Holy Watermelon
98 episodes - English - Latest episode: 20 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsWelcome to the Holy Watermelon podcast, where a Christian and an atheist talk about the weird and wonderful things that people do because of what they believe. It's a show about religious studies.
Join us, Katie and Preston, as we dive into the world of comparative religion. We use humor and research to have real, challenging, and uproarious conversations about the world's religious traditions and behaviors.
If you're interested in religious studies, learning about other people and cultures, or fun facts for your dinner conversation, tune in to our bi-weekly episodes.
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Episodes
Celibacy & Scandal
June 06, 2022 11:00 - 56 minutes - 51.8 MBThere's some misunderstanding surrounding celibacy, so we're going to explore why it's such a prominent part of the Imperial Christian Priesthood, and we'll take a look at some of the damage that the policy has caused. We've made a point of keeping the trauma-triggers to the later portion of the show, so everybody can enjoy the more interesting bits of history before we get to the more sensitive content. We explore some of the history of the celibacy policy, as well as other rules that have...
The Troubles of Two Irelands
May 23, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 61.3 MBLooking again to Katie's Irish roots, the Troubles of Northern Ireland are a fascinating example of how religion gets tied to conflict. But is it really a religious conflict? What are the prerequisites for such a label. How much is religion really a part of the problem. Join us for an exploration of the history behind the Troubles, and the people who motivate them. It's easy to take sides, but solving the problem is a lot more complicated than agreeing to a cease-fire. Centuries of nationali...
Audits & Aliens
May 09, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 61.1 MBScientology gets a lot of bad press (and most of it is hard to refute), but we're going to shed a little light on the sci-fi religion of L Ron Hubbard, and explore the aspects of this authoritarian cultus that make it so enticing to initiates and so terrifying to survivors. What happened to Shelly Miscavige? Why is Tom Cruise reported to be leaving the church when he's up to his neck in it with David Miscavige? There's a lot more to this space-age religion than Dianetics, pseudo-science, an...
You Want a Piece of Me?
April 25, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 65.1 MBEverybody collects something; but for the Imperial Tradition Christian churches, that collection has some really weird stuff. Not just the bones of saints and a handful of miraculous statues, but enough "holy prepuce" to fill your cereal bowl, and the miraculous rehydrating blood of the saints of Naples can help wash all that down. This isn't your regular daily mass - join us to see what other strange relics the Catholic Church has been collecting. Learn more about John the Baptist, Hiram M...
Growing Up in a Cult - an Interview with Sarah Snyder
April 11, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 63.3 MBOur first interview episode, with the lovely and talented Sarah Snyder. She grew up in a cult, but has escaped. She isn't just surviving, she's thriving. We're proud to call her a friend, and grateful for her willingness to share her story and her advice. The traditions that revere Jesus are diverse, and some of them are so far off the mark that they are hard to recognize as Christian. Some even abhor the Christian label, hoping to stand out as different -- It's easy to agree, when they lea...
Where Did You Go?
March 28, 2022 14:00 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBA lot of great pantheons have disappeared as Christianity swept the world. Katie and Preston explore the details around the disappearance of the imperial and tribal traditions of Europe and North-Eastern Africa. Is it reasonable to expect monotheism to supersede polytheism? Is there really a scheme for the evolution of religion? Life is a lot more complicated than restricting knowledge to empirical evidence. In a world with deep-fake technology, is it even fair to say that 'seeing is believ...
Going in Ra
March 14, 2022 14:00 - 51 minutes - 47.3 MBThe Kemetic people of ancient Egypt had a fascinating theology that developed from a variety of sources, much like their Greek and Roman neighbors across the sea. Join us as we explore the Egyptian gods, from the animist origins of Anubis, to the cosmic origins of Ra. Egypt's ancient mystery schools were a magical realm of literary development and ritual emulation, more familiar to modern Freemasonry than to Protestant or Imperial Christianity. Need to know more about the theological backgr...
She Doesn't Look Druish
February 28, 2022 15:00 - 51 minutes - 46.7 MBJoin us as we explore Katie's Irish roots, and the ancient religious traditions of the Western European Celts. We talk a little about the religious sites that Katie has visited, and the ancestral gods and druidic arts that too few remember today. We look at Julius Caesar's report about the Wicker Man, and discuss the musical magic of the Bards, Fili, and Druids. Some strong D&D vibes here. Wicca finds some natural appeal in the Celtic tradition, but this tradition is more interested in god...
She Doesn't LOOK Druish
February 28, 2022 15:00 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBJoin us as we explore Katie's Irish roots, and the ancient religious traditions of the Western European Celts. We talk a little about the religious sites that Katie has visited, and the ancestral gods and druidic arts that too few remember today. We look at Julius Caesar's report about the Wicker Man, and discuss the musical magic of the Bards, Fili, and Druids. Some strong D&D vibes here. Wicca finds some natural appeal in the Celtic tradition, but this tradition is more directed toward t...
Ragna-Rock'n'Roll
February 14, 2022 15:51 - 1 hour - 67.5 MBThor and Odin are well known today, but are these images faithful to the source material? There's more to the Norse religious tradition than the bit of mythology that makes it into the movies. It's a complex system with a rich poetic tradition. Unfortunately, much is lost to time. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the comics that inspire it, have told wonderful stories about the figures of Thor, Odin, and Loki, and their many companions, but the family tree and the cosmology is far more c...
Bad Romance
January 31, 2022 16:00 - 1 hour - 65.6 MBThe Roman way of looking at their neighbours has had a powerful effect on religious studies today. The cults who are responsible for these traditions are never part of the popular mythology we see in popular media today, but we're about to break that silence. Emulation is adoration. While the Romans borrowed and adapted many of the gods in their pantheon from the Greeks, the Ancient Romans developed mythology over and above what the Greeks had. We'll peek at some of the stolen gods, but als...
It's All Greek to Me!
January 17, 2022 15:49 - 1 hour - 72.2 MBThe first in a mini-series on ancient religions, let's start with Ancient Hellenism, also known as Greek Paganism. There's a lot to Greek mythology, but the lives of the people who brought us these legends often get swept under the rug. We're here to dig up the dirt on the cults that changed the world be sharing their stories of the gods, and why they were important to the Greeks of millennia past. The gods behind the drama of Percy Jackson are a lot of fun to explore, but not half as fun a...
A Marketing Epiphany
January 03, 2022 16:00 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBThe 12 Days of Christmas is such a popular song, but Katie has a bone to pick with the retail industry. The 12 Days of Christmas are not a countdown to Christmas. They are the days from Christmas to Epiphany. Join us as we explore the various celebrations and memorials that make up this extended holy week, as well as the secular traditions attached to them. All this and more.... Support us at Patreon and Spreadshirt Join the Community on Discord Learn more great religion facts on Faceb...
Josh & the Wise Guys
December 20, 2021 16:00 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBThe birth of Jesus. The Nativity. Christmas. In this episode, we cover the story of Jesus' birth and sift through what is plausible and what must be fiction. All this and more.... Support us at Patreon and Spreadshirt Join the Community on Discord Learn more great religion facts on Facebook and Instagram Learn more on our official website Be sure to check out Blackbird Farm and Apothecary on Facebook and Instagram. ** Katie Dooley 00:09 atheist Bailey's nervy that I want to wis...
Hanukkah Matata
December 06, 2021 16:00 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBDid you know that the 8-day Jewish celebration of Hanukkah isn't in the Hebrew Bible? It's origins are much more recent than that! This episode, we learn about how the celebration of Hanukkah began with the Maccabees, and how your Jewish friends and family celebrate today. All this and more.... Support us at Patreon and Spreadshirt Join the Community on Discord Learn more great religion facts on Facebook and Instagram Learn more on our official website Be sure to check out Blackbird Fa...
Diwali You Want
November 22, 2021 16:00 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBCurious why there were fireworks popping in your neighborhood last week? It was all in celebration of Diwali, the pan-Asian holiday rooted in Hinduism. This week learn more about Diwali traditions and the story of the Ramayana. All this and more.... Support us at Patreon and Spreadshirt Join the Community on Discord Learn more great religion facts on Facebook and Instagram Learn more on our official website Be sure to check out Blackbird Farm and Apothecary on Facebook and Instagram. ...
Religious Posers
November 08, 2021 16:00 - 53 minutes - 48.6 MBThis week we are talking about Yoga & Hinduism! Is yoga a fun athletic activity or a religious practice? Yoga is one of the six darshanas of Hinduism - a very important pillar in the religion. It is a practice so old we actually don't know where it came from. We have it wrong in the west. Yoga is first and foremost a meditation practice to release yourself of your worldly concerns. The practice of yoga is the union of the self and lord (referring to Shiva, the Destroyer God). Practicing yo...
Take it Outside
October 25, 2021 15:00 - 51 minutes - 117 MBTo wrap up Spooktober we are talking about exorcisms! Exorcisms are not exclusively Catholic or Christian but can be found in religious traditions around the globe. Exorcisms have been taking place for centuries. Are these demonic possessions real? Or is there something deeper taking place? Trigger Warning: We take a look at a few cases of people using claims of possession to abuse people. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holywatermelon Spreadshirt: https://shop.spreadshirt.ca/holy-water...
Take it Outside
October 25, 2021 15:00 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MBTo wrap up Spooktober we are talking about exorcisms! Exorcisms are not exclusively Catholic or Christian but can be found in religious traditions around the globe. Exorcisms have been taking place for centuries. Are these demonic possessions real? Or is there something deeper taking place? Trigger Warning: We take a look at a few cases of people using claims of possession to abuse people. All this and more.... Support us at Patreon and Spreadshirt Join the Community on Discord Learn mo...
The Cursed Occultism Episode
October 11, 2021 15:00 - 53 minutes - 48.9 MBAfter having to record 3 times, it was starting to look like the Dark Forces were trying to keep us from revealing the truth, but Katie and Preston are committed to bringing you the best religious education they can. Occultism is a big, nebulous, misunderstood topic. It’s actually an umbrella term for a bunch of ideas that don’t belong to any one religion. The word occult refers to secrets. Occult practices are things that are greater than what you can observe with your senses, but also...
Voodoo You Think You Are?
September 27, 2021 15:00 - 55 minutes - 50.5 MBVoodoo has a long history originating in the West African Vodun tradition. While pop culture has made Voodoo out to be dark or evil, it's actually a spiritual religion that is syncretic with Catholicism. All this and more.... Support us at Patreon and Spreadshirt Join the Community on Discord Learn more great religion facts on Facebook and Instagram Learn more on our official website *** Katie Dooley 00:09 Hi Preston. Preston Meyer 00:12 Hey, Katie, Katie Dooley 00:13 ...
Wicca Wicca
September 13, 2021 16:00 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBThis episode is all about witchcraft and wizardry. Starting in the 1950s Wicca takes inspiration and teachings from English folklore and uses ancient symbolism. It’s important to understand that witchcraft and paganism are not the same things. Pagan means rustic rural folk, typically used to refer to anyone who isn’t Christian. If you’re not a Christian, you’re a pagan. It doesn’t have a faith system associated with it. In the last 150-200 years people have started to self-identify as pag...
Godsmacked
August 30, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 71.1 MBReligious Trauma Syndrome is similar to PTSD. Negative beliefs taught at a young age have lifelong ramifications. In this episode, we are diving into what causes religious trauma. Trigger warning: we're talking about lots of yucky stuff, and we're not psychologists! All this and more.... Support us at Patreon and Spreadshirt Join the Community on Discord Learn more great religion facts on Facebook and Instagram Learn more on our official website *** Katie Dooley 00:09 Hi Preston...
Apocalypse, Now?
August 16, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 66.7 MBWe're discussing the Revelation of John in this episode. The Revelation is an end-of-the-world prophecy also known as the Revelation of John or the Apocalypse of John. The book is credited to John of Patmos in the first century, though scholars believe this is actually a composite work with many authors. When reading the Revelation, the content is supplemented from many other books in the Bible, especially the Old Testament Prophets. What does this prophecy mean for mankind? Should we take...
Don't Put it in Your Mouth
August 02, 2021 15:00 - 53 minutes - 48.8 MBProphecy is prevalent in all major religions. Someone always seems to have a phone line right up to the Big Guy. Is prophecy real? When does it get dangerous? How does one become a prophet? All this and more.... Support us at Patreon and Spreadshirt Join the Community on Discord Learn more great religion facts on Facebook and Instagram Learn more on our official website *** Katie Dooley 00:09 Hello again Preston Meyer 00:17 man, today's gonna be good. Katie Dooley 00...
And It Was Good?
July 19, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 68.4 MBReligion and morality are so intertwined. Many people believe we get our morals from the heavens. How do we know what is good and what is evil? Morality is the line between good and evil. For a lot of people, morality is informed by their religious philosophies. However, we know that while it plays a part, it is not the only way that people learn morals. There are 4 types of morals: Moral absolutism – common in monotheism, good and evil are fixed concepts established by the god(s). Amor...
Taking the Gods to School
July 05, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBA lot of people spent a lot of time getting prayer removed from the public school system. Now it seems getting religion back in schools is a hot topic. Katie and Preston chat about the benefits of having comparative religion in the classroom. Support us at Patreon and Spreadshirt Join the Community on Discord Learn more great religion facts on Facebook and Instagram ***** Katie Dooley 00:00 A traditional Jewish atheist. Hi, Katie. Hi, Preston. How are you doing? Ready for this e...
Guess Who's Been Sainted
June 21, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 74.7 MB"You're a saint" might not be such a big compliment once you hear this episode! There are a lot of saints in the Roman Catholic Church... we're talking about some more questionable ones! In this episode, we’re talking about five Catholic saints that probably shouldn’t be saints. Saint Barbara While her story is interesting, we have no evidence that Barbara ever existed! Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Saint Bernard was really devoted to Mary. Like, a little too devoted. The miracle that got...
... But Then Satan
June 07, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 74.7 MBSatan is THE ultimate rebel. If you want to learn all about Satanic Death cults and how evil they are well... you're going to be disappointed. Satanism is actually pretty normal? Tune in to find out more! Support us at Patreon and Spreadshirt Join the Community on Discord Learn more great religion facts on Facebook and Instagram ******* Preston Meyer 00:12 Hey, Katie. I'm great. How are you? Katie Dooley 00:15 I'm great. Are you ready for another episode of Preston Mey...
No... Not Even Satan
May 24, 2021 15:00 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MBAtheism and agnosticism can sound like scary words. These two concepts are often misunderstood as something more nefarious than they actually are. There is a misconception that they worship Satan, or that they hate God. They don’t believe that any god exists at all. In this episode, we discuss some famous atheists, like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Ricky Gervais. We also chat about the discrimination that still exists for atheists and how some religious people feel their fa...
Abide With Me
May 10, 2021 15:02 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBIn this episode, we talk about Parody Religions! These are religions based on pop culture or as a commentary on religion. If you've ever been curious about Dudeism, the Invisible Pink Unicorn or the Flying Spaghetti Monster and his noodly appendages, then this is the episode for you. Religious parody holds an important place in society, whether you are a diehard fan of Star Wars, or want people to think more critically about the role of religion in society. Even though they may seem a bi...
Fake Me To Church
April 26, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 74.3 MBTW: Cults are pretty icky and we talk about abuse in this episode in addition to Katie's potty mouth. What is a cult? Like religion, it’s very hard to define what a cult is. In this episode, we go over definitions we like and don’t like. A cult can be a group that is led by someone who doesn’t believe what he teaches but teaches to get gain or a group that you’re scared to leave. Did you know all religions start as cults? All* religions start as cults. Judaism is historically known as the...
Don't Stop Believing
April 12, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 75.9 MBIs belief a choice or are our beliefs inherent to us? How do we decide whether something is true or not? With 7 billion people on the planet, there are about 10,000 different types of religious beliefs. How do we come to our conclusions? Epistemology is a complex area of philosophy that deals with how we process information and decide if something is fact or fiction. Support us at Patreon and Spreadshirt Join the Community on Discord Learn more great religion facts on Facebook and ...
Keep Kami & Carry On
March 29, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBIn this episode, we discuss Shinto, the indigenous religion of Japan. It doesn't have one central figure or doctrine that is based on, but rather the worship of spirits or kami. Our first records of Shinto as a religion date back to 4CE, but because it is so integral to the formation of the nation of Japan, we believe that these beliefs developed even earlier. Kami can be almost anything including ancestors, or natural elements like rivers and mountains, which means Shinto is rooted in nat...
Sikh and You Shall Find
March 15, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 59.8 MBSikhism is one of the newest "World Religions," only about 800 years old. Sikhism was developed in the context of Islam and Hinduism. It is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of 10 gurus. In this episode, we cover the history of the 10 gurus and the creation of the religion. From human gurus to book gurus we talk about the creation of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book. Did you know that the Guru Granth Sahib is considered to be a fully living and present guru? Sikhism i...
My Buddy Buddha
March 01, 2021 16:00 - 50 minutes - 46.7 MBIs Buddhism a way of life or a religion? Is Buddha divine or is he just a smart guy? Because Buddhism is such an open religion (you can be a Buddhist and belong to another religious group) many people view it as a way of life instead of as a religion. However, Buddhism directly addresses what happens to your soul after death, which is a pretty religious thing to do. In this episode, we tell the story of Siddhartha Gautama. While you might think he’s the first Buddha, he’s actually the 28t...
Aryans & the River-Folk
February 15, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 64.1 MBIn this episode, we are covering Hinduism. The oldest continuous religion in the world with maybe the largest pantheon of gods. We dig into a handful of their hundreds of Gods and explain their beliefs of karma, reincarnation, moksha, and more. Support us at Patreon and Spreadshirt Join the Community on Discord Learn more great religion facts on Facebook and Instagram Katie Dooley 00:12 Welcome back, everyone. My name is Katie. Preston Meyer 00:14 I'm Preston Katie Dooley ...
You Mecca Me Believe
February 01, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 68.6 MBThe last in the triumvirate of large Abrahamic traditions, Islam began in 609CE with the prophet Muhammed's revelations from the angel Gabriel. Now the second largest religion in the world, Islam has contributed to arts and science over the centuries. In this episode, we cover the history of Islam, the observances as well as the controversies of 9/11 and the Charlie Hebdo attacks. The last in the triumvirate of large Abrahamic traditions, Islam began in 609CE with the prophet Muhammed's rev...
Messiah: Complex
January 18, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 61 MBOur second episode on the Abrahamic traditions is about Christianity, the most popular religion in the world. Katie and Preston give a high-level overview of the history, traditions, observances, and the handful of common beliefs that are found amongst all denominations. Support us at Patreon and Spreadshirt Join the Community on Discord Learn more great religion facts on Facebook and Instagram Episode Transcript Katie Dooley 00:00 Hi Preston Preston Meyer 00:10 Hi Katie Kati...
Would Jew Look At That
January 04, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 76.9 MBWe are spending the next 7 episodes giving overviews of the world's most popular religious traditions. We're starting with the oldest persistent Abrahamic tradition: Judaism. Join us as we discuss religious texts, practices, observances, and more! No religion is monolithic, but there are some things that bind together the Jewish faith, like the Hebrew Bible. While we don’t know who wrote the Hebrew Bible, some people believe Moses wrote the five books himself. In this episode, we talk abou...
Happy Holidays, bitches!
December 14, 2020 17:00 - 46 minutes - 107 MBWe are discussing the war on Christmas! Or the lack of one... Let's talk about why December is a little more secular, a little more globalist, than we realize.
Happy Holidays, Bitches!
December 14, 2020 17:00 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBWe are discussing the war on Christmas! Or the lack of one... Let's talk about why December is a little more secular, and a little more globalist, than you might realize. In this episode, we cover many of the holidays that take place in December including Kwanzaa and Hanukkah. Because there are literally dozens of holidays happening this time of year, Happy Holidays are more appropriate and acknowledge religious and cultural diversity. Did you know there are Christians that don't celebra...
From Asherah to Zhimáshén
November 30, 2020 17:00 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MBIn the study of the world's religions, religious groups are divided into two categories: Western (mostly Abrahamic religions), and Eastern (almost everything else). We're going to unpack these labels in this episode and chat about the similarities and differences between the two big categories. We also chat about everything that's left out (surprise, it's a lot). All of the world’s religions come from Asia. Regarding the terms Eastern and Western, we are just referring to where in Asia they...
Jesus of the Silver Screen
November 16, 2020 17:00 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MBReligion and pop culture go together like watermelons and summer. They are so intertwined, sometimes we don't even recognize the allusions anymore! Can pop culture be a religious experience? Can the love for pop culture go too far? In this episode, we explore its core concepts. We talk about the role of God and touch on Buddhism. We question terms like "holy" and "sacred". Our exploration continues into the complexities of religion and spirituality. We discuss the differences between right...
Who Let the Dogma Out?
November 02, 2020 17:00 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBNow that we (sorta) know what a god is, what qualifies as religion? If almost anything can be a god... can anything be a religion?! In this episode, we discuss what religion is. Does there need to be a God to worship? Well, it’s a tricky thing to explain. There are many religions like Buddhism and Confucianism that, while they have one founder, aren’t directly worshiped like we see in the Abrahamic religions. The foundation of the word religion (ligaments) means to be connected to somethi...
Who's Your Sky Daddy?
October 19, 2020 16:00 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBIn this episode, we take a closer look at the complex concepts of gods and worship. We start by defining God and then discuss how historical figures, like George Washington, have been worshipped in certain situations. We also explore the historical practice of deification, focusing on the worship of emperors and monarchs. Moving on, we discuss divine intervention in American history and how historical figures are sometimes treated like deities. Our perspectives on worship highlight its subm...
In The Beginning
October 05, 2020 14:40 - 52 minutes - 47.9 MBIs there a better place to start than the beginning? Where did religion come from? Is it inherent in us to be religious? Why does religion endure, isn't it outdated? There's lots of speculation about why and how religion started and why humans continue to be religious. In this first episode of the Holy Watermelon podcast, we discuss the different theories of how modern religion came about. Karen Armstrong’s book A History of God suggests that everyone worshipped a sky god until they needed...
Welcome to the Holy Watermelon Podcast
October 05, 2020 14:30 - 4 minutes - 3.91 MBIt's nice to meet you! We love talking about all things religion and how it impacts our lives and our world. We want to start a healthy conversation around religious traditions and behaviours and challenge some ideas. The Holy Watermelon podcast is a comparative religious studies podcast. That means we talk about all religions across the globe - their histories, beliefs and practices. Whether you want to learn more about your faith, challenge your preconceived notions of religion, or hav...