Data Over Dogma

Holy Sex Work?

Aug 25, 2025
The ancient claim of sacred sex work in Judea is scrutinized, raising questions about its historical validity. The hosts also tackle the misconceptions surrounding cultic practices and their biblical interpretations. Meanwhile, they dive into the mystery of Psalm 151—discussing its potential authorship by King David and its absence in most Bibles. With playful banter, they explore the evolution of these ancient texts and their cultural significance today.
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ANECDOTE

Nurse's Quick Action Saved Deborah

  • Dan Beecher recounts how UnitedHealthcare nurse Crystal recognized his wife's post-surgery infection and got hospital care.
  • He credits Crystal and UnitedHealthcare with saving Deborah's life.
INSIGHT

Kadesh Terms Sparked A False Narrative

  • The Kadesh/Kedeshah terms have a semantic link to 'holy' (kadosh) that confused translators and scholars for centuries.
  • Modern scholarship doubts the existence of institutionalized 'cult sex work' in ancient Israel and warns against easy etymological leaps.
INSIGHT

Scholarship Killed The Cult Sex Worker Myth

  • Phyllis Byrd's research overturned long-standing claims that male temple prostitutes were a clear biblical reality.
  • She shows the evidence better fits regular sex workers or non-priestly cult personnel, not institutional sacred sex work.
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