Data Over Dogma

What do we know about Jesus? Not the character who is the subject of the Christian Bible, but the actual historical figure? Who was that person? What can we know about him? Do scholars even believe that he actually existed? This week, we welcome Helen Bond to walk us through the actual history, or as much of it as we can piece together.

On another just as fascinating front, we'll talk to Dr. Bond about the women of the New Testament. Did Jesus have female disciples (beyond his mom and Mary Magdalene)? Who were they? Did they fill important rolls in early Christianity? And if they were there, why weren't they included more in the text?

For more Helen, check out the Biblical Time Machine podcast!

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This week we're doing something a little different. We're working with our friends over at History Daily to bring you some content that, though it is not Bible related, we think you'll really enjoy! Every weekday on History Daily, host Lindsay Graham (American Scandal, American History Tellers) takes you back in time to explore a momentous event that happened ‘on this day’ in history.

Give it a listen, and if you like it, subscribe!

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https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DATAOVERDOGMA

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It's a big, scary topic, but it's one that you can't avoid if you want to talk honestly about the the Bible and its contents: does the Bible contain genocide? And if so, does it condone the genocide it contains?

On this week's show we're looking at mass destruction, and wrestling with what it is, and what it means in a biblical context. Is the story of the ordered annihilation of the Amalekites genocide, or is it something else? What about God destroying Sodom and Gomorrah? Or the flooding of the entire world? Did any of this even actually happen?

But also, we talk about Jesus riding two donkeys. 'Cause that's just fun.

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https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DATAOVERDOGMA

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You've probably heard of the Dead Sea Scrolls, but how much do you really know about them? Where did they come from, when were they discovered, and what can they tell us about the Bible as it was handed down to us? Also, are all the scrolls and fragments that have found their way into private collections and museums legitimate?

This week we talk to expert Dr. Kipp Davis, who gives us the skinny on the scrolls. It's all the history and mystery surrounding what some have called the most significant archaeological find of all time.

To see more of Kipp's work, head over to his YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@DrKippDavis

Or check out his course on ancient Israelite religions:

https://sales.mvp-courses.com/israelite-religions/

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https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DATAOVERDOGMA

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One man, one woman. That's what many pastors, priests, and politicians claim the Bible prescribes for marriage. Are they right? Can it be actually be boiled down to that one simple dynamic? Well, if you've been listening to our show, you know how completely unlikely that is. But don't just take our word for it, we've brought in a ringer on the subject!

Dr. Jennifer Bird is the author of Marriage in the Bible, What Do the Texts Say? Dr. Bird is going to set us straight on biblical conceptions of marriage, what it means to be a husband or wife, and whether these ancient ideas of marriage are even applicable in a modern concept.

Find Dr. Bird's book and more info about her on her website: https://www.jennifergracebird.com/

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It's one of the most baffling moments of the new testament. Jesus talks to, and kills, foliage. Because he was hungry, and it was out of season, so it didn't have fruit. Dr. Dan does his best to make it make sense.

Then we get into some really fascinating textual analysis! Don't let the fancy name intimidate you, this dive into deutero-Isaiah is super interesting. What do you think? Do you buy the hypothesis? Many have challenged the idea, but the Deut abides.

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Hooooo boy. This week, we're asking one of the biggest questions in Christianity. Is Jesus God? Specifically, we'll be looking at two questions. First, we examine the gospel most frequently cited to support the idea: the gospel of John. Literally, the first verse of John says "The Word was with God, and the Word was God", doesn't that kind of end the debate? Well, if you know this show, you KNOW it's going to be more complicated than that! We'll go verse by verse discussing why what you've always been told may not be the full story. It may not be the story at all!

And since we're courting controversy already, why not go whole-hog? In our second segment, we're going after the Trinity. Where did the concept of a triune God come from? Is it in the Bible? If not, is it at least the best solution to the problem it was trying to solve? How did the idea become canon? Are we finally going to talk about something that actually happened at the Council of Nicaea?

For early access to an ad-free version of the show, exclusive content, and an opportunity to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at:

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Brace yourselves, friends, 'cause this week's episode is getting racy!

First, we're uncovering Noah in his tent, and his poor son Ham is going to regret going in there! It seems unfair, but apparently seeing your dad naked is a really big deal in the book of Genesis. Is it big enough to curse an entire lineage forever? Maybe. Hopefully Dr. Dan can help us figure out what's going on there.

Next, we're kicking the Biblical legs out from under the pernicious cultural phenomenon of "modesty culture"! When pastors and preachers and priests (oh my!) get behind the pulpit and talk about how people should dress--and by "people" we obviously mean "women", because they never seem to have much to say about men's clothes--are they in line with the good book? What do all those verses they're quoting really mean?

Well, this week we're going to determine exactly how short a skirt is allowed to be, how much shoulder is too much, and what offended parties should do when they see someone dressing in a way they don't approve of.

For early access to an ad-free version of the show, exclusive content, and an opportunity to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at:

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That's right, kids. We got an honest-to-goodness celebrity to come talk to us. Joel McHale, the dashing star of hit shows like Community, The Soup, and Animal Control has inexplicably decided to join us this week to talk about his experience as a believing Christian in Hollywood, and what it means to him to hear Bible scholarship like what we have here on Data Over Dogma.

We also spend some time talking about one of the wilder stories from the Bible: the necromancer of Endor! Sadly, this is not the story of the most interesting Ewok. But it is about a king breaking his own laws to talk to his best prophet, despite the fact that he's dead.

We're cooking up celebrity fun in the D/D crime scene kitchen. Join us!

For early access to an ad-free version of the show, exclusive content, and an opportunity to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at:

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Beasts! Dragons! Blood! This week, we're talking about the last book of the New Testament, that wacky troublemaker of a book, Revelation. Who wrote it and why? Was it a fever dream? What era is it talking about? IS ARMAGEDDON COMING TO CLAIM US ALL TOMORROW?

For the definitive answers to these questions... well, you'd have to ask a time traveler or sorcerer. But if you want the best answers modern scholarship has to offer, this is the place!

For early access to an ad-free version of the show, exclusive content, and an opportunity to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at:

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