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Exploring the Roots of Religion
Stonehenge. Machu Picchu. The Acropolis. The Great Pyramids at Giza. Sites such as these have captivated the world for centuries—even millennia—since their creation. They are works of great beauty whose construction required spectacular feats of engineering, involved the efforts of hundreds of thousands of individuals, and incurred a tremendous financial cost on the civilizations that created them.
But why were these massive sites created? What impulse drove ancient cultures to devote such time and labor into these projects? Why are we so transfixed by their presence today? And what do these and other mysterious sites reveal about our ancestors—and about humanity as a whole?
The answer to these and other eternal questions is the dynamic force of religious belief. Religion, in its many forms, is among the most powerful of all human impulses. The philosophical and intellectual side of religious practice is well studied—but religion also manifests itself physically. From cave art to intricate burial chambers to grand hilltop temples, the material expression of spirituality is less understood but offers equally deep insights into why humans believe in something larger than themselves.
Now you can experience the thrill of discovery and learn the sacred secrets behind some of the world's most popular and mysterious ancient locales with Exploring the Roots of Religion. In 36 riveting and insightful lectures taught by award-winning Professor John R. Hale—a practicing archaeologist and masterful storyteller—you dig through the earth and learn how sacred buildings, complexes, tomb structures, artwork, and more have provided us with unparalleled knowledge about the varieties of early spiritual experience around the world. It's an experience that will add new levels of understanding to your knowledge of ancient history and especially to the integral role that religion played in some of these grand civilizations.
Get a Three-Dimensional Perspective on Ancient Sites
To look at these awe-inspiring sites without considering the vital importance of their spiritual contexts is to merely get a one-dimensional, postcard view of their true greatness. While these places were built with wood and stone, the mortar that held them together was the intricate rituals and belief systems of the cultures that built them.
But in instances where no written record exists or the historical record is incomplete, how can you understand the captivating rituals and systems responsible for them?
The answer: archaeology. This fascinating scientific field, which uses material remains to fill in gaps in the historical record, provides a useful way for us to grasp the nature of faiths and rituals that otherwise might have been lost in the mists of time. Using the unique tools and knowledge of their field, archaeologists can now determine the nature of a sacrificial ritual, compare the visible attributes of ancient deities, and map out the proper orientation of a particular temple or tomb.
And with its unique archaeological perspective on the nature of ancient faiths, Exploring the Roots of Religion offers you a vibrant, three-dimensional perspective on these sites—perspectives that not only show you why these places are important to us in the modern world, but why these places were so revered by the peoples for whom they were a part of everyday life.
Unearth the Roots of Religious Experience
Every expertly organized lecture in Exploring the Roots of Religion is an incomparable and comprehensive look at specific religious archaeological sites around the world. Using the same teaching skills that have garnered him acclaim from his students at the University of Louisville, Professor Hale takes you deep inside caves and crypts and leads you through vast deserts and ancient cities around the globe—from Turkey and Polynesia to Mexico and Sweden to Cambodia and even the American Midwest. And it's a journey you can enjoy without having to leave the comfort of your own home or car.
Professor Hale groups his lectures into six main "themes," each of which addresses a particular aspect of religious experiences in ancient times:
In the Beginning: Most of the basic elements of religion arose during the Stone Age. Each of the sites you explore in this section—whether burial caves in Iraq, rock art in the Kalahari Desert, or stone megaliths in France—served as the genesis for sacred ideas of art, rituals, landscapes, and more.
Quest for the Afterlife: How did early civilizations prepare their deceased for the mysteries of the afterlife? As you encounter the burial customs of the Sumerians, Celts, Vikings, and others, learn how archaeologists discovered what they know about this essential aspect of religious practice.
Reconstructing Ancient Rituals: Witness how archaeologists reconstruct and re-create religious rituals from the silent testimony of material remains. These rituals include the bull dance ceremony of the Minoans, the ...
But why were these massive sites created? What impulse drove ancient cultures to devote such time and labor into these projects? Why are we so transfixed by their presence today? And what do these and other mysterious sites reveal about our ancestors—and about humanity as a whole?
The answer to these and other eternal questions is the dynamic force of religious belief. Religion, in its many forms, is among the most powerful of all human impulses. The philosophical and intellectual side of religious practice is well studied—but religion also manifests itself physically. From cave art to intricate burial chambers to grand hilltop temples, the material expression of spirituality is less understood but offers equally deep insights into why humans believe in something larger than themselves.
Now you can experience the thrill of discovery and learn the sacred secrets behind some of the world's most popular and mysterious ancient locales with Exploring the Roots of Religion. In 36 riveting and insightful lectures taught by award-winning Professor John R. Hale—a practicing archaeologist and masterful storyteller—you dig through the earth and learn how sacred buildings, complexes, tomb structures, artwork, and more have provided us with unparalleled knowledge about the varieties of early spiritual experience around the world. It's an experience that will add new levels of understanding to your knowledge of ancient history and especially to the integral role that religion played in some of these grand civilizations.
Get a Three-Dimensional Perspective on Ancient Sites
To look at these awe-inspiring sites without considering the vital importance of their spiritual contexts is to merely get a one-dimensional, postcard view of their true greatness. While these places were built with wood and stone, the mortar that held them together was the intricate rituals and belief systems of the cultures that built them.
But in instances where no written record exists or the historical record is incomplete, how can you understand the captivating rituals and systems responsible for them?
The answer: archaeology. This fascinating scientific field, which uses material remains to fill in gaps in the historical record, provides a useful way for us to grasp the nature of faiths and rituals that otherwise might have been lost in the mists of time. Using the unique tools and knowledge of their field, archaeologists can now determine the nature of a sacrificial ritual, compare the visible attributes of ancient deities, and map out the proper orientation of a particular temple or tomb.
And with its unique archaeological perspective on the nature of ancient faiths, Exploring the Roots of Religion offers you a vibrant, three-dimensional perspective on these sites—perspectives that not only show you why these places are important to us in the modern world, but why these places were so revered by the peoples for whom they were a part of everyday life.
Unearth the Roots of Religious Experience
Every expertly organized lecture in Exploring the Roots of Religion is an incomparable and comprehensive look at specific religious archaeological sites around the world. Using the same teaching skills that have garnered him acclaim from his students at the University of Louisville, Professor Hale takes you deep inside caves and crypts and leads you through vast deserts and ancient cities around the globe—from Turkey and Polynesia to Mexico and Sweden to Cambodia and even the American Midwest. And it's a journey you can enjoy without having to leave the comfort of your own home or car.
Professor Hale groups his lectures into six main "themes," each of which addresses a particular aspect of religious experiences in ancient times:
In the Beginning: Most of the basic elements of religion arose during the Stone Age. Each of the sites you explore in this section—whether burial caves in Iraq, rock art in the Kalahari Desert, or stone megaliths in France—served as the genesis for sacred ideas of art, rituals, landscapes, and more.
Quest for the Afterlife: How did early civilizations prepare their deceased for the mysteries of the afterlife? As you encounter the burial customs of the Sumerians, Celts, Vikings, and others, learn how archaeologists discovered what they know about this essential aspect of religious practice.
Reconstructing Ancient Rituals: Witness how archaeologists reconstruct and re-create religious rituals from the silent testimony of material remains. These rituals include the bull dance ceremony of the Minoans, the ...
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First published July 8, 2013
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About the author
John R. Hale
19 books42 followersAlso known as J.R. Hale.
Sir John Rigby Hale FBA (17 September 1923 – 12 August 1999) was a British historian and translator, best known for his Renaissance studies.
Hale was born in Ashford, Kent. He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford (B.A., 1948, M.A., 1953). He also attended Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University (1948–49).
He was a Fellow of the British Academy and Emeritus Professor of Italian History at University College, London, where he was head of the Italian Department from 1970 until his retirement in 1988. His first position was as Fellow and Tutor in Modern History at Jesus College, Oxford, from 1949 to 1964. After this he became the first Professor of History at Warwick University where he remained till 1970. He taught at a number of other universities including Cornell and the University of California.
He was a Trustee of the National Gallery, London, from 1973 to 1980, becoming Chairman from 1974. He was made a Knight Bachelor on 20 August 1984.
In 1992, he suffered a severe stroke that caused aphasia. He died seven years later in Twickenham, after which his wife, the journalist Sheila Hale, wrote a book about his final years titled The Man Who Lost His Language.
Sir John Rigby Hale FBA (17 September 1923 – 12 August 1999) was a British historian and translator, best known for his Renaissance studies.
Hale was born in Ashford, Kent. He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford (B.A., 1948, M.A., 1953). He also attended Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University (1948–49).
He was a Fellow of the British Academy and Emeritus Professor of Italian History at University College, London, where he was head of the Italian Department from 1970 until his retirement in 1988. His first position was as Fellow and Tutor in Modern History at Jesus College, Oxford, from 1949 to 1964. After this he became the first Professor of History at Warwick University where he remained till 1970. He taught at a number of other universities including Cornell and the University of California.
He was a Trustee of the National Gallery, London, from 1973 to 1980, becoming Chairman from 1974. He was made a Knight Bachelor on 20 August 1984.
In 1992, he suffered a severe stroke that caused aphasia. He died seven years later in Twickenham, after which his wife, the journalist Sheila Hale, wrote a book about his final years titled The Man Who Lost His Language.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 13, 2021
عنوان واضحترش میتونه «باستانشناسی دین» باشه. مدرس با صدای گرمش هر جلسه یه محوطهٔ باستانی از اقصی نقاط جهان رو بررسی میکنه و اسطورهها و آیینهای حول اون محوطه رو بازگو میکنه، و مخصوصاً در جلسات اول دوره، تحول دین و آگاهی دینی رو در خلال این آثار باستانی نشون میده.
دوره رو تیکه تیکه بین دورههای دیگه گوش دادم، چون جلساتش به هم متصل نیست و میشه پراکنده گوش داد. کل دوره مثل یه سفر اسرارآمیز توی تاریخ و افسانههاست. من فقط دوره رو به صورت صوتی گوش دادم، فکر میکنم تصویری دیدنش تجربهٔ لذتبخشتری باشه.
دوره رو تیکه تیکه بین دورههای دیگه گوش دادم، چون جلساتش به هم متصل نیست و میشه پراکنده گوش داد. کل دوره مثل یه سفر اسرارآمیز توی تاریخ و افسانههاست. من فقط دوره رو به صورت صوتی گوش دادم، فکر میکنم تصویری دیدنش تجربهٔ لذتبخشتری باشه.
October 23, 2023
This was a fun, illuminating course.
Professor Hale is a great narrator, speaks clearly and knows his history. He covers a large swath of geology -- you'll travel from ancient Sumeria, China, and Peru, just to name a few -- and learn about a myriad of religious ceremonies, texts, and architecture. Stone Hedge, the giant heads of Easter Island, the great pyramids -- it's all here.
Humankind has been fascinated by death since time immemorial, and the awareness of our mortality begat religion (to the chagrin of many, I'm sure!) I am a nonbeliever myself but find religion and the search for its roots a fascinating subject. Personally, I find it to be a philosophical treat to ruminate on such subjects. Being able to contemplate the profound question of what happens after death is the very essence of being human.
This will be a new favorite of mine among the Great Courses. Highly recommended!
Professor Hale is a great narrator, speaks clearly and knows his history. He covers a large swath of geology -- you'll travel from ancient Sumeria, China, and Peru, just to name a few -- and learn about a myriad of religious ceremonies, texts, and architecture. Stone Hedge, the giant heads of Easter Island, the great pyramids -- it's all here.
Humankind has been fascinated by death since time immemorial, and the awareness of our mortality begat religion (to the chagrin of many, I'm sure!) I am a nonbeliever myself but find religion and the search for its roots a fascinating subject. Personally, I find it to be a philosophical treat to ruminate on such subjects. Being able to contemplate the profound question of what happens after death is the very essence of being human.
This will be a new favorite of mine among the Great Courses. Highly recommended!
November 6, 2019
This Course was a terrific introduction to the Roots of Religion in Human Culture. Dr. Hale led the listener on a World Tour of over thirty locales tracing everything from Burial Practices of Neanderthals and The Chinese through the Sexual Activities of the Vikings, the Human Sacrifices of the Aztecs to the founding of Christianity and Islam.
His perspective on Religion combines that of a highly experienced Archaeologist and a Cultural Anthropologist who can create the practices of ancient societies from pottery shards, grassy knolls, peat bogs and sandstone ruins. His tone and vocabulary is that of a popular novelist or biographer very much in love with the characters and setting of the yarn he is spinning. And quite a yarn it is.
Hale makes a very strong case for Religion as a prime driver of human development, not an artifact of an economic, political or agricultural system, though they are all related. He highlights the Common Threads shared by disparate religious practices all over the globe, things like role of Caves, The Sun, and Animal Symbols.
In his final chapter he addresses the Enduring Elements of Religion: The Afterlife, Sacred Spaces and Times, Sacrifice, Gods and Temples, and the Role of Visions. He has shown throughout the Course how each Culture profiled utilizes each of these elements by thorough descriptions of the archaeological underpinnings of his assertions. And he does this in a way that the layman can understand while appreciating the science behind the findings.
All in all, this was a wonderful learning experience for anyone interested in understanding where and how Religion arose in similar ways in so many different cultural contexts. I highly recommend this course and will listen to any course Dr. Hale does in the future.
His perspective on Religion combines that of a highly experienced Archaeologist and a Cultural Anthropologist who can create the practices of ancient societies from pottery shards, grassy knolls, peat bogs and sandstone ruins. His tone and vocabulary is that of a popular novelist or biographer very much in love with the characters and setting of the yarn he is spinning. And quite a yarn it is.
Hale makes a very strong case for Religion as a prime driver of human development, not an artifact of an economic, political or agricultural system, though they are all related. He highlights the Common Threads shared by disparate religious practices all over the globe, things like role of Caves, The Sun, and Animal Symbols.
In his final chapter he addresses the Enduring Elements of Religion: The Afterlife, Sacred Spaces and Times, Sacrifice, Gods and Temples, and the Role of Visions. He has shown throughout the Course how each Culture profiled utilizes each of these elements by thorough descriptions of the archaeological underpinnings of his assertions. And he does this in a way that the layman can understand while appreciating the science behind the findings.
All in all, this was a wonderful learning experience for anyone interested in understanding where and how Religion arose in similar ways in so many different cultural contexts. I highly recommend this course and will listen to any course Dr. Hale does in the future.
February 11, 2020
Compelling argument for religion as a primary motivating force throughout history. I feel it could have been better organized.
August 28, 2023
Part of the Great Courses series, this is an audiobook recording of 36 half-hour lectures given by Professor John R. Hale, archaeologist and historian at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. Starting at prehistory with Neanderthal caves in Europe, the course takes us on a fascinating journey to religious archaeological sites around the world as it presents fascinating summaries of Scandinavian rock art, the Egyptian pyramids, the Nazca Lines, Stonehenge, Angkor Wat, the Delphi Oracle, Easter Island, and many other places. It ends with a discussion on what is common to religions around the world, and the importance of ritual in both personal lives and human society in general.
I was very impressed with this course. The lectures are short, but Professor Hale packs a lot into his programme. You can hear an infectious enthusiasm in his light American accent as he presents vivid descriptions of each site and its likely use, and you can easily imagine being there as worshippers performed their ceremonies and honoured their deities. Although he briefly mentions the more fanciful theories about how some of these places were constructed, thankfully he dismisses any possibility of aliens and stays with the science, marvelling along with us at the complex engineering those ancient people devised.
I really enjoyed this course and learned a lot. If you like archaeology, history, religion, or are just curious about the diversity of human thought, I can’t recommend it enough.
I was very impressed with this course. The lectures are short, but Professor Hale packs a lot into his programme. You can hear an infectious enthusiasm in his light American accent as he presents vivid descriptions of each site and its likely use, and you can easily imagine being there as worshippers performed their ceremonies and honoured their deities. Although he briefly mentions the more fanciful theories about how some of these places were constructed, thankfully he dismisses any possibility of aliens and stays with the science, marvelling along with us at the complex engineering those ancient people devised.
I really enjoyed this course and learned a lot. If you like archaeology, history, religion, or are just curious about the diversity of human thought, I can’t recommend it enough.
November 17, 2017
Not exactly what I thought I was getting into, but interesting none the less. I was looking for a book about the history of all religions. This is more about how archaeology is used to study early religions in different geographical regions. When I say early I mean early. We are talking mostly pre-christianity. It is pretty cool how we are able to dig up ruins of early civilizations and interprit how they saw life and how it differs from life today. In some ways it is similar, such as substituting the ability to explain reality with superstition. But those superstitions are very different today than they were thousands if years ago. I am glad we moved on from sacrifices. Maybe in 1,000 years they will dig up our civilization and wonder how we could have possibly been so technologically advanced, yet so philosophically retarted.
April 21, 2021
Dr. Hale starts about 45,000 years ago with the Neanderthals and their concept of religion. An interesting point about this Great Courses series of lectures (36 lessons) is that he is looking at religion through the lens of archaeology. In other words, Dr. Hale will be proving his points from archaeological digs (he and others have conducted). Generally, religious beginnings are studied from an anthropological standpoint. That means that man is studied through the social and cultural development of humans. What I take away from the difference is that we will only be looking at proofs that have been dug up, seen on cave walls, or found in the depths of bodies of water.
This has turned out to be even more interesting than I'd expected. Religion began as Neanderthals buried their dead with rituals and buried them close at hand (often under their feet) as a form of ancestor worship. Later, this changed to animism (belief in the spirits that inhabit natural objects). This is a fairly exhaustive discussion of the early spiritual practices around the world. I learned the real story of the Aten of Egypt (in Lesson 20) and it was fascinating.
Fortunately, Dr. Hale often referred back to similarities with previous cultures, and this helped cement ideas and events in the listener's mind. Until taking this course, I wasn't aware that there were massive, man-made mountains near the Mississippi River. Since Dr. Hale did some of his research in Ohio, he had some amazing insights into ancient life in North America, as well as other locales in the world. This series has been well worth my time (about 18 hours).
All Lectures:
1. The Roots of Religious Experience
2. Neanderthal Burials at Shanidar
3. Hunting Magic in Sacred Caves
4. Myths of the Shaman
5. Realm of the Mother Goddess
6. Mysteries of the Megaliths
7. Towers and Tombs of Sumeria
8. Tomb of the First Emperor of China
9. Feasting with the Dead at Petra
10. Druid Sacrifice at Lindow Moss?
11. Honoring Ancestors in Ancient Ohio
12. A Viking Queen Sails to Eternity
13. Dancing with Bulls at Knossos
14. Oracle Bones in Ancient China
15. Sun and Sexuality in Early Scandinavia
16. Apollo Speaks at Klaros
17. Chalice of Blood in Ancient Peru
18. Decoding Rituals at Palenque
19. Temple of the Goddess on Malta
20. The Aten - Monotheism in Egypt
21. Deities of the Acropolis
22. Gods and Pyramids at Teotihuacan
23. Sacred City on the Mississippi
24. Sun and Shadow at Machu Picchu
25. Celestial Gateway at Giza
26. Cosmic Hub at Stonehenge
27. Desert Lines at Nazca
28. Skywatchers at Chaco Canyon
29. Mountain of the Gods at Angkor
30. The Stone Heads of Easter Island
31. Tending Zoroaster's Sacred Fire in Iran
32. Writing the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran
33. Taking Religions Underground at Rome
34. Forging Iron at Jenne-jeno on the Niger
35. Carving Monasteries at Ajanta in India
36. Faiths Lost and Found
This has turned out to be even more interesting than I'd expected. Religion began as Neanderthals buried their dead with rituals and buried them close at hand (often under their feet) as a form of ancestor worship. Later, this changed to animism (belief in the spirits that inhabit natural objects). This is a fairly exhaustive discussion of the early spiritual practices around the world. I learned the real story of the Aten of Egypt (in Lesson 20) and it was fascinating.
Fortunately, Dr. Hale often referred back to similarities with previous cultures, and this helped cement ideas and events in the listener's mind. Until taking this course, I wasn't aware that there were massive, man-made mountains near the Mississippi River. Since Dr. Hale did some of his research in Ohio, he had some amazing insights into ancient life in North America, as well as other locales in the world. This series has been well worth my time (about 18 hours).
All Lectures:
1. The Roots of Religious Experience
2. Neanderthal Burials at Shanidar
3. Hunting Magic in Sacred Caves
4. Myths of the Shaman
5. Realm of the Mother Goddess
6. Mysteries of the Megaliths
7. Towers and Tombs of Sumeria
8. Tomb of the First Emperor of China
9. Feasting with the Dead at Petra
10. Druid Sacrifice at Lindow Moss?
11. Honoring Ancestors in Ancient Ohio
12. A Viking Queen Sails to Eternity
13. Dancing with Bulls at Knossos
14. Oracle Bones in Ancient China
15. Sun and Sexuality in Early Scandinavia
16. Apollo Speaks at Klaros
17. Chalice of Blood in Ancient Peru
18. Decoding Rituals at Palenque
19. Temple of the Goddess on Malta
20. The Aten - Monotheism in Egypt
21. Deities of the Acropolis
22. Gods and Pyramids at Teotihuacan
23. Sacred City on the Mississippi
24. Sun and Shadow at Machu Picchu
25. Celestial Gateway at Giza
26. Cosmic Hub at Stonehenge
27. Desert Lines at Nazca
28. Skywatchers at Chaco Canyon
29. Mountain of the Gods at Angkor
30. The Stone Heads of Easter Island
31. Tending Zoroaster's Sacred Fire in Iran
32. Writing the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran
33. Taking Religions Underground at Rome
34. Forging Iron at Jenne-jeno on the Niger
35. Carving Monasteries at Ajanta in India
36. Faiths Lost and Found
March 14, 2018
Although entertaining, the lectures didn't feel like they gave much information. Unfortunately, Hale spent time covering so much ground (both physically and chronologically) that he didn't have enough left to go in depth on the topic. He did draw comparisons frequently between the different cultures and religions, which helped keep the lectures cohesive and gave the audio a nice flow. I would only recommend this if you are looking for a broad, beginner understanding of religious foundations - this is a survey course at its finest. As someone who has studied ancient culture in the past, many of the lectures were extremely redundant, so I would suggest skipping over these lectures in favor of a more advanced course.
September 17, 2020
Wow. Lots of great information and well organized, if a bit dry at times. Overall, I enjoyed this lecture series and I'm glad that I invested the time in it. The professor started with the earliest known traces of religious evidence in the lives of humans and worked his way up to the major monotheistic traditions of today. I would love to hear about how smaller localized religions were incorporated or excluded from modern religious practices but think that would be a whole other series. I appreciated that the lectures bounced all over the globe and looked at religious traditions across time and geography rather than centralizing in one place. I think that it made the point that this is part of the human condition rather than specific to one group of people or set of ideals.
September 29, 2025
Another banger by John R. Hale after I really enjoyed his Classical Archaeology of Ancient Greece and Rome class. This is a very interesting overview of many different archaeological sites and what they can tell us about the religious practices of their societies. Some were more interesting than others, which I think was due to a combination of my own personal interest/experience with the site (I can never get enough of Knossos!!), probably Hale's personal interest, and the amount of concrete information available. It all did come very satisfyingly together by the end though, with some conclusions I'll be thinking a lot about going forward. Overall recommended!
March 6, 2021
This was a great series of lectures. I can't say that I learned a lot about Christianity, Buddhism, or Judaism from listening to these. I did however learn a great deal about our current understanding of the origin of religion, the evolution of religions and the interconnectedness of how they have developed in and around each other since our earliest conception of history and pre-history.
I'd recommend this to anyone approaching the subject with an open mind and not from a religiously dogmatic one. Entertaining, educational, well narrated, and worth listing to the entire thing.
I'd recommend this to anyone approaching the subject with an open mind and not from a religiously dogmatic one. Entertaining, educational, well narrated, and worth listing to the entire thing.
February 21, 2024
4.5
Really quite good. It featured way more archaeology than the synopsis made it sound, which was a plus for me. My only really issue with the series was more a personal failing, but I don't know that I'm walking away from it having learned a whole lot. I feel a much better understanding of historical religion in terms of how it was interspersed in some cultures' lives, but I don't remember much hard facts; mainly just impressions of facts. I don't know if that speaks to me more or the lecturer more.
Really quite good. It featured way more archaeology than the synopsis made it sound, which was a plus for me. My only really issue with the series was more a personal failing, but I don't know that I'm walking away from it having learned a whole lot. I feel a much better understanding of historical religion in terms of how it was interspersed in some cultures' lives, but I don't remember much hard facts; mainly just impressions of facts. I don't know if that speaks to me more or the lecturer more.
May 16, 2019
An interesting journey through history from the perspective of an archaeologist. My key takeaway was that humans are more the same in our religious beliefs than we are different. Most of us want to do the right thing. We want to belong. One of my leaders once said:
"What we all want is to be valued members of a winning team on an inspiring mission."
- Graham Weston
I wonder if he has listened to these lectures?
"What we all want is to be valued members of a winning team on an inspiring mission."
- Graham Weston
I wonder if he has listened to these lectures?
July 26, 2024
During the first lecture, I found myself saying, "Yeah, I knew that...yeah, I knew that." But soon, I was saying, "I didn't know that...I didn't know that"--and kept saying it through the rest of the lectures. Dr. Hale makes a good case for each idea he presents.
November 5, 2024
Not bad. Not as good as his books but the lectures hold up. It's more about how to understand the methods of archeology and he explores religion through that lens. It covers a variety of religions as wide as the ocean but shallow as a puddle.
May 29, 2025
فوق العاده عالی بود. این که ببینی موتیف های تکرار شونده ای در تاریخ تو آیین های مختلف وجود داره دید آدم رو خیلی باز میکنه. یه ایرادی که هست اینه که هرکسی تو آیین خودش به دنیا میاد و فکر میکنه تمام نماد پردازی ها و اسطوره ها ابتکار آیین خودشه. دید تکاملی بحث های این کتاب رو خیلی دوست داشتم
January 26, 2018
It was not what I was looking for but interesting. I would read again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2019
Some chapters are better than others. Too many boring ones - compared to other Great Courses on religion.
March 30, 2022
An interesting history of religion and how it has grown and changed over time.
August 20, 2022
What a wonderful series of lectures on the archaeology of religion. I learned so much!
September 24, 2022
It was alright, pretty good in parts. The overview was so brief that it was hard to love because every session made me want more information than could fit in 30 minutes.
October 18, 2022
Truly, a fascinating tour of the religious practices of early human cultures.
November 6, 2022
Pretty good overview
November 30, 2023
John Hale is consistently good .
Needed more depth in some; showed some theoretical bias in others.
Always enjoyable and informative.
Needed more depth in some; showed some theoretical bias in others.
Always enjoyable and informative.
March 21, 2017
This was one of The Great Courses series of audio lectures. This wasn't one of my favorites, but as a fan of learning for learning's sake, I still found it quite interesting. The course focuses on archaeological discoveries on the last couple of centuries and explains how sacred buildings, complexes, tomb structures, artwork, and more have provided us with unparalleled knowledge about early spiritual experiences around the world.
June 23, 2021
This course was a must for me in my journey of reading about the world's ancient history, mythologies, and religions. To me, this is a great overview of the roots of religions across the globe. Hale does a great job at touching down in several locations and builds on many with fantastic historical context. This is a good base to dive in deeper on different regions and timelines. As always, these courses come with some great recommended reading so you can do just that. I wanted to get to this before I moved on to Religions Of The Axial Age: An Approach To The World's Religions. I recommend this series if you are interested in the oldest of religions as this provides an informative overview.
October 30, 2015
This lecture is somewhat mis-titled, with the courses choosing to focus on the archaeology of religion - exploring various types of early religions - instead of the actual history of how religion arose. That granted, it was still a very intriguing course, and it was interesting to hear of various archaeological discoveries and how they related to religious ideas, even if most of them must be speculative due to the nature of the cultures (no written materials, etc). I would recommend this course for anyone who is interested in early religions, as it does leave the listener with a lot to ponder.
May 10, 2024
I liked it! Overall, this servers as an excellent introduction to archeology and gives you some good starting points to think about religious beliefs.
One thing that struck me is that we get to discover lots through the excavations, but at the same time some major questions are left unanswered. This course is about describing specific cases of religious practice which is interesting in its own right. But if you want to learn about the actual beliefs you are better off finding some material on history of religion or theology.
One thing that struck me is that we get to discover lots through the excavations, but at the same time some major questions are left unanswered. This course is about describing specific cases of religious practice which is interesting in its own right. But if you want to learn about the actual beliefs you are better off finding some material on history of religion or theology.
February 28, 2024
An archaeologist explores religion
What a great way to begin exploring religion, through archaeology!
I’m not religious, and abhor organized religion, so the study of religion often leave me cold, yet as a history lover I know I need more grounding in the history of religion. Imagine my delight in finding this lecture series from a favourite archaeologist, John Hale!
An absolutely fantastic listen!
What a great way to begin exploring religion, through archaeology!
I’m not religious, and abhor organized religion, so the study of religion often leave me cold, yet as a history lover I know I need more grounding in the history of religion. Imagine my delight in finding this lecture series from a favourite archaeologist, John Hale!
An absolutely fantastic listen!
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