Beast and Bible

When did Halloween take such a dark turn? How did it come to be associated with gory, murderous imagery? In this episode, Dr. Pierce concludes his interview ith Halloween expert Lisa Morton, focusing on the transition from children's holiday to something for adults with a taste for the macabre.

This is the third episode of the 2023 Halloween Special. 

Show Notes

Book | Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween by Lisa Morton

Documentary | Hell House | Rent on Amazon, Vudu or view on Youtube

This documentary follows one evangelical church's answer to Halloween haunted houses - Hell House - which depicts graphic scenes including "botched abortions, AIDS-related deaths, fatal drunk driving crashes, date rapes, and drug-induced suicides" with the purpose of converting it's attendees. 

Halloween is often considered a tribute to the Celtic Lord of Death…but is it? Where did this holiday come from? Is it a religious holiday or something manufactured by the makers of sweets? In this episode, Dr. Pierce interviews Halloween historian and six-time Bram Stoker award winner Lisa Morton about the history of this spooky Holiday.

This is the second episode of the 2023 Halloween Special. 

Show Notes

Book | Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween by Lisa Morton

Have you ever been warned of people putting razor blades in apples? What about those who poison children’s Halloween candy? Have you been told to not let your black cat out on Halloween night? Is Halloween Satan’s birthday? Is there a new Barbie Oujia board threatening the soil of children everywhere? In this episode, Dr. Pierce explores the dark tales that haunt Halloween and reveals something even scarier that happens every year this holiday is celebrated…

This is the first episode of the 2023 Halloween Special. 

Show Notes

Book | Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween by David J. Skal

Dr. Pierce speaks with expert Dr. Joseph Laycock on how knowing the patterns of moral panics can keep us from being swept up in them.

Dr. Pierce speaks with expert Dr. Joseph Laycock to pull back the curtain on why there's so much panic about the satanic.

We're taking this week off, but we'll be back on July 10 with Part 1 of our episodes on the Satanic Panic. If you want to do some homework, check out Dr. Joseph Laycock's book, "Dangerous Games: What the Moral Panic over Role-Playing Games Says about Play, Religion, and Imagined Worlds."

Dr. Pierce explores perhaps the most horrific pop culture icon taken from scripture, the mysterious number 666 (aka the Mark of the Beast). Dr. Jon Paulien, renowned expert on the book of Revelation, joins the episode to help unravel this beastly number.

Show Notes 

Contact | Jonathan K. Paulien, PhD, Loma Linda University

Website | http://thebattleofarmageddon.com/ 

Book |  The Deep Things of God: An Insider’s Guide to the Book of Revelation

Adventist Book Center | Jon Paulien’s Books on the Adventist Book Center Website

Video Series | GPS - God’s Prophetic Surprises on Loma Linda Broadcasting Network (LLBN) 

Dr. Pierce interviews Dr. Laurence Turner about a creepy Old Testament story that has caused debate for centuries: when the Witch of Endor summons the "spirit" of the prophet Samuel at the request of King Saul, who was actually doing the talking? 

This is Part 1. 

Dr. Pierce interviews Dr. Laurence Turner about a creepy Old Testament story that has caused debate for centuries: when the Witch of Endor summons the "spirit" of the prophet Samuel at the request of King Saul, who was actually doing the talking? 

This is Part 1. 

Beast and Bible will return on Monday, May 15.