Description: 

Edward was a genius who taught himself Greek and Hebrew, yet he was one of the loneliest men alive. Why? Because he became a "Slave to Knowledge."

In this deep dive, we explore the danger of using intellect as a fortress against vulnerability. We distinguish between knowing about love and actually doing it. The journey takes a heartbreaking turn as Peter breaks down on the way to the hospital, crying out, "Why again?" This honest lament introduces us to the "Peace of Paradox"—the outstanding Christian ability to find joy in suffering and peace in uncertainty.

Finally, we tackle Thomas’s brilliant question: If God exists, why is He so hidden? The answer reframes the entire universe from a courtroom of evidence to a space of invitation.

In this episode:

• The Slavery of Knowledge: When being smart leaves you alone.
• Declarative vs. Procedural: Why you can't learn love from a book.
• The Honest Cry: Peter’s raw moment of fear in the car.
• Divine Hiddenness: Why God gives us space to choose Him.
• The Paralytic Man: Jesus meeting our deepest need first.

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Website: isitbecauseofjesus.com

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Description: 

"Do you think prayer works?" When Thomas finally asks this, Peter’s answer destroys the idea of God as a cosmic vending machine. But the hardest lesson comes from Lourdes, who confronts the two with a loving fury for trying to suffer in silence.

In this episode, we explore the "Great Cloud of Doubters"—from Abraham to the Apostle Peter—proving that Thomas is not unique in his skepticism. We also reach a pivotal turning point where Thomas stops deconstructing Christianity and starts critiquing his new alternative: Does atheism actually offer more certainty?

Finally, we turn the lens inward with the concept of "Motivated Reasoning," asking if our doubts are truly intellectual or just a shield for our pain, and find hope in Paul’s "thorn in the flesh."

In this episode:

• Transactional Prayer: Why treating God like a service provider destroys faith.
• The Cost of Isolation: Why we are not designed to doubt alone.
• The Cloud of Doubters: Normalizing the struggle through biblical history.
• Motivated Reasoning: Having the courage to question your own questions.
• Paul’s Thorn: When God’s power is revealed in our weakness.

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Description: 

Jim was a pastor until, in his view, the hypocrisy of the church regarding his sexuality drove him away. His pain is real, but is his logic sound?

In this episode, we analyze the story of Jim to understand "Overgeneralization"—the dangerous mental leap where we let the failures of Jesus's followers discredit Jesus himself. We look at Jim's embrace of atheism not just as a philosophy, but as a "Reaction Formation"—a psychological defense mechanism to protect himself from judgment.

We also witness a beautiful moment where Jim, acting as an artist, sees Lourdes with perfect clarity, contrasting with the biased lens he uses to view his former faith. Finally, we ask the hard question about "Motivated Reasoning": Did Jim find the truth, or did he find the arguments necessary to solve his pain?

In this episode:

• Overgeneralization: Blaming the Founder for the flaws of the followers.
• Reaction Formation: Why we swing to the opposite extreme to feel safe.
• Emotional Reasoning: When "what feels good" becomes "what is true."
• Motivated Reasoning: Searching for evidence to back up a breakup.
• Zacchaeus: How Jesus refuses to play our psychological games.

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Description: 

Thomas finally asks the question he's been dreading: What are the pills for? The answer changes everything. Peter confesses that his tumor is back, shattering the myth of the "fearless believer" and revealing the terrifying reality that faith doesn't always take away the pain.

In this emotional episode, we witness two friends on a trail facing the void together. We explore the "Ministry of Presence"—why silence is often the only prayer we need—and the moment Thomas, the skeptic, accidentally prays when his friend collapses. We also decode a text message from Sofía that changes the entire dynamic of doubt: “I am not afraid of your questions, I am afraid to lose you because of them.”

Join host Pedro R. García as we move from the Garden of Gethsemane to the hiking trail, discovering that trust is not the absence of fear, but the choice we make in the middle of it.

In this episode:

• The Confession: Peter admits he is terrified of dying.
• Spiritual Muscle Memory: Why Thomas prays when he stops thinking.
• Transactional vs. Relational Prayer: Are you treating God like a vending machine?
• Sofía’s Text: Separating the fear of questions from the fear of abandonment.
• Gethsemane: Jesus, anxiety, and the permission to be human.

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Buy the book.

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Support the show on Patreon.

Description: 

Thomas wants to debate the age of the universe. Peter wants to talk about real life. But why is Thomas so eager to jump into an intellectual argument immediately after hearing a heartbreaking story about death?

In this episode, we expose the defense mechanism of "Intellectualization"—how we use logic to protect ourselves from the messy reality of grief. We listen to the tragic origin story of "The Shire" coffee shop and witness a tense showdown where Thomas slams a bottle of depression medication onto the table, demanding answers from Peter.

Finally, we see how Jesus handles our hidden secrets through the story of the Woman at the Well, proving that being fully known is not the end of our life, but the beginning of grace.

In this episode:

• Vicarious Grief: How other people's pain forces us to face our own.
• Intellectualization: Using science debates to avoid a broken heart.
• "Can't" vs. "Don't Want To": A crucial lesson in empathy for relationships.
• The Antidepressants: The shattering of the "perfect Christian" image.
• Romans 12 & John 4: Testing faith through obedience and being seen by Jesus.

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Description: 

Landon enters the story not with questions, but with accusations. He calls his sister "pathetic" and mocks Peter's faith. But is this intellectual superiority, or is it a shield?

In this volatile episode, we deconstruct the "Fortress of Cynicism." We watch as a barista’s innocent comment shatters Landon's defenses, revealing that his war against God is actually a war against his own grief over his father's death. But Landon isn't the only one hiding something.

When Peter snaps, losing his patience and dropping a bottle of depression medication, the illusion of the "perfect believer" is destroyed. We explore the reality that faith is not a cure-all for mental health, and look at how Jesus's anger in the temple gives us permission to feel deeply.

In this episode:

• Antagonism as Defense: Why some people attack rather than listen.
• The Innocent Trigger: How grief wears the mask of anger.
• The "Horrible" Bible: Why Peter agrees that Scripture is dark, and why that’s a good thing.
• The Pills: The shocking discovery that Peter is battling depression.

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Website: isitbecauseofjesus.com

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Description: 

Thomas finally confesses his doubt to his fiancée, Sofía, and the result is catastrophic: she leaves him. But why?

In this episode, we unpack the psychology behind Sofía’s reaction, introducing the concept of "Traumatic Transference." We explore how one person's doubt can trigger another person's deepest abandonment wounds. But we don't stop there. We ask the hard question: Is your doubt actually intellectual, or is it emotional pain wearing a disguise?

Join host Pedro R. García as we dig into the "Intellectual Façade," the raw protest of the Problem of Evil, and the vulnerable admission that even the strongest faith can be rooted in a fear of death.

In this episode:

• Traumatic Transference: Why we punish others for our past wounds.
• The Intellectual Shield: Using logic to hide grief and trauma.
• The Fear of Death: Peter’s honest confession about why he believes.
• The Weeping God: Why Jesus suffering with us changes everything.

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Buy the book.

Website: isitbecauseofjesus.com

Support the show on Patreon.

Description: 

What happens when you finally whisper the words, "I don’t think I believe anymore"?

In this episode, we dissect the terrifying moment of confessing doubt to a friend. We explore the fear of "relational rupture"—the deep anxiety that losing your faith means losing your loved ones. Through the story of Thomas and Peter, we look at how to react when a friend confesses doubt, not with judgment, but with the radical affirmation: "I am proud of you."

We also tackle the crisis of "Borrowed Faith," the difference between doubting away from God versus doubting toward Him, and ultimately, how Jesus responds to our skepticism not with a lecture, but with an invitation to touch His wounds.

In this episode:

• Overcoming the fear of rejection.
• Why realized your faith is "borrowed" is actually a good thing.
• How to protect your relationships while deconstructing.
• Jesus and the Apostle Thomas: A model for safe skepticism.

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Buy the book.

Website: isitbecauseofjesus.com

Support the show on Patreon.

Intro episode.

Are you a Christian who is doubting, deconstructing, or feeling your faith slip away? You are not alone.

I’m Pedro R. García, author of the novel For Those Who Doubt: Is It Because of Jesus? I wrote this book to help you engage with the ultimate question: Is it because of Jesus?

As a former atheist turned follower of Jesus, I’ve spent years talking with people on both sides of the aisle to understand what makes us doubt, leave, or embrace the faith. In this podcast, we’ll explore the psychology of doubt, the complexities of human emotion, and the hard questions of theology. Ultimately, we will look at everything through the eyes of Jesus—because He is the one who changes everything.

Connect with me:

Email me: [email protected]

Buy the book.

Website: isitbecauseofjesus.com

Support the show on Patreon.