The Bible For Normal People

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

Cultural anthropologist Joseph Henrich joins Pete and Jared in this episode of Faith for Normal People to explain how the unique psychology of modern Western society was shaped by particular rules about family structure and marriage practices, often forced by religious institutions. 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 Josh James to embark on an adventure through the Book of Psalms, unpacking the biblical scholarship surrounding this beloved, strange, ancient collection of poetry we so often take at face value—missing the true diversity in authorship and message. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete hosts a conversation with Robin Parry about the historical roots, biblical references, and common misunderstandings related to universal salvation in the Christian tradition—as well as the hope it might offer as part of God’s cosmic plan. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Sam Boyd joins Pete and Jared to uncover the misconceptions which are often read into the Tower of Babel story and get to the heart of the political and cultural implications of the narrative. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, social psychologist Jonathan Jong joins Pete and Jared to talk about the history and science behind death anxiety and how the reality of mortality impacts people within and beyond the Christian faith tradition. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared consider how elevating the Bible to a special status can cheapen our experience of reading it as a multi-vocal anthology of literature. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared talks with author and trauma-informed counselor K.J. Ramsey about the impact of trauma, finding hope through loss, and trusting the wisdom of our emotions and our bodies. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aaron Koller joins Pete and Jared in this episode of The Bible for Normal People to explore the book of Esther, discussing scholarly opinions of its historical accuracy, major themes within the narrative, challenges to current Jewish beliefs, and how the story interacts with Purim. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bekah McNeel joins Jared and co-host Jennifer Garcia Bashaw in this episode of Faith for Normal People to talk candidly about the challenges of parenting in the midst of a shifting faith—the good, the bad, and the cussing—and how parents can navigate tough conversations with their kids. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hold onto your communion wafers, folks! In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Meredith J. C. Warren guides Pete and Jared through eight weird verses in John 6:51-58, exploring whether or not the passage refers to the Eucharist, and how Hellenistic hero literature could have influenced John’s storytelling arc. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, cognitive neuroscientist Anil Seth leaves no brain region unused as he joins Pete and Jared to talk about consciousness, experience, perception, what it means to be a self, and the ways a life of faith is impacted by being…well, a conscious being. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, our beloved book ruiner Pete brings the gavel down on Judges, examining the historical and literary context of the book and revealing the driving force of the narrative: Israel needs a king. Show Notes → ADVERTISEMENT: This episode was sponsored by Lumi Microdosing. 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, Pete and Jared are joined by Rhett and Jessie McLaughlin to talk about their own journey of shifting faith as individuals and as a married couple, what it was like navigating a religious transition in the public eye, and what it looks like to embrace a curious faith. 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 David Lambert about how scholars define “scripture,” how communities throughout history have changed the meaning and nature of biblical texts, and whether or not the Bible can ever be universally understood as scripture. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Faith for Normal People, the only other God-ordained podcast on the internet—brought to you by Pete Enns and Jared Byas of The Bible for Normal People. In this episode, Pete and Jared introduce the show and reflect on how their own experiences of faith evolution led to the vision for Faith for Normal People. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re back for the seventh season of The Bible for Normal People and we’re kicking things off with Beth Allison Barr! In this episode, Beth joins Pete and Jared to talk about the historical and cultural development of biblical womanhood in white American evangelicalism and how she has navigated the backlash against her bestselling book The Making of Biblical Womanhood. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re bringing a little bah and a little humbug to the Christmas pageant in this episode of The Bible for Normal People as Pete and Jared do their very best to ruin Christmas! Find out what Christmas means to them, whether Jesus really is the reason for the season, and how your Nativity set is probably lying to you. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Joel Marcus breaks down the history and intricacies of how, when, and why the Christian religion broke away from Judaism, and how that turn toward independence shaped the New Testament. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People Podcast, Pete and Jared talk with Emilie Townes about womanist ethics, interpreting the Bible, and hope. 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 The Bible for Normal People, Pete ruins the book of Joshua and evangelical home décor in one fell swoop by examining the historicity of the conquest narrative and the theological consequences of a warrior God who condones violence. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Meredith Riedel gives an overview of Byzantine Christianity—what it is, when it happened, how it evolved, and why Western Christians should care about it. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Daniel Kirk joins Pete and Jared to explain the major themes in the book of Romans, why the Romans Road view of salvation is insufficient, and how a focus on God’s righteousness through Jesus Christ shaped Paul's vision of harmony between Jews and Gentiles. 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

Happy Halloween! Pete and Jared embrace spooky season in this episode of The Bible for Normal People as Gregory Mobley discusses the biblical roots, origin stories, and cultural myths surrounding the Satan figure. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared explains the philosophical concept of deconstruction, where it came from, and three misconceptions about deconstruction as related to the Bible. 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 Jewish New Testament scholar Pamela Eisenbaum to talk about the many misunderstandings surrounding Paul, one of the most complicated figures of the New Testament, and the lens through which he viewed the concept of salvation. 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 The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared reflect on all the ruining they’ve been doing, what it means for how we read and connect with the Bible going forward, and how they’ve been personally affected by an evolving view of Scripture. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are the stories written about the biblical character David fact or fiction? Find out in this episode of The Bible for Normal People as Jared, Pete, and professor Joel Baden pull back the curtain to reveal how stories about the infamous King David were spun to make him out as a hero. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jemar Tisby joins Jared and Pete to talk about the legacy of systemic racism in the white American evangelical church, and how white Christians can practice anti-racism in their personal lives and in their communities. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete ruins Deuteronomy by explaining the influence of ancient Near Eastern culture on the laws and the historical narrative of the time, while also exploring the authorship, structure, and core themes of the book. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices