Mythologizing the Bible

What happens when a shared meal becomes a spiritual transaction? Ancient stories about bread and wine became a theology of exclusion, but what if we reclaim the table for everyone?

Have you ever noticed how often rituals get turned into gatekeeping tools? What starts as a shared moment of memory or meaning can slowly become a system of judgment, where only the “worthy” are allowed in and the rest are left outside.

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 Feast of Corpus Christi, we’ll explore the tension between belonging and exclusion, and between the symbolic power of ritual and the theological dogma that can drain that power of its underlying meaning.

In this episode, we’re asking an honest question: What happens when we stop defending supernatural claims and instead focus on the human values these stories can teach? Because maybe what makes a ritual sacred isn’t what we believe happens to the bread—but what we’re willing to do for one another once the meal is over.

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What if the Spirit is still speaking but we’re too busy defending our dogma to listen? This week, we trade certainty for curiosity and control for connection.

Wisdom isn’t about being right all the time. It’s about growing. It’s about seeing new things, asking better questions, and letting go of that anxious need to cling to certainty. Not knowing everything, but being willing to learn.

You’d think that institutions built on ideas like faith, growth, and spiritual transformation would be really into evolving. But oddly enough, they tend to turn into the places that fear change the most.

Instead of looking for fresh insight or paying attention to how humanity has matured over time, many religious folks double down on ancient interpretations. They claim to be led by the Spirit, but only if the Spirit agrees not to contradict anything written down 1,600 years ago or more.

Are they really listening to the spirit behind the messages? Or are they just plugging their ears and pretending they already know it all?

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What if real wisdom isn’t about knowing everything? What if it’s about learning how to grow, care, and stay curious? Let’s think about how we become wise.

Have you ever noticed how some people treat certainty like a badge of honor? As if acting like you have all the answers is more important than asking the right questions? But what if real wisdom isn’t about clinging to fixed beliefs? What if real wisdom is about staying curious, staying humble, and learning how to grow?

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.”

In this episode, we’re looking at three readings traditionally used to teach about the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). But instead of focusing on theological doctrine, we’re digging into what these stories reveal about wisdom: how it delights in life, how it grows through struggle, and how it shows up in the way we care for each other. We’ll talk about how rigid thinking shuts down progress, why the “spirit” of something matters more than its rules, and why we all need to rethink what it really means to be wise!

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We don’t need to make up supernatural tall tales—but we do need to tell powerful, true stories. Maybe it’s about time we talk about how “origin myths” shape movements and what we can learn from that!

The Pentecost story is, without question, one of the most dramatic and influential origin myths in Western history. We’ve got a frightened group of disciples, a sudden whoosh of wind, tongues of fire dancing above their heads, and everyone suddenly speaking in different languages—but somehow all understanding each other. That story has inspired generations. Artists painted it, preachers shouted it, and believers clung to it as the beginning of something big. Because it is kinda compelling. It doesn’t just report an event—it sparks imagination. And it feels important.

That’s what myth does at its best. It gives shape to values. It makes abstract ideas tangible. And most importantly, it stirs emotions. Myth, art, and story are the emotional scaffolding of every powerful movement—whether it’s religious, political, or cultural. You want people to believe in something bigger than themselves? Start with a fantastic story.

Now, here’s the catch for us. We’re not here to spin yarns and create tall tales. We’re here to share the truth. Real stories. Rooted in real people, real experiences, and real struggles. The kind that don’t need fire from heaven to catch fire in your heart.

And if we want to build a movement that actually inspires change—especially during this chaotic moment in history—we need to get really good at telling those stories.

Here are my tips for telling a more compelling story:

* Be specific.

* Start with a moment.

* End with meaning.

* Match your tone to your audience and your message.

Because telling a great true story is an art. But it’s an art we can learn. And when we get it right? That’s when things start to shift. That’s when hearts open, minds change, and movements take root!

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What if the real miracle of Pentecost isn’t about tongues of fire, but the power of clarity, connection, and compassion in a world full of noise?

Have you ever noticed how the loudest voices often say the least? These days, it’s easy to feel like we’re drowning in noise—half-truths, hot takes, and hollow outrage. But real connection? That takes clarity, courage, and compassion.

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.”

In this episode, we’ll look at the readings from Pentecost Sunday and explore stories that are often treated as literal miracles but carry a much more grounded message when we step back. We’ll talk about what it really means to communicate with understanding, how our strengths can be used to lift others up, and why forgiveness isn’t just a virtue—it’s a survival skill. If we want to build a world that’s more whole, more kind, and more human, we have to start acting like we actually belong to one another!

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

What does it actually mean to be wise—and how do we get there? It might be helpful to break down the everyday habits that help us grow in wisdom, from asking better questions to showing up with compassion. Because let’s face it: the world doesn’t need more know-it-alls—it needs more wise ones!

Wisdom sometimes gets lumped in with intelligence and knowledge, but they’re not the same thing. Knowledge is more about information and intelligence is your ability to process that knowledge. But wisdom? Wisdom is understanding what those facts mean, why they’re important (or not), and what you should do with your knowledge.

The good news is that wisdom isn’t just something you either have or don’t have. It’s a skill. It can be learned, practiced, and strengthened over time. Of course, age alone does NOT grant you wisdom. (If it did, the U.S. Senate would be a shrine of enlightenment, and the current President wouldn’t be blathering on like your drunk uncle at the family reunion.)

In main MTB Episode this week, “The Ascension isn’t about floating up—it's about STEPPING up!”, we discussed how wisdom, insight, and hope can be tools to build something better. Not someday. Not after a miracle. And certainly not after you’re dead. Right now. But that kind of meaningful progress doesn’t happen by accident. It takes real discernment. It takes thoughtful action, and, you guessed it—it takes wisdom.

So in this episode of Afterthoughts, we’re going to unpack how we actually develop wisdom, one habit, one insight, one facepalm-worthy mistake at a time!

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Still staring at the sky? This episode challenges us to stop waiting for miracles and start building a better world—one grounded in wisdom, hope, and justice.

What if the sky isn’t the limit—but rather a distraction? People have always faced limitations in what they envision because of what they assume to be true or unchangeable. The early Christians imagined Jesus ascending into the sky because they assumed that was the limit… and, just like them, we’re limited by what we think we know.

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.”

In this episode, we’ll explore the story of the Ascension—not as a supernatural event, but as a myth that masks a far more practical challenge: stop waiting for miracles and start building something better. The apostles were left staring at the clouds, hoping for more divine fireworks, but the real message was already clear. The work wasn’t done. It was just beginning.

Together, we’ll unpack the dangerous appeal of religious authority, the emptiness of blind obedience, and then look at the power of purpose rooted in values—not dogma. Because in the end, this story isn’t about Jesus flying away. It’s about what we choose to do once the spectacle fades!

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

Billionaires shouldn’t exist. Why? Because hoarding obscene wealth while millions suffer isn’t just unethical and inhumane—it’s un-Christian!

In this bonus episode of “Afterthoughts,” we’re diving into a topic that’s bound to ruffle a few feathers… and that’s my belief that billionaires shouldn’t be allowed to exist. I’m certainly not the first person to float that idea but it’s still a fairly bold statement, especially in this country, where we idolize—or at least obsess over—anyone with obscene amounts of wealth. My belief isn’t about envy or jealousy, and it’s certainly not about punishing someone for hard work. It’s about justice, fairness, and the collective good.

What happens when the values our society actually rewards are greed instead of generosity and hoarding instead of sharing?

During this episode, I’d like you to keep this question in mind: What does it say about our society when a few people hoard more wealth than they could ever possibly spend while millions of other hard working people are trying to figure out if they’ll be able to afford groceries and gas this month?

But this is about more than just money—it’s about what kind of world we want to live in and what kind of values we’re passing on to the next generation. In fact, if we keep celebrating billionaires as admirable “self-made” success stories, we’re sending exactly the wrong message.

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Why wait for heaven when we can create a better world now? Let’s focus on building hope and justice that doesn’t require divine intervention!

This week, we’re looking at the origins of Christianity and asking a pretty straightforward but often overlooked question: What was it that actually drew people to it in the first place?

Spoiler alert: It wasn’t all of the convoluted mythology.

In all likelihood, it was simply the promise of a better life after death. That promise would’ve been extremely appealing to folks living under brutal Roman rule. When your life is filled with suffering and oppression, the idea of heavenly reward can feel like a lifeline. But what if we stopped dangling that far-off reward and started asking ourselves a different question?

What would it look like if we stopped promising people that things will get better in some magical, mystical afterlife and started building a better life for everyone today—on earth? What if we took the best values that people were allegedly drawn to in the early days of Christianity—compassion, justice, shared resources—and used those values to reimagine society?

So that’s our big question for today: What would a values-based, humanistic society look like if we designed it to uplift everyone, not just the privileged few? And what would it take to make that vision a reality?

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The best values aren’t locked away in sacred texts—they’re lived every day. How can we focus on what really matters and pass it on? Let’s dive into that!

Have you ever noticed how the most important things in life aren’t tied to any one place or moment? It’s easy to think that meaning is locked away in holy books or ancient traditions, but what if it’s actually all around us—waiting to be noticed, lived, and shared with others?

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

In this episode, we’re exploring the messages and lessons in Biblical passages that remind us to look beyond the supernatural claims and focus on the real-world impact of our values and ideals. We’ll explore how discernment and critical thinking can lead to decisions that benefit the most people, why the things that truly matter are important everywhere—not just in temples or cathedrals—and how our values can live on long after we’re gone, carried forward in the lives we touch.

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