History

Crash Course Religions

Welcome to Crash Course Religions! Over the next 24 episodes, John Green will explore the history and culture of religions and how they offer frameworks for making sense of our lives — while being incredibly slippery things to pin down. We’ll discover how we define, debate, and contest what religion means, whether we’re personally religious or not. Episode 1 premieres on September 10, 2024.

The History and Practice of Islam on Earth and Beyond

11m 39s

Many Muslims believe it’s their religious duty to pray five times a day in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. But how do they do it in space? In this episode of Crash Course Religions, we dig into the beliefs, pillars, and spread of Islam, from the astronomers who charted stars hundreds of years ago to the Malaysian astronaut who took his faith to space.

Episodes

  • The History and Practice of Islam on Earth and Beyond: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The History and Practice of Islam on Earth and Beyond

    S1 E10 - 11m 39s

    Many Muslims believe it’s their religious duty to pray five times a day in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. But how do they do it in space? In this episode of Crash Course Religions, we dig into the beliefs, pillars, and spread of Islam, from the astronomers who charted stars hundreds of years ago to the Malaysian astronaut who took his faith to space.

  • What Does it Mean to Be Jewish: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    What Does it Mean to Be Jewish

    S1 E8 - 13m 11s

    What does it mean to be Jewish? Is it being part of a religion, a people, a culture, a nation? All of the above? In this episode of Crash Course Religions, we’ll uncover how Jewish identity has been shaped by centuries of debate and deliberation.

  • Can a River Be A Person?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Can a River Be A Person?

    S1 E7 - 11m 59s

    What does it mean for a river to be a person? An ancestor, even? In this episode of Crash Course Religions, we’ll learn how Indigenous religious traditions’ emphasis on place, kinship, and diverse spirits challenge the dominant assumptions of the Western worldview.

  • The Infinite Stories of Hinduism: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Infinite Stories of Hinduism

    S1 E5 - 11m 32s

    What does it mean to be Hindu? In this episode of Crash Course Religions, we’ll learn about the surprising history of the term “Hindu,” what the word “karma” really means, and how this vast, sprawling tradition contains more than one version of a story.

  • What's the Difference Between Religion and Magic?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    What's the Difference Between Religion and Magic?

    S1 E4 - 12m 51s

    The word “magic” has dubious, demonic connotations. But is there really a difference between magic and religion? In this episode of Crash Course Religions, we’ll explore the history of magical practices and discover how modern-day witches, brujas, and Hoodoo practitioners are reclaiming the label.

  • What's the Difference Between Cults and Religion?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    What's the Difference Between Cults and Religion?

    S1 E3 - 10m 27s

    What is a cult? How are cults different from religions? And why do many religious scholars say we shouldn’t even use that label? In this episode of Crash Course Religions, we’ll learn why the line between cults and religions is much fuzzier than it seems.

  • How Many Religions Are There?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How Many Religions Are There?

    S1 E2 - 12m 3s

    When we think of world religions, we often think of the Big Five: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. But why do we think of those? In this episode of Crash Course Religions, we’ll learn why “world religions” is a category constructed by human choices—and why that matters for the communities that are left out.

  • Is Yoga a Religion?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Is Yoga a Religion?

    S1 E1 - 11m 57s

    When is yoga religious, and when is it… not religious enough? In this episode of Crash Course Religions, we’ll find out why these frameworks we call “religions” are so hard to define, and why our definitions have real-life consequences.

WETA Passport

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.