Nate Hanson reflects on his journey with the podcast Almost Heretical, discussing the process of deconstruction and how it led him to a deeper understanding of Christianity. He shares his experiences of doubt, the search for evidence, and the transition to a new show called Faith Lab, which aims to explore the historical and philosophical foundations of the Christian faith.

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Could one ancient cloth change how we see the resurrection? Dr. Jeremiah Johnston joins us to unpack the Shroud of Turin, its baffling science, strange history, and the image that no one can explain.

Does this relic prove Jesus physically rose from the dead, or is it just a misunderstood artifact? We explore what happens when modern science collides with first-century faith.

Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email  [email protected]

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1. Bonus episodes and aftershows

2. All full-length, ad-free episodes

3. Access to Heretical Together (our private community of 350+ listeners)

Become a member: almostheretical.com/premium

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To listen to the full episode, become a premium member here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-did-jesus-133702952

Shelby and Nate tackle your biggest questions about hell, Paul, and the authority of Scripture. Did Jesus really teach eternal torment? What do we do with parts of the Bible that no longer reflect our values? And are we all just picking and choosing?

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Shelby and Nate explore the intriguing question of why Jesus did not write anything down during his lifetime. They discuss the implications of this question on our understanding of faith and scripture, emphasizing the oral tradition of the time and the significance of Jesus' teachings in a present-tense context. The conversation also touches on the historical perspective of Jesus as a local rabbi and the lack of immediate written records from his followers, suggesting that the movement was seen as urgent and relevant to their time rather than a long-term religious institution.

Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email  [email protected]

Become a member and get:

1. Bonus episodes and aftershows

2. All full-length, ad-free episodes

3. Access to Heretical Together (our private community of 350+ listeners)

Become a member: almostheretical.com/premium

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What if the stories at the end of Genesis weren’t just family drama—but political storytelling?

In this episode, Nate and Shelby revisit six key moments from Genesis 27 to 50—including Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing, Dinah and Shechem, Judah and Tamar, and Joseph’s rise in Egypt—to explore how these stories may have been written to explain Israel’s political identity, tribal dynamics, and national origin.

We talk about:

Why Jacob and Esau’s rivalry reflects Israel vs. Edom

What Jacob’s wrestling match really says about the name "Israel"

How the story of Dinah might not be about justice at all

The subversive role of Tamar and why she’s called righteous

Why Joseph marrying an Egyptian priest’s daughter created tension later

And how Genesis closes by blessing tribes that already existed

These aren’t just ancient stories—they’re layered political texts that reveal how Israel saw itself and its neighbors. Join us as we read Genesis a little more historically, and a little more honestly.

Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email  [email protected]

Become a member and get:

1. Bonus episodes and aftershows

2. All full-length, ad-free episodes

3. Access to Heretical Together (our private community of 350+ listeners)

Become a member: almostheretical.com/premium

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Listen to the FULL episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/128901088

Listeners sent us 49 pages of questions and comments—and in this bonus episode, we tackle some of the best. We explore whether Paul’s theology rewrote the faith, how James and Paul define “salvation” differently, and why First Timothy might not even be Pauline. We also dive into whether Jesus really talked about hell more than heaven, what “saved through childbearing” could mean, and why Acts and Galatians paint two conflicting timelines of Paul’s journey.

Other highlights include:

Did Paul influence the Gospels?

Why doesn’t Paul quote Jesus?

Is Acts trying to legitimize Paul?

What even is Gehenna, and should we rethink hell?

Where do Nate and Shelby land with their own faith?

Plus, an honest conversation about community, politics, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and how to live together with deep differences.

Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email  [email protected]

Become a member and get:

1. Bonus episodes and aftershows

2. All full-length, ad-free episodes

3. Access to Heretical Together (our private community of 350+ listeners)

Become a member: almostheretical.com/premium

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→ Download the Practice Christianity Without Paul reflection booklet here (https://www.patreon.com/posts/jesus-faith-and-128319083)

→ Access the Paul-Free Church Statement of Faith (https://www.patreon.com/posts/church-statement-128321301)

What does it mean to be a Christian without Paul? In this series finale, we walk through five alternate paths the Jesus movement could have taken—and still can—without relying on Paul’s theology. From mystical wisdom to Jewish observance to political resistance, we explore practical ways to follow Jesus that aren’t rooted in Pauline doctrine. Nate and Shelby also unveil a brand new “Paul-Free” Statement of Faith and share a reflection booklet for premium members.

Paul Series:
Part 1 (https://www.patreon.com/posts/123045409)
Part 2 (https://www.patreon.com/posts/124165907)
Part 3 (https://www.patreon.com/posts/125186503)
Part 4 (https://www.patreon.com/posts/126248455)
Part 5 (https://www.patreon.com/posts/128318250)

Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email [email protected]

Chapters

00:00 Exploring the Existence of Paul and His Influence

12:06 Imagining Christianity Without Paul

22:28 The Ebionites and Early Christian Movements

23:26 Exploring Early Christian Beliefs

28:35 Potential Paths of Early Christianity

30:05 Modern Reflections on Following Jesus

37:36 Paths of Justice and Action

41:31 Reimagining Faith Without Paul

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This is a preview of one of our bonus episodes. To get the full bonus episode (37 minutes long), click here.

How did Paul’s teachings overshadow James’s vision for Christianity? Could a Paul-free faith have survived as a Jewish sect? Does the Didache reveal a Christianity untouched by Paul? Why do Paul’s words sometimes feel at odds with Jesus’? We also explore faith, works, and navigating today’s political divides.

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Bonus ep 1 - https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-what-is-123011688

Bonus ep 2 - https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-did-paul-125106095

Why does Paul’s voice dominate the New Testament? How did his letters become so central to Christian theology, and what happens when we begin to question that authority? Are all the Pauline epistles actually written by Paul? What if the Paul we know today is a constructed figure—reshaped by the church over time to fit emerging doctrines? And what about the voices that didn’t get amplified—texts like James or the Didache that present a very different version of the Jesus movement? Nate and Shel explore how canon formation, authorship debates, and theological evolution all intersect in the story of Paul, and why rethinking his role might change how we read the entire Bible. (Paul Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email  [email protected]

Become a member and get:

1. Bonus episodes and aftershows

2. All full-length, ad-free episodes

3. Access to Heretical Together (our private community of 350+ listeners)

Become a member: almostheretical.com/premium

Chapters

00:00 The Battle of the Texts

04:08 Paul's Authentic Letters

07:22 The Gospels and Their Influence

12:40 The Book of Acts: A Retrospective

28:25 The Jerusalem Movement's Legacy

29:19 The Jesus Movement vs. The Christ Movement

35:11 Understanding the Oral Tradition and Textual Limitations

41:23 The Impact of the Jewish-Roman War on Early Christianity

45:36 Exploring Alternative Early Christian Texts

48:20 The Canonization Process and Its Implications

53:31 Paul's Dominance in Early Christianity

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This is a preview of one of our bonus episodes. To get the full bonus episode (43 minutes long), click here.

Did Paul’s vision of Jesus redefine faith, or did James’ focus on works hold the truth? In this bonus episode, we tackle your burning questions about faith vs. works, Paul’s outsized role in Christianity, and what might have been if the Jesus movement prevailed. Join Nate and Shelby as they dive into listener debates, challenge assumptions, and rethink biblical narratives. Share your thoughts in the comments—what do you think Christianity would look like without Paul?

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