 - 4:47: Citation from Existential Anthropology, p. 94 Joseph Henrich, Michal Bauer, Alessandra Cassar, Julie Chytilova, Benjamin Grant Purzycki, "War Increases Religiosity," Nature: Human...

In spring 2018, I got a special tour inside the Dome of the Rock. Here are my thoughts as I wandered around this sacred building.

In this episode we examine the topic: The Most Painful Religious Rituals

Is Mario religious? If so, what is his religion? In this video, we explore the State Religion of the Mushroom Kingdom.