People who handle snakes religiously do it through total and complete faith, a practice known as holiness serpent handling. The handling of snakes in this way is rarely seen in person but considered a sacred act for the participants.
Religious institutions have played an instrumental role in expanding our moral circles beyond our immediate tribe, enabling cooperation on a larger scale and fostering the cultural evolution of morality. The significance lies in the fact that religion has historically facilitated the coordination of larger groups of people, which has paved the way for human advancements such as farming, and it continues to shape our moral mind today.
The speaker recalls a cringe-worthy conversation with a Catholic priest who asked about his plans for having children.
As we expand our knowledge and understanding of the world, the need for a "god bucket" to explain the unknown becomes less necessary. However, there may still be value in common myths and religion as a way to unify and connect people.
Comedian Pete Holmes discusses personal faith journeys and the transitions made by his own family members, including his father's shift to Orthodox Judaism.
The speaker reminisces about his desire to fight and his religious curiosity.
The podcast host wonders how religion has aided people living in war-torn countries where death is omnipresent and the future is uncertain. He acknowledges that it's difficult to think about death and wonders if religion has implications for regulating aspects of everyday life.
A group is being accused of making members sign lifetime vows of obedience and giving collateral to join. One young woman was excitedly told by her master that she had to give collateral to join.
A spiritual individual shares how his experience with prayer and religion helped him learn to challenge his thinking and mentality. He reflects on how what he learned from the practice aligns with current teachings by psychologists, doctors, and quantum physicists.
This essay recounts the history of the Unification Church's (aka the Moonies) business ventures, including the founding of the American Tuna fishing company, and reflects on the author's personal experience with the church's influence in his family's life.
Discussing Gaudium et Spes' paragraph 472, this transcript explores the concept that in assuming a true human soul, intellect, and will, the Son of God also assumed true human knowledge.
The fragmentation of religion has caused some to turn to Berkshire Hathaway with a religious-like fervor and trust in Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger, as they speak about their experiences with the company at an annual meeting.
Some argue that delivering food or medicine might be more helpful to impoverished countries than donating Bibles, but others insist that eternal salvation is more important.
Tracy, a woman charged with prostitution, has been barred from using a religious freedom defense in her trial. The judge ruled that her beliefs cannot be used as a justification for breaking the law, even though she's still allowed to bring up her beliefs on a case-by-case basis.
The human concept of an all-powerful, omnipotent being is limited by our own physical form and perspective, making it impossible for us to truly comprehend what it means to be God-like.
The speaker shares a vision of Jesus coming before his second coming to establish his people and appreciating their righteousness. The text also includes an ad for Athena Club's razor kit, which has skin guards to prevent razor burn and comes with blade heads, a magnetic hook, and a handle color of choice.
The guest speaker shares his thoughts on the importance of maintaining objectivity in spiritual and religious practices and how formalized religion can act as a middleman in connecting with a higher power.
The guest speaker shares how her Jewish mother's lack of religious guidance led her to eventually become involved with the church.
A person shares their experience of seeing a band with a mix of ages, and later contrasts it with their visit to a Catholic church, before discussing what they have learned about Hillsong.
Native peoples took on some religious beliefs of the Christian settlers. A woman who lost her partner to death due to frigid weather was afraid of becoming a windigo if she ate his flesh, and she left him in her shelter due to her beliefs.
A man recalls a conversation with Father Williams, who made fun of his height and commented on his friend's mother in a derogatory manner, while also referencing inappropriate comments made by Father Dub towards his friend.
A woman shares her custody battle experience and how her husband didn't want their sons to attend any religious services, which led to a court allowing supervised visitation for a certain timeframe while she was at church.
Amidst a wave of consumerism in the 1980s, a religious awakening swept across Japan leading to the formation of numerous new religions, catering to people eager to embrace spiritual practices. One of the leaders, Shoko Asahara, initially drew inspiration from Chinese astrology and Taoism before delving into yoga, meditation and other secret traditions.
Despite financial challenges and personal obstacles, Jim, a pastor in a low-income community, puts his heart and soul into his church with the help of his dedicated partner.
A conversation about the difficulty in pronouncing the surname Schlesinger turns into a discussion about assumptions and stereotypes surrounding race and religion.
