The Bible For Normal People

We?re back for our second season of Faith for Normal People! Comedian Pete Holmes joins Pete and Jared to contemplate oneness with God, what it means to identify as a Christian, the parable of the prodigal son, and how awareness can grow our sense of connection with God. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We?re back for our eighth season of the podcast! In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman joins Pete and Jared to discuss the historical reliability of the Gospels, highlighting the roles of oral tradition, authorial bias, and contradictions within the texts. Show Notes ? ********** This episode is sponsored by Lumi. To learn more about microdosing THC, go to Microdose.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE to get free shipping and 30% off your first order. ********** This episode is sponsored by Factor Meal Kits. Head to www.factormeals.com/normalpeople50 and use code normalpeople50 to get 50% off.  ********** This episode is sponsored by Fast Growing Trees. Right now, they have the best deals online, up to half off on select plants. Listeners get an additional 15% off when using the code NORMALPEOPLE at checkout. Head to FastGrowingTrees.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE at checkout. Offer valid for a limited time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Podcast producer Brittany and audio engineer/editor Stephen have joined forces to bring you a special blooper episode with behind-the-scenes clips from Season 7 of The Bible for Normal People and Season 1 of Faith for Normal People. From all of us at B4NP, we wish you a joyful, hopeful end to 2023. See you next year! Note: This episode contains swearing, so maybe not the one to play with little ears around! Show Notes ? ********** This episode is sponsored by Lumi. To learn more about microdosing THC, go to Microdose.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE to get free shipping and 30% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join us for the final episode of The Bible for Normal People Season 7 as Pete and Jared end the year on an easy note by tackling the cultural, historical, and societal context of the birth of Jesus as found in the Bible. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Adil Hussain Khan to talk about the story of Abraham in the Islamic tradition, how Islam differs from Judaism and Christianity, and whether the concept of interreligious dialogue is really as effective as we think. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is the phenomenon of speaking in tongues purely ecstatic or purely linguistic? Join Pete and Jared in this episode of The Bible for Normal People as guest Ekaputra Tupamahu analyzes the history and interpretation of speaking in tongues in the Bible, exploring how this understanding has influenced modern Pentecostal and charismatic movements. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, hosts Pete Enns and Jared Byas speak with Irish poet and theologian Pádraig Ó Tuama, delving into the appreciation and understanding of the Bible through the lens of poetry and exploring how poetry can offer alternative perspectives on theological questions. Show Notes ? ********** This episode is sponsored by Lumi. To learn more about microdosing THC, go to Microdose.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE to get free shipping and 30% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jacob L. Wright joins Pete and Jared to discuss the origins of the Hebrew Bible, moving beyond just the ?how? and asking the deeper question of ?why? the Bible began, revealing the quest to unite a people group in the midst of defeat. Show Notes ? ********** This episode is sponsored by Aura Frames, creators of the digital photo frame named the #1 digital picture frame by Wirecutter, The Strategist, and Wired. Recommended by Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and high-end home design publications. From now through Black Friday and Cyber Monday visit AuraFrames.com and get 40 dollars off their best-selling Carver Mat frame with the code NORMALPEOPLE. This is their best deal of the year, so get yours now! Terms and conditions apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Anna talk to Grace Ji-Sun Kim about how theology impacts marginalized communities, what intersectionality means, and how theology and biography are synonymous. Show Notes ? ********** This episode is sponsored by Lumi. To learn more about microdosing THC, go to Microdose.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE to get free shipping and 30% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Robyn Whitaker to discuss the themes, movements, and symbolism found within the book of Revelation, as well as the various ways the text has been interpreted (and misinterpreted) throughout Christian history. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In part two of our series on the problem of evil, Jared and Pete talk with Tom Oord about why people struggle to reconcile evil and suffering with a good God, theological solutions to the problem throughout history, and how process theology offers a different view of God?s power.  Show Notes ? ********** This episode is sponsored by Lumi. To learn more about microdosing THC, go to Microdose.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE to get free shipping and 30% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Marc Brettler and Alan Lenzi join Pete and Jared to discuss the context of evil in the Bible and other ancient Mesopotamian texts, giving insight into how people thousands of years ago wrestled with divine sovereignty and human suffering. This is the first of two episodes on the problem of evil?don?t miss part two on Faith for Normal People as Pete and Jared discuss theological frameworks with Tom Oord. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Christin Fort and Jared discuss how attachment theory plays into our perceptions of God, the impact of theology on mental health, and how understanding ourselves better psychologically could enrich our faith. Show Notes ? ********** This episode is sponsored by HelloFresh, America?s #1 Meal Kit. Go to HelloFresh.com/50normalpeople and use code 50normalpeople for 50% off plus free shipping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, our resident destroyer Pete is on a mission to ruin the book of 1 Kings by delving into the historical context and narrative themes of this ancient text which marks the beginning of the end of Israel?s monarchy. Show Notes ? ********** This episode is sponsored by Lumi. To learn more about microdosing THC, go to Microdose.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE to get free shipping and 30% off your first order. ********** This episode is sponsored by Garrett Theological Seminary. If you want to take the next step in your education, you can study in person or online at Garrett. Apply before November 15th, and you could be eligible for a minimum 65% scholarship, up to 100% of tuition. Visit Garrett.edu/podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matthias Roberts joins Jared and Angela Parker in this episode of Faith for Normal People to talk about his work as a psychotherapist, the path to healing from religious trauma, and what faith after religious trauma might look like. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nerd alert?we?re diving into biblical studies in this episode of The Bible for Normal People as Pete and Jared talk with Barbara Leung Lai about her work studying the inner life of characters in the Hebrew Bible. Combining psychological exegesis, perspectives of personality, and Bakhtinian views of polyphony and dialogism, Barbara helps give Bible readers insight into what biblical characters might have thought and felt. Show Notes ? ********** This episode is sponsored by Lumi. To learn more about microdosing THC, go to Microdose.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE to get free shipping and 30% off your first order. ********** This episode is sponsored by Garrett Theological Seminary. If you want to take the next step in your education, you can study in person or online at Garrett. Apply before November 15th, and you could be eligible for a minimum 65% scholarship, up to 100% of tuition. Visit Garrett.edu/podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Eddie Howells joins Pete and Jennifer for an enlightening conversation on the history and theology of Christian mysticism, talking about three strands of its development throughout history, what it looks like to engage with mysticism theologically, and how one can begin to practice mysticism. Show Notes ? ********** This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/bnp and get on your way to being your best self. ********** This episode is sponsored by HelloFresh, America?s #1 Meal Kit. Go to HelloFresh.com/50normalpeople and use code 50normalpeople for 50% off plus free shipping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete and Jared are joined by renowned scholar John Dominic ?Dom? Crossan in this episode of The Bible for Normal People as they take a tour of the gospels that didn?t make the cut for the New Testament. Together they explore three different types of non-canonical gospels and what those texts can teach us about the creation of the Bible. Show Notes ? ********** This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/bnp and get on your way to being your best self. ********** This episode is sponsored by Lumi. To learn more about microdosing THC, go to Microdose.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE to get free shipping and 30% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cole Arthur Riley joins Jared on this episode of Faith for Normal People to talk about the harm done by disembodied theology, the value of intergenerational spirituality, the hard work of remembering well, and what a path toward embodied spirituality might look like. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Richard Kalmin about the origins and history of the Talmud, why it was written, and how the text has functioned not just within Jewish history, but also in various modern denominations of Judaism. Show Notes ? ********** This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/bnp and get on your way to being your best self. ********** This episode is sponsored by Lumi. To learn more about microdosing THC, go to Microdose.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE to get free shipping and 30% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Felipe Hinojosa joins Pete and Jared to talk about the history of the Latino Mennonite tradition in the United States, Latino political and religious resistance, and what the Civil Rights movement can teach us about wrestling with our theological differences when we?re united toward a common cause. Show Notes ? ********** This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/bnp and get on your way to being your best self. ********** This episode is sponsored by HelloFresh, America?s #1 Meal Kit. Go to HelloFresh.com/50normalpeople and use code 50normalpeople for 50% off plus free shipping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We?re uncovering more than Boaz?s feet in this episode of The Bible for Normal People as Judy Fentress-Williams joins Pete and Jared to take a historical-critical look at the symbolism, cultural context, and subversive embrace of the other within the book of Ruth. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, moral theologian Lisa Fullam joins Jared to explore virtue ethics, Ignatian spirituality, matters of conscience, and practical methods for moral decision making. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Steed Davidson joins Pete and Jared to explain the origin of postcolonial biblical studies, the outcome of reading Scripture through a postcolonial lens, and how ancient empires could have used the biblical text to endorse their own imperialism. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Hans Halvorson ponder the origins of the universe, quantum theory, entanglement, the existence of God, and the tension (or lack thereof) between science and faith. Show Notes ? ********** This episode is sponsored by Lumi. To learn more about microdosing THC, go to Microdose.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE to get free shipping and 30% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, we continue on the ruinous journey through the Deuteronomistic History as our troop leader Pete fearlessly guides us through the book of 2 Samuel. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared continues his journey of vulnerability and shares how his self-perception, desire for belonging, and struggle with his childhood traditions molded his faith into the shape it takes now. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Safwat Marzouk joins Pete and Jared for a deep dive into the book of Ezekiel, exploring its historical and geopolitical context, the dual callings of Ezekiel as priest and prophet, and how holiness and justice aren?t at odds when it comes to faithfulness as God?s people. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can science explain our personal religious experiences? In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Sarah Lane Ritchie to talk about the advancements and limits of cognitive science of religion in helping us understand the connection between the brain and belief.  Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared talks with Father Shannon T.L. Kearns, cofounder of Queer Theology, about engaging with Scripture as a transgender Christian, finding a better way to address clobber passages, and why reading the Bible from the margins is imperative for interpreting the biblical text honestly. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and David Bentley Hart journey through an abridged history of the origin of the Christian creeds and discuss the purpose the creeds have served in the story of the Christian faith. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Cheryl B. Anderson joins Pete and Jared to discuss ethics, law, and how we read the Bible. This is a reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 173 from July 2021. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Ally Henny joins Jared to talk about the history of using her voice, what it means to embrace your Holy Hell No, and how speaking the truth can set you free in a world built to keep you silent. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What do people mean when they say they take the Bible literally? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared breaks down how words in this common phrase are overworked and underpaid, how it functions as a cultural password, and how we can approach the text with intellectual honesty by reading the Bible literarily. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared sit down with Brian McLaren to discuss stages of faith, the prevalence of doubt, and what paths to faith after doubt might look like. This is a reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 174 from July 2021. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared and Pete are joined by Amy Kalmanofsky to reveal the narrative role of sisters in the Hebrew Bible, explain three categories of sister relationships, and identify ?ideal? and ?dangerous? sisters in the text. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dale C. Allison Jr. joins Pete in this episode of Faith for Normal People to talk about his own mysterious divine encounters, how testimony can become data, and why it?s important to acknowledge the limits of logic when it comes to validating what is unexplainable. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everything you thought you knew about Mary Magdalene is questioned in this episode of The Bible for Normal People, in which Elizabeth Schrader Polczer joins Pete and Jared to discuss textual criticism, the meaning of Magdalene, and why John 11 might not be as straightforward as we think. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Danté Stewart joins Pete and Jared to share how reading the works of Black authors shaped his spiritual journey and how viewing Black literature as sacred can make us larger, freer, and more loving.  Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Manuel Cruz to discuss the philosophy of being moral, how morality intersects with the Christian spiritual life, and what we can learn about God from philosophers Jean-Luc Marion and Simone Weil. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Kaitlin Curtice joins Pete and Jared to talk about her new book Living Resistance and how a life of faith can thrive if we let go of the need for linear success and instead view faith as a cyclical journey toward healing and wholeness. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared answer questions from community members in The Society of Normal People, pulling on a common thread of how to move beyond dualism and find wisdom in a more balanced perspective. Show Notes ? This episode was sponsored by Lumi. To learn more about microdosing THC, go to Microdose.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE to get free shipping & 30% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared and co-host Jennifer Garcia Bashaw talk with sex educator Erica Smith, M.Ed. about the harmful effects of purity culture and the work she does to empower adults who want to create a new sexual ethic for themselves. Show Notes ? Please note: this episode includes themes of sexuality with vocabulary that may not be suitable for children or public spaces. Please listen with discretion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Lisa Marie Bowens to peel back the layers within 2 Corinthians, examining the themes, rhetoric, and narrative purpose of the cosmic battle between God and Satan depicted by Paul. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this very special episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared are graced by the presence and wisdom of Rainn Wilson, whose new book Soul Boom prescribes a spiritual revolution to treat our self-destruction, emboldening us to move toward a better version of ourselves for the sake of the earth and each other. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Murderous kings, political turmoil, and charismatic shepherds?oh my! In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete outlines the thematic underpinnings, historical context, and biblical scholarship surrounding the book of 1 Samuel.  Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with D. Danyelle Thomas about how decolonizing Christianity is an act of love toward marginalized communities, and why deconstruction doesn?t go far enough in forming a truly inclusive faith. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared and Pete talk with Dan McClellan about divine agency in early Israelite thought, and how cognitive linguistics helps us to make sense of the complications that arise from trying to neatly categorize deity vs. non-deity in Scripture. Show Notes ? This episode was sponsored by Lumi. To learn more about microdosing THC, go to Microdose.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE to get free shipping & 30% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, our beloved co-host Jared Byas bestows upon us the rare gift of vulnerability as he shares his own story of shifting faith through childhood and young adulthood, leading to the birth of The Bible for Normal People. Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does it mean for the Bible to be authoritative? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Cameron B. R. Howard joins Pete and Jared to discuss how tradition has impacted the idea of authority of the biblical text, and how reading the Bible as a collection of multi-vocal testimonies can inspire a new outlook on its authority.  Show Notes ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices