Mythologizing the Bible

Doing the right thing isn’t easy and it’s definitely not a solo project. Standing up, starting over, and asking for help might be the most courageous things you can do.

Have you ever felt like doing the right thing is supposed to be its own reward but then found yourself wondering why it still feels so hard to do the right thing… alone? Well, the stories we look at in this episode might help explain why it’s so much easier to work together.

Welcome to Mythologizing the Bible, where we’ll be taking a look at three readings from the Christian Bible through the lens of “sacred myth.”

As we reflect on the readings for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we’ll explore how myths about justice, forgiveness, and fresh starts can still teach us something deeply human, especially when we stop waiting on divine approval and start relying on each other.

In this episode, we’re asking: What happens when we stop treating goodness as a transaction and start living our values in community… together? Because the truth is, courage, compassion, and second chances aren’t solo acts. They’re built on relationships, connection, and the simple but powerful act of asking for help.

When is generosity genuine and when is it just a transaction? Are you being kind or keeping score? Maybe it’s time to think about the difference between intrinsic goodness and performative generosity. Maybe it’s time to get honest about our “why!”

Having a good balance between taking action and self-reflection is important. And at the heart of it is one main reason: we need to understand why we do what we do.

Our “why” shapes everything else.

Here’s a question that might feel a little bit uncomfortable: Why are you really doing that good thing? Is it because it aligns with your values and just feels right? Or… is it maybe more about the reward you hope to get or the punishment you’re trying to avoid?

Let me be clear form the start though: this is a “no judgment” zone. Seriously. This is not the place where I’m trying to call you out or pretend I’ve got it all figured out, because I certainly don’t. I’m still working on all of this and letting you come along for the ride.

This is where we reflect, grow, laugh at ourselves a little, and maybe even learn how to live with a little more clarity and intention. So grab a glass of your favorite beverage, get comfy, and let’s dig a little deeper together in search of our “why!”

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Are you running on autopilot? Are you being guided by habit, guilt, or fear? When we stop and take the time to discern our “why,” it can change how we live, love, and lead!

Have you ever noticed how religion often pressures people to act, but rarely gives them space to ask why? It tells us to serve, to sacrifice, to stay busy, yet barely encourages us to pause and reflect on what truly matters or why we’re doing any of it.

Welcome to Mythologizing the Bible, where we’ll be taking a look at three readings from the Christian Bible through the lens of “sacred myth.”

As we reflect on the readings for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we’ll explore the tension between action and reflection, between doing good and discerning what’s good, between blindly following orders and intentionally living out our values.

In this episode, we’re asking a simple but important question: What would it look like to live a life that’s not just full but a life that’s truly aligned? A life where our actions flow from thoughtful, personal values, and not from religious guilt, fear, or feelings of obligation.

CODA Project is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Does it feel like your religion is telling you to ignore your conscience and just “have faith” in the dogma? It’s time to reclaim your agency, trust your values, and think for yourself without fear of burning in hell for eternity!

Let’s be honest: we’ve all been there. Staring down a moment that calls for courage and compassion and instead of jumping in to help, we freeze or we look around to see if someone else will handle it. If we’ve grown up in or around religion, we’ve probably been taught that the answers to the most important questions about right and wrong can only come from ancient books, sacred traditions, or some guy in a robe who says he speaks for God.

So in this episode of Afterthoughts, we’re going to take a closer look at that pattern. Why do so many people hand over their agency to belief systems that were created centuries ago by folks who thought illness was caused by demons and that the Earth was the center of the universe?

And more importantly, how do we break that cycle? How do we reclaim our ability to think, feel, and discern for ourselves without guilt and without fear?

CODA Project is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

We don’t need a sign from heaven to do what’s right, we just need to care enough to start. Small acts of empathy can lead to big change.

Have you ever noticed how often people look for cosmic signs or divine permission before doing something they already know is the right thing to do? Whether it’s helping someone, speaking up, or choosing kindness over cruelty, we often act like we’re waiting for a voice from the clouds when what we really need is the courage to just begin.

Welcome to Mythologizing the Bible, where we’ll be taking a look at three readings from the Christian Bible through the lens of “sacred myth.”

As we reflect on the readings for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we’ll explore how empathy can become a powerful force when we stop overthinking and start showing up for one another, especially in partnership with others.

In this episode, we’re asking a couple simple questions: What if we didn’t need permission to care? What if the path to justice and healing isn’t revealed by signs and wonders, but by the people right in front of us, waiting to be seen and helped?

CODA Project is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

If religion isn’t helping build a better world, what is it doing, exactly? Maybe it’s time to take an honest look at why religion resists change and how we can build something better based on values, not authority.

When you look around at the headlines, the policies being pushed in the name of Jesus, and the glaring gaps between what faith communities say they value and what they actually do—you really have to ask: Where’s the positive impact? Where’s the healing? Where’s the courage to change what’s clearly not working?

In this episode, we’re asking what it would look like if care was more than a slogan. What would need to change—legally, politically, culturally—so that people doing good work are actually supported, not stretched thin or shoved aside? And, maybe most importantly, what role does organized religion play in this whole picture? Is it helping to build that world… or is it just getting in the way?

CODA Project is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

What if “loving your neighbor” was more than a slogan? Maybe it’s time to rethink what it means to love your neighbor and why actions must speak louder than prayers.

Have you ever noticed how often religious folks talk about “loving your neighbor” or “caring for others,” but then seem to stop short of actually doing it? They might offer thoughts and prayers, or share Bible verses online—but when it comes to fair wages, social programs, or standing up for immigrants and working-class families, suddenly the compassion just disappears.

Welcome to Mythologizing the Bible, where we’ll be taking a look at three readings from the Christian Bible through the lens of “sacred myth.”

As we reflect on the readings for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we’ll explore the gap between what religion preaches and what real care actually requires and what it might mean to reclaim those values in a way that makes a difference today.

In this episode, we’re tackling a hard but hopeful question: What would it look like to build a world where doing good work is actually rewarded, where positive change isn’t feared, and where care isn’t just a slogan but a shared, lived commitment? Because if that’s not what religion is working toward... then what exactly is it doing?

CODA Project is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

They shared a feast day—but not much else. When the Church’s two biggest saints had totally different visions for the future, what does it means for us today?

Why do Peter and Paul—two men who clearly didn’t always get along—share a feast day in the Catholic calendar? Yes, they are both considered giants of the early Christian movement, but their leadership styles, backgrounds, and theologies were wildly different. One was a fisherman who stumbled his way into leadership and never really stopped stumbling. The other was a highly educated Roman citizen who basically barged into the story after Jesus had already left the building, then proceeded to write half of what became the New Testament.

In this episode of Afterthoughts, we’re looking at those differences. More importantly, we’re going to discuss how those differences shaped the future of Christianity in ways most people have never been taught. The simple fact is that the version of Christianity we ended up with owes a lot more to Paul than to Peter. And that raises an interesting question: what might have happened if Paul had never joined the movement? What if Christianity had remained a small Jewish sect, led by folks like Peter and James, instead of becoming a global empire with Paul’s theology at the helm?

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What if true leadership isn’t about power or prestige—but about planting seeds and stepping aside? These ancient stories offer some surprisingly modern lessons.

Have you ever noticed how religious stories often celebrate dramatic rescues and lofty declarations but the real wisdom is buried in the quieter moments? Whether it’s a prison break credited to divine intervention or a final farewell speech that doubles as a self-congratulatory victory lap, these tales say a lot about what kind of leadership is admired… and what kind is actually needed.

Welcome to Mythologizing the Bible, where we’ll be taking a look at three readings from the Christian Bible through the lens of “sacred myth.”

As we reflect on the readings for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, we’ll discuss the tension between public image and private integrity, between the stories people tell about their greatness and the quieter values that make someone truly worth following.

In this episode, we’re asking a deeper question: What if the point of these stories isn’t to create larger-than-life heroes but to remind us that real leadership means making space for others to lead too? Because humility, legacy, and genuine service might not make headlines—but they do build a better world!

CODA Project is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Wrestling with faith, symbolism, and spiritual gatekeeping in the Catholic Church could lead to reclaiming rituals that still bring us together. We can start by asking, “Is it really Jesus… or just a cracker?”

Do you really believe that’s Jesus? Like, in the bread? On the plate? Do you picture him just chilling in the tabernacle all week, waiting to be eaten again?

It’s one of those questions that lives in the back of the mind for a lot of Catholics, but you’re not supposed to ask it out loud. It sounds disrespectful, which is exactly why we should ask it.

The Catholic Church teaches that during Mass, the bread and wine don’t just represent Jesus—they actually become his body and blood. It’s what they call transubstantiation. But if you ask most Catholics, they’ll likely say, “Yeah, no… it’s symbolic. Obviously.”

Why is that such a problem? If a huge percentage of Catholics don’t buy the official explanation, and they still show up, receive Communion, and try to be decent people… why does the Church get so bent out of shape about how they believe? Why does it matter so much that we all agree on this very specific, very supernatural point of doctrine? That’s what we’re going to explore in this episode of Afterthoughts. Because maybe this isn’t really about bread at all. Maybe—it’s about control.

CODA Project is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.