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The History Of Religions and their Gods!

The Skeptical Ghost Heathen·74 episodes

HistorySolo deep divesSkeptical religionBiblical historyLong episodesIrregular releaseOccasional interviews

Based on my book On the Origins of YHWH: The Gods | The Wars | The Messiahs: On the Origins of YHWH: The Gods | The Wars | The Messiahs is a historical investigation into the evolution of one of history's most influential religious traditions. Drawing on archaeology, ancient inscriptions, biblical criticism, and the work of leading scholars, the book traces the development of Yahweh from his earliest appearances among the peoples of the ancient Near East through the rise of Israel, the Babylonian Exile, the Second Temple period, and ultimately to the emergence of Jesus and early Christianity.

Why listen

The History Of Religions and their Gods! is for listeners who want biblical history, ancient Near Eastern religion, and Christian origins examined from a skeptical, history-first perspective. The show is mostly a solo deep dive, with occasional interviews or casual conversations, moving through archaeology, scripture, myth, politics, and later religious violence in long, detail-heavy episodes. It will especially appeal to curious ex-believers, religious skeptics, and history listeners who like provocative arguments about how gods, texts, and traditions evolved.

Series(3)

Episodes

1 hr 17 min
Jul 1, 2026Episode 72
The Religion that Almost Died

Is Christianity successful because it's the one true religion? Is it's success because of God's actions? Or is it something entirely else? This episode examines what went right and what went wrong that could have stopped the movement in it's tracks. Was it divine action or a series of events that were just simply dumb luck?Based on my new Book "On the Origins of YHWH: The Gods | The Wars | The Messiahs

1 hr 6 min
May 29, 2026Episode 71
The Gospel of John and The Logos

This episode is a breakdown of the 4th and final gospel known as John. It was written around the mid to late 90s where this evangelist finds himself defending Christianity on all fronts from doubting gentiles and Jews, Gnostics and Docetic circles, and other interpretations of scripture as well.

1 hr 25 min
Mar 17, 2026Episode 70
Luke: 60 Years Later

The Gospel know as Luke is widely loved by Christians all around the world. But if you were to ask someone when it was written or where did this author get his sources, they might be a little confused. In this episode, I will look at the dating of this manuscript and exactly where he got his source information from. Would you be surprised to learn that this author borrowed from Homer, Jewish scripture and even Josephus to build stories for his accounts of Jesus

1 hr 45 min
Aug 20, 2025Episode 69
The Mysterious Case of Lee Strobel

In this episode, I discuss his book and film "The Case for Christ" and all of it's claims why everyone should come to Jesus. Are his claims valid, do they hold any water, or are they all just bad Apologetics?

52 min
Jul 3, 2025Episode 68
The Gospel of Matthew is complete nonsense

In this episode, I am going through the Gospel account of Matthew to identify what changes he makes to his predecessor, Mark (ca. 75CE). We explore reasons for his alterations, changes and updates followed by where he found his sources.

1 hr 13 min
May 14, 2025Episode 67
A Casual Chat About Nothing With The Tall friendly Atheist Ghost Dad

Over Easter The Tall Friendly Atheist Dad and I got on a call and this is became of it. Tariffs, our deconversion, Job and the Devil and Old Jewish Man Titties. You'll have to listen to the end!

1 hr 42 min
Apr 30, 2025Episode 66
The Final Sin of the Jews: According to the Gospel of Mark

This episode is a brief run down of the events that were taking place in Judea during the early part of the first century when the Jewish Revolutionaries decided to engage in a war with the Roman Empire. The events of the war, the people involved and the locations seem to be reflected in The Gospel of Mark from a Christian perspective. If this is true, the this helps us place the earliest Gospel account to after the war 70 CE.

29 min
Apr 11, 2025Episode 65
The Resurrection Myth

Hello Heathens, in this episode we are going to analyze the myth of the resurrection. Happy Easter!

1 hr 30 min
Apr 4, 2025Episode 64
The Curse of the Exodus

In this episode we analyze the story about the Great Escape out of Egypt as told in the Jewish Bible. But what do we really know about this event, and can history support the story or is it a mythical tale? I will take you through what we know about this event and what the leading scholars say about it. Did it happen, was there ever a mass exodus of people out of Egypt and did they conquer Canaan? In this episode, you'll be amazed what you find out as well as some cool new facts!

1 hr 31 min
Feb 17, 2025Episode 63
The Deir Alla Inscriptions

In this episode we hop into our "time dune buggies" and head back to Jordan from Shechem near the Soleb Temple where we find the Deir Alla Inscriptions. Why is this site so important? Because it gives us a different meaning for "Shaddai" or "Shadday" as found in the Bible being paired with El (El Shaddai). In this 7th century inscription Shadday is a goddess who oversees the Sadayin Deities who were in charge of curses. So hop on and lets go!

1 hr 9 min
Jan 25, 2025Episode 62
The Return to Shechem: In search of Baal Zebul

In this episode, I take you to the cultic site of Biblical Shechem where Abraham made his covenant with his Lord, Baal Berith. We will make a few discoveries that might just explain the condemnation of foreign gods, the Asherah and Baal.

1 hr
Dec 12, 2024Episode 61
The Mysteries of the Soleb Temple and The God of Israel

Welcome to the first episode of season 8, The Mysteries of the Soleb Temple and the God of Israel. In this episode we do a deep dive at an ancient archeological site in the Sudan desert called the Soleb Temple. There is an inscription on a column there that just might link a nomadic tribe called the Shasu to the Israelite God, Yahweh. Interesting though that this inscription in non-theophoric and possibly a common name of a king or a leader. Let's find out!

35 min
Oct 19, 2024Episode 60
The Seeker of Kings and The God of Israel

In this episode we take a deep look into the history of Kings that potentially ruled and were major influencers during the purported time of the Patriarchs in hope to discover which king could be the God of Israle

0 min
Sep 28, 2024
Just another test!

more testing

1 hr 18 min
Jul 3, 2024Episode 11
The Queen is Dead

In this episode, "The Queen is Dead," is a reference to Asherah, the Queen mother / goddess of Israel/ Heaven. We complete the saga of the war of kings on Sodom and the dramatic escape of Abraham's nephew Lot. Did Abraham have other covenants with other kings that might have jeopardized the relationship with his Lord? Who was this Mechelzadek in Gen 14? Ultimately in this episode, is Abraham's son Ishmael, born of the slave woman to Sarah and how he poses a threat to Isaac and the throne. How shall he be dealt with? Enjoy!

48 min
Jun 21, 2024Episode 10
The Chosen Son (of the promise)

In the part of the story, Abraham's Lord negotiates the treaty with Abraham that will give him protection while monitoring the dangerous trade routes (The King's Highway) from bandits. This way the k8ng can safely send caravans from Babylonia to Egypt without interruption. Also, to seal the deal, Sarah must carry the King's seed so that his royal bloodline will be with Abraham's descendants for generations to come.

59 min
Jun 19, 2024Episode 9
An Everlasting Interview with Bernard Lamborelle (Poor Quality- Sorry)

This episode is an interview with Bernard Lamborelle, the author of An Everlasting Quid Pro Quo, and the author of the topic for this season of the podcast.

1 hr
Jun 14, 2024Episode 8
To be done with Sodom

In this episode, we explore the Sodom and Gomorrah story in the Bible but from a literal and secular standpoint. In this telling of the story, it's not Bible God who crashes down on the Sodomites, it's Abram's Lord who launches a full military attack in the small cities. Not because they were evil and just wanted to have gay sex, but because after 8 years, they refused to pay tribute to this Mesopotamian overlord and they rose up against the government.

1 hr 20 min
Apr 26, 2024Episode 7
On the road to Sodom (me)

In this episode, we pick up with Abraham, Sarah, and this anthropomorphic figure who would be Abraham's Lord. This is a literal interpretation of Genesis chapters 12 through 25, where we try to piece together the original redactor's intentions of the texts. It appears that in 90% of the story, this Lord is characterized as quite human and doing human like things that are very similar to other Mesopotamian kings during that period. The remaining 10% seemingly is more of an immaterial character in the story. Perhaps a local deity other than the Lord himself? Based on the book, "An everlasting quid pro quo" by Bernard Lamborelle

1 hr 48 min
Mar 1, 2024Episode 6
Beelzebub, Abraham, and the Habiru

In this episode we explore who and what the Beelzebub figure is in the Bible and how it was some of the earliest political mud slinging in history. We also talk much about tradrouts and how Abraham partnered with nomadic tribes to secure the land of milk and honey (Israel).

1 hr 34 min
Jan 24, 2024Episode 5
The Unspoken Name יהוה‎

In this new episode, we will delve deep into scripture as well as extrabiblical evidence to understand the origins of the name that should never be spoken, not even by Jewish Rabbis. Where did the srangr Tetragrammaton YHWH originate from, and is it a truncated form of a much longer name or perhaps names. These are the topics that I will discuss in today's show. Enjoy! Sources are: Bernard Lamborelle and Mark Smith

1 hr 53 min
Jan 10, 2024Episode 4
God's Great Baals of Fire

This is the fourth installment on this series, "The Ancient Gods of Israel." Please be sure to listen to the first 3 episodes if you haven't already as it builds the case for our study. But in this episode, we study all the baals of Canaan, Phoenicia, Israel, and beyond. What, or perhaps, who were these baals and their divine manifestations? And why did the Biblical sources comdemn them after 1000 years of coexistence? This is what we will discuss in this show. Also, please hang on until the very end after the credits. I will recite a poem by listener Jacob Perry entitled, "The Splitting of The Chrysalis," Based on books by Mark Smith and Bernard Lamborelle on Amazon For more information, please contact me at [email protected]

54 min
Dec 8, 2023Episode 3
The Queen of Heaven

The only difference between the name of the goddess, Asherah אשרה and Abraham's wife, Sarah שרה is the letter aleph א that assumes a leading position in the name of the goddess. In this episode, we will begin to take a closer look at the goddess Asherah before she was condemned to an idol. This series is based upon the following books: Mark Smith's "The early history of God and other Canaanite deities' Bernard Lamborelle's "The Covenant", "To be done with Sodom" and the soon to be released, "An everlasting Quid Pro Quo"

1 hr 5 min
Nov 20, 2023Episode 2
Cult of the Ancestors

This is part 2 of The Ancient Gods of Israel mini series, where we analyze ancient texts to discover what the early people of Canaan and the nomadic people who occupied the hilly country adjacent to the neighboring Canaanites. What did they worship, who did they worship and why? In this episode we take a close look at the Ba'al and El deities within the Bible narrative itself, steles, and ancient inscriptions in Pagan cities that were occupied by the early Israelites who were worshipping an El Berith (God of the covenant) as well as a Baal Berith (Lord of the covenant in human form). What does this tell you as the language is the same for Yahweh in Israelite texts? Sources: Mark Smith's "Early history of God" Bernard Lamborelle's "An everlasting quid pro quo"

1 hr 3 min
Nov 3, 2023Episode 1
The Ancient Gods of Israel: A Covenant of Kings

Welcome to a brand new season and episode! This episode will be dedicated to surveying the ancient gods of Israel and its neighbors to how the God that we think of today as the creator of the entire universe came to be. Special thanks to Mark White and his book, "The early history of God" and Bernard Lamborelle and his books; "An everlasting quid pro quo", "The Covenant", and "To be done with Sodom".

1 hr 13 min
Oct 6, 2023Episode 10
Mark's Homeric Epic and the Gospel of Odysseus

Miraculous feedings, a menage a trois, and heads on platters!

1 hr 8 min
Aug 9, 2023Episode 9
Mark's Homeric Epic and the Gospel of Odysseus- Gods, Caves, and Monsters

In this episode, we explore Dennis MacDonald's Homeric Epic and the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus exorcizes a demon from a crazed man in comparison to Homer's Odyssey book 9

41 min
Jul 10, 2023Episode 8
Mark's Homeric Epic and the Gospel of Odysseus- Sleeping Gods, Boats and Storms

In this episode, we review Dennis MacDonald's Homeric Epic and the Gospel of Mark "Sleeping Gods"

1 hr 9 min
Jun 8, 2023Episode 7
Mark's Homeric Epic and the Gospel of Odysseus- Deities, Disguises and Secrecy

In this episode we compare Mark's Jesus to Homer's Odysseus in terms of gods in secrecy when among humans. Enjoy!

56 min
May 10, 2023Episode 6
Mark's Homeric Epic and the Gospel of Odysseus - Murderous Rivals!

In this chapter of MacDonald's book, "The Homeric Epics and the Gospel of Mark," we examine the murderous rivals that both Jesus and Odysseus must face upon returning home. The strange and bizarre similarities between the Jewish authorities and the Suitors will lead us through an entire field of Marken narratives to the point that you can not avoid seeing the Gospels as Imitations of Homer.

40 min
Apr 4, 2023Episode 5
Mark's Homeric Epic and the Gospel of Odysseus - The Sons of Thunder

In this episode, we discuss two of Jesus's disciples, James and John, the sons of Zebedee and how they are characters originally from Homer's epic, The Sons of Zeus. This is a reading and study of Dennis MacDonald's "The Homer in Mark"

48 min
Mar 16, 2023Episode 4
Mark's Homeric Epic and the Gospel of Odysseus

"Skilled Carpenters and a Ship of Fools" This is the fourth segment of Dennis MacDonald's book, "The Homeric Epic and the gosple of Mark

41 min
Feb 19, 2023Episode 3
Mark's Homeric Epic and the Gospel of Odysseus

In this episode, we discuss the six criteria used by MacDonald to identify memesis in ancient literature, the art of memesis that either transvalues or emulates Homeric models in the gosples and other Christian literature.

39 min
Jan 27, 2023Episode 2
Mark's Homeric Epic and the Gospel of Odysseus

Did Jewish, Latin and Greek writers of the first century use characters, plots and landscapes from Homeric Epics to transvalue the antiquated ethics and theology of Homer? It appears that they most certainly did, according to Dennis MacDonald. This episode talks about how to find myth markers in pros, why they used it and how the ancient wold learned it.

47 min
Dec 31, 2022Episode 1
Mark's Homeric Epic and the Gospel of Odysseus

Not only did the author for Mark borrow heavily from the Septuagint and the Jewish Roman War by Josephus to hand craft stories for his Jesus, but he also borrowed from Homer's Bibles, the Odyssey and the Illiad to make comparisons between the ancient Greek heroes Odysseus and Hector to his Jesus and to demonstrate that Homer's ideas were old and outdated, thus, Jesus was the update merging two culturally classic works into one; the Greek Septuagint and the Odyssey. The source material in this series is Denis MacDonald's Homer in Mark

39 min
Dec 21, 2022Episode 13
500 Eye Witnesses? Really?

The season finale for 2022! We wrap up the year with Christian Apologetics making the claim that in Paul's 7 authentic letters he refers to a historical Jesus, having a mother and a father, a brother named James, was killed by the Jews and that there were 500 eye witnesses to his resurrection. Based on the book by Richard Carrier, "On the Historicity of Jesus"

1 hr 2 min
Dec 8, 2022Episode 12
Mary on a Cross

In this episode with cover more of the arguments for the historical Jesus claim in Paul's letters: Being born of a woman, Being born of the seed of David in the lilliness of men, Pontius Pilate sending Jesus to the cross and Paul blaming the Jews for Jesus being killed.

49 min
Dec 2, 2022Episode 11
King David's Celestial Magical Seed

In this episode we continue to examine the arguments that Paul speaks of a historical Jesus in his letters. But when closely examined, it appears that he does not. In Part 1 (Was Paul's Jesus a Space Alien) we discussed his silence about anything earthbound about Jesus and countered to Apologetic excuse that he only dealt with church issues and doctrine. In this episode, we tackle the argument about Jesus was born in the flesh by the seed or sperm of King David. The source for this episode is from Richard Carrier's "On the Historicity of Jesus" and more!

1 hr 11 min
Nov 16, 2022Episode 10
Was Paul's Jesus an Alien from Outer Space?

In this episode I attempt to tackle the arguments for a historical Jesus in the Pauline letters. As it stands, Paul's 7 authentic letters are completely devoid of any mentioning of an earthbound Jesus whatsoever. However, there are a few Christian arguments that make the claim that Paul never mentions Jesus's life is because it was already common knowledge and that there was no need to tell his congregations anything about him. But to me, this seems odd and out of place. We will also determine if Paul wrote prior the the gosples which puts the order of the New Testament books in conflict. The sourse material for this episode is provided by Richard Carrier's "On the Historicity of Jesus".

1 hr 24 min
Oct 28, 2022Episode 9
The War That Called For Christ (to exist)

In this episode I breakdown the events that led up to the destruction of the holy city and its temple while making some comparisons to New Testament stories that might be about the war and the people involved

1 hr 22 min
Oct 12, 2022Episode 8
The Celestial Melchizedek Called Jesus

In this episode we will review the epistle of Hebrews that appears to be written as late a 68 during the Jewish-Roman War. How did these early Chrostians understand Jesus and in what capacity? Was he a divine human killed by the Romans at the fault of the Jewish elite or was he thought of as a celestial being who has no beginning and has no end that must die and rise in heaven in order to defeat Satan? (Credit given to Richard Carrier and his book, On the Historicity of Jesus - for further reading)

1 hr 26 min
Sep 28, 2022Episode 7
The Purpose of Paul (during turbulent times)

This is a super important episode as it takes a look at the earliest works of Christian literature starting with Paul with a comparison to what was happening in Rome as well as Judea. I think that this episode will help. Us understand exactly what Paul was responding to and when.

54 min
Sep 17, 2022Episode 6
Desolation and Sacrilege

A continuation into the study of Mark's documentary on the Jewish-Roman War of 66-70CE.

57 min
Aug 31, 2022Episode 5
Jesus (Vespasian) and the Donkey

This is a review of the Gospel by Mark in comparison to Josephus' Wars of the Jews. We look for parallels and similarities between the two in order to see what this author's agenda was, his audience and what he had hoped to achieve.

50 min
Jul 29, 2022Episode 4
Jesus And The Storm: Mark, A Documentary On The Jewish Wars 66-70CE

This episode is a continuation of finding the paralles between Mark's documentary on the Jewish Wars and the actual events that tool place between 66 and 70 CE (Source Ref: Kimondo's "Gosple of Mark and the War")

57 min
Jul 15, 2022Episode 3
The Gospel of Mark: A Documentary On The Jewish Wars 66-70CE

In this episode I will begin a series that demonstrates the connections between Mark's gosple and Josephus' Wars of the Jews. This episode will also demonstrate that the Romans did not invent the gosples or Christianity, rather, a concerned Jewish Christian that wanted to change the future for all people after years of death and destruction. Loosely based on Komondo's version.

51 min
Jul 1, 2022Episode 2
Shoah - 6 Million Crucifixions

This episode reflects on the relationship between the Vatican, its Popes and Nazi Germany. Could the Vatican have done something to stop or atleast slow down the deportations and the murders of millions of Jews?

1 hr 2 min
Jun 27, 2022Episode 1
The Slaughter of the Innocence

This episode surveys Christian history between the first crusade of 1095 to the Salem Witch Trials in the 16th century. We will look at Papal involvement from expulsion of Jews and heretics to being forced into ghettos as well. There is a lot of history to talk about during these years, and I hope that I did it a little bit of justice. Many sources for this episode came from 6 Million Crucifixions by Gabriel Wilenski. The image is Papa Emeritus IV from the band Ghost.

1 hr 25 min
Jun 9, 2022Episode 13
Enoch's Dream Visions

A continuation of the book I Enoch, 4th book, Dream Visions. This is a close look at how early Jews wrote about second temple Judaism and the hellenizers who opporated it

58 min
May 13, 2022Episode 12
Son of Man (Book of I Enoch)

This is a deep look into the Book of Parables. Especially the infamous "Son of Man" verse that every Christian believes is a prophecy about Jesus Christ as seen in the gosple account. But what if that wasn't the case? This episode may challenge they way you view the origins of Christianity

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Listening context

Casual listening
Best for: long drives, evening listening, housework, commutes
Tone: skeptical, provocative, informal, historical

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