Topics
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- Bible for Normal People Season 1 27
- Bible for Normal People Season 2 39
- Bible for Normal People Season 3 41
- Bible for Normal People Season 4 40
- Bible for Normal People Season 5 40
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Episode 279: Greg Carey - Apocalyptic Imagination in the Bible
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Greg Carey to explore the concept of apocalyptic literature within the Bible and its broader implications. Greg delves into the meaning of apocalyptic, explains the evolution of apocalyptic literature from proto-apocalyptic texts in the Old Testament to its more developed forms in Second Temple literature and the New Testament, and also addresses how apocalyptic themes might resonate with contemporary issues like political nationalism and economic exploitation.
Episode 44: J. Aaron Simmons - Søren Kierkegaard & Faith Beyond Christendom
In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared and J. Aaron Simmons delve into the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard’s radical critique of Christendom, explaining why he thought institutionalized religion had strayed from a more true Christian faith. They also cover Kierkegaard’s belief in faith as a lived experience rather than mere doctrine and the challenge to consider what is truly worthy of our worship and finitude.
Episode 278: Amy-Jill Levine - Who Are the Pharisees Actually?
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Amy-Jill Levine about misconceptions surrounding the Pharisees and how to understand them in their context. The conversation delves into the historical background of the Pharisees, their role in Jewish society, and how they have been stereotyped over time.
Episode 43: Yolanda Pierce - Nobody's Doing Theology from the Moon
In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared and Angela Parker talk to Yolanda Pierce about the different paths of deconstruction, how womanist and intersectional theology provides plenty good room, and why true multicultural diversity is more than just different faces in a shared space.
Episode 277: Pete Enns - Pete Ruins Genesis (Part 1)
A tale as old as time…Pete is ruining the book of Genesis! In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete lovingly dissects Genesis 1-4 and the biblical story of “how things began.”
Episode 42: David Dark - Doubt as a Holy Task
In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete talks to David Dark about the necessity of doubt in the life of faith and the human experience.
Episode 276: Pete Enns & Jared Byas - The Difference Between Biblical Studies and Theology
What makes biblical studies different from theology, and vice versa? Why does it matter? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared ruminate on the goals, methods, and focus of each distinct field and why it’s important to understand the difference when engaging with the Bible and faith.
Episode 41: Regina Shands Stoltzfus - A Nonviolent Faith
In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared and Jennifer Garcia Bashaw talk with Regina Shands Stoltzfus about the intersection of faith and nonviolence, how theology taught in church moves us to certain beliefs about violence, and how we can begin addressing societal issues through peace-focused actions.
Episode 275: J. Christopher Edwards - How the Gospel Writers Invented Jesus's Jewish Executioners
Who was really responsible for the execution of Jesus—Roman soldiers or Jewish leaders? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, J. Christopher Edwards joins Pete and Jared to explore early Christian narratives that began shifting culpability for the crucifixion from Roman soldiers to Jewish leaders, and highlighting how these misconceptions rooted in the New Testament have contributed to anti-Judaism throughout Christian history.
Episode 274: Pete Enns - Pete Ruins Nehemiah
What does Nehemiah have to teach us about the challenge of hermeneutics and theology today? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete ruins the book of Nehemiah by illuminating the key concepts, overarching themes, character arcs, and sociopolitical context found in the text; plus gives some takeaways about biblical interpretation for our time and place.
Episode 273: Jennifer Garcia Bashaw - What Did the Crucifixion Do? (REISSUE)
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jennifer Garcia Bashaw joins Pete and Jared to discuss how various atonement theories attempt to explain Jesus’s death. This is a reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 183 from October 2021.
Episode 40: Anna Case-Winters - What Does It Mean for God to Be with Us?
In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Anna Sieges Beal talk to Anna Case-Winters about incarnation and crucifixion, the coexistence of humanity and divinity in Jesus, and how process theology can help us reimagine divine power. Plus, Pete gets to ask questions about the cosmos.
Episode 272: Hugo Méndez - Who Wrote John?
Is the biblical author John the person we think he is? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Hugo Méndez joins Jared and Jennifer Garcia Bashaw to talk about some of the theories on the authorship of the Gospel and Letters of John, diving into an alternative to the traditional ideas about who wrote the texts and the implications for how we approach the Bible as a whole.
Episode 39: Candice Czubernat - Religious Trauma & LGBTQ+ Christians
In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared discuss religious trauma with Candice Czubernat, a therapist and founder of The Christian Closet. Together they identify religious trauma, examine how it especially affects LGBTQ+ people, and explore pathways for healing.
Episode 271: Pete Enns - Pete Ruins Ezra
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete ruins the book of Ezra by examining the themes, characters, issues, and connections found within the text; diving into the Moses-like leadership of Ezra, the historical context of the Persian empire, and Ezra’s seemingly strange opinions on intermarriage.
Episode 38: Tamice Spencer-Helms - Grounding Our Faith in Our Experiences
Tamice Spencer-Helms joins Jared in this episode of Faith for Normal People for a conversation about the integration of faith and identity. Tamice shares their journey of navigating life as a queer and Black Christian, emphasizing the power of authenticity and agency in leaving toxic theologies behind.
Episode 270: Charles Halton - Is God More Humanlike Than We Thought?
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Charles Halton joins Pete and Jared to discuss how the Bible portrays God as being humanlike, the origin of resistance to seeing humanlike characteristics of God, and the implications of embracing this perspective.
Episode 37: Sarah Bessey - It’s Okay to Deconstruct
In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared and Pete have a candid conversation with Sarah Bessey about the highs and lows of her own evolving faith journey and how we can learn to embrace the wilderness of deconstruction—seeing it not as a place of desolation and doubt, but as an opportunity for growth and renewal.
Episode 269: Jack Levison - The Greek Life of Adam & Eve
Cain is a cannibal, Eve tells her own version of the fall of man, and the Garden of Eden has a dividing wall? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk to Jack Levison about the ancient text the Greek Life of Adam and Eve, also known as the Apocalypse of Moses, an intriguing and dramatic retelling of the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Seth, and the origin of sin.
Episode 268: Pete Enns - Pete Ruins Chronicles
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete makes the case for why you shouldn’t skip 1 and 2 Chronicles after slogging through Samuel and Kings. He explores the Chronicler’s distinct theology, uncovers themes of hope and divine sovereignty, and explains what Chronicles reveals about ancient Israelites’ ideas about God.