Mythologizing the Bible

Have you ever noticed how easily powerful symbols can override critical thinking? Whether it’s a red hat with white text, a religious relic, or even the image of an empty tomb, symbols grab our emotions and tell us what to feel before we’ve even had a chance to think. And then, when people stop asking questions—when they accept fantastic claims just because they’ve been told to—it gets harder to separate truth from myth, and healthy faith from harmful manipulation.

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 Easter Sunday, we’re going to look beyond the supernatural claim that Jesus rose from the dead and ask a more important question: Why is that story so powerful—and how is it being used today?

In this episode, we’ll talk about the emotional pull of symbols, the importance of staying grounded in our values, and the critical role that evidence and reason have to play in shaping our beliefs—especially in a world where facts are constantly under attack.

So let’s dig in. Let’s think more deeply about the stories we’ve inherited. Let’s stay alert to the ways we’re influenced by emotion, culture, and symbolism. Because if we want to build a better world, we can’t do it with slogans and superstition—we need clarity, compassion, and critical thinking.

Thanks for reading CODA Project! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is my favorite part of these weekly presentations because it gives me a chance to dig a little deeper into something that came up during the main episode.

Now, during this week’s main episode, looking at the readings for Palm Sunday, we talked about what it means to stand up for truth and justice—not just in theory, but in the real, messy, everyday kind of way. And in that same spirit, we’re going to spend this Afterthoughts segment doing what might feel a little uncomfortable at first: we’re going to take a closer look at the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ suffering and death.

Now, if you grew up being told that the Bible is one big, seamless narrative—divinely inspired, historically accurate, and totally consistent—you might be in for a surprise. Because when we slow down and compare the Gospels, the details don’t always match. And no, I’m not just being picky. The differences aren’t minor. They’re meaningful. And they tell us something important—not about Jesus the man, but about the messages the authors were trying to get across to their specific audiences.

And look, this isn’t about debunking anyone’s faith. I’m not here to tell you what you should or shouldn’t believe. But I do think it’s important—especially in times like these—that we learn how to engage with sacred texts honestly and thoughtfully. These are ancient stories. They were crafted with intention. And we are absolutely allowed—no, scratch that—we are encouraged to explore them through a mythological lens. Because when we do, we start to see something deeper. Something that’s less about historical fact and more about human experience, cultural context, and timeless values.

So let’s dive in and see what these different Gospel versions of the Passion narrative can teach us—not just about Jesus, but about the people who wrote these stories, the people they were written for… and maybe even ourselves!

Thanks for reading CODA Project! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to spot injustice—and yet still feel powerless to stop it? From the quiet dignity of Isaiah’s suffering servant, to Paul’s call for humble leadership, to the Gospel’s brutal retelling of a man unjustly executed while his followers watched from a distance… these stories aren’t just ancient—they’re timeless. And they remind us that silence, even from good people, can carry very real consequences.

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 Palm Sunday (or Passion Sunday), we’re going to look beyond the traditional Christian narrative to uncover a few lessons that should resonate with all of us, regardless of our religious background… or lack thereof.

In this episode, we’re looking at what it really means to stand up for our values—and how to do it with both strength and humility. These ancient stories have been used to justify everything from sacrifice to supremacy, but we’re asking a different question: What do they reveal about the responsibility of everyday people to speak up, take action, and lead with integrity—even when it’s hard?

So, let’s dig into that. Let’s challenge old assumptions. Let’s re-examine these stories and reflect on what it really takes to confront injustice—without becoming unjust ourselves!

Thanks for reading CODA Project! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is my favorite part of these weekly presentations because it gives me a chance to dig a little deeper into something that came up during the main episode.

In this week’s main episode, we talked a lot about the importance of choosing your values on purpose—not just inheriting them and assuming they’re right. And that got us thinking about a bigger question that’s honestly kind of unsettling if you sit with it for too long: How much of what you believe is truly yours? Like, did you choose it… or did it just kind of happen to you?

Now, let’s be real—none of us popped out of the womb with a fully formed moral framework and a carefully considered worldview. We absorb a lot from our surroundings without even realizing it. Culture, religion, family, society—all of it hands us a set of ideas… before we even know how to spell the word “idea.” And to be fair, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It gives us a framework to function in a very complicated world. Imagine trying to figure out everything from scratch. No, thanks!

But here’s the deal: those inherited beliefs are only meant to be a starting point—not a final destination. At some point, we have to pause and ask, “Do these beliefs still serve me? Are they even mine? And do they line up with who I want to be?”

That’s what we’re digging into today—as Carl Jung would say, how to start making the unconscious conscious. Not in some spooky, late-night Ouija Board kind of way, but in a grounded, real-life way that can help us build a values-based life that actually makes sense.

Thanks for reading CODA Project! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to focus on what’s happening around us and totally lose sight of what’s happening inside us? Whether it’s Isaiah urging people to forget the past, Paul fixating on some eternal prize, or Jesus confronting a crowd ready to pass judgment, this week’s readings all point toward the same quiet but powerful truth: real change begins within. Our values—more than our stuff, more than our history, more than our flaws—are what guide us forward.

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 5th Sunday in Lent, we’re going to look beyond the traditional Christian narrative to uncover a few lessons that should resonate with all of us, regardless of our religious background… or lack thereof.

In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between being grounded and being reactive. We’ll explore how ancient stories challenge us to let go of guilt, release distractions, and live from our values instead of our fears. Because when we stop trying to be perfect and start trying to be real, we create space for a better future—not just for ourselves, but for the people around us too.

So let’s dig in. Let’s question what we’ve been told. Let’s re-examine these stories and find a way forward that actually makes sense. Because if we want a better world, we can’t keep looking backward—we’ve got to start building something new from the inside out!

Thanks for reading CODA Project! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is my favorite part of these weekly presentations because it gives me a chance to dig a little deeper into something that came up during the main episode.

In the main presentation, we looked at forgiveness and reconciliation—how real healing depends on understanding the whole story, extending forgiveness when possible, and building something new together. And if that all sounds a little too idealistic for the times we’re living in… well, you’re not wrong. It’s one thing to talk about forgiveness when the wounds are accidental or even mutual. But what do we do when the harm is deliberate? When the people causing it don’t show any signs of stopping—or repenting?

Let’s just name it plainly: Donald Trump is back in office. Elon Musk is heading a shadow department—the DOGE, which somehow sounds both ridiculous and terrifying at the same time. Thousands of Federal workers have been fired. Agencies are being dismantled. Courts are being ignored. Congress isn’t stepping in. And many of the people we love—our neighbors, family members, even friends—are cheering it all on. These aren’t abstract harms. They’re real, they’re happening now, and they’re not just policy disagreements. They’re attacks on democracy, justice, and basic human dignity.

So, what does forgiveness look like in a time like this? Is it even possible? Can we reconcile with people who support this kind of destruction—or do we need to start thinking about boundaries instead of bridges?

That’s what we’re going to explore together in this Afterthoughts session. Not because I have a nice and clean, easy answer—but because this is real life, and real life is messy. We’re going to sit in the discomfort, try to unpack the complexity a bit, and then ask what our response might look like—not just to move forward—but to do it in a way that keeps our values intact, while also keeping our hearts from hardening, and keeping our heads clear.

Thanks for reading CODA Project! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Have you ever noticed how often people skip over the messy parts of a story—especially when that story is being used to justify power or control? Whether it’s a feel-good celebration that hides a history of violence, or a parable that leaves out the pain leading up to the moment of forgiveness, half the story often gets left behind. But if we only tell the clean version, we miss the chance to really understand each other—and we miss the chance to actually heal.

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 4th Sunday in Lent, we’re going to look beyond the traditional Christian narrative to uncover a few lessons that should resonate with all of us, regardless of our religious background… or lack thereof.

In this episode, we’re digging into what it really takes to forgive and reconcile. We’ll explore why it’s not enough to just move on or say “it’s okay,” and we’ll look at how true reconciliation starts with hearing the full story—especially the parts that are uncomfortable. Because when we take the time to understand each other fully, we open the door to fresh starts that actually mean something!

So let’s dig in. Let’s question what we’ve been told. Let’s re-examine these stories and find a way forward that actually makes sense. Because if we want reconciliation to be real, we’ve got to be willing to hear the whole story.

Thanks for reading CODA Project! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is one of my favorite parts of these weekly presentations because it gives us a chance to dig a little deeper, connect the dots, and really challenge ourselves to think critically about what we discussed during the main episode.

In today’s main episode, we spent a lot of time discussing how religious texts—while often used as moral authorities—are vague, mysterious, and full of contradictions. And that brings up a big, unavoidable question: If we don’t rely on religious doctrine, how do we determine what’s good?

If you grew up in a religious environment, you probably heard some version of “Without God, how can anyone be moral?” Maybe you’ve even had someone ask you this point-blank, with a look of deep concern, as if rejecting religious dogma means you’re about to start looting convenience stores. But that’s simply not how morality works.

The truth is, morality doesn’t have to come from religion. In fact, most of the values that people hold dear—kindness, fairness, justice, honesty—existed long before organized religions wrote them down. These principles weren’t divinely dictated; they were figured out through human experience, trial and error, and basic logic.

And that’s what we’re diving into today. If we’re not looking to supernatural commandments, how do we build an ethical framework that actually works in the real world? What makes a value good? And how can we use reason and evidence to figure it out?

By the end of this conversation, I hope you’ll have a clearer understanding of how to shape your own values with confidence—without needing to reference ancient religious texts or supernatural beliefs. But this isn’t just a philosophical exercise. This is about building a values system that actually makes a difference, that helps us make better choices, and that improves the world we live in. Because if we can’t point to a divine rulebook, we need to be even more intentional about the way we live our lives.

Thanks for reading CODA Project! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Have you ever noticed how often religious leaders use mystery and fear to control people? Whether it’s a burning bush speaking in riddles, Paul twisting history to serve his message, or Jesus using parables to shift people’s perspectives, the stories we hear shape the way we think—and they also shape the way we lead. But what if leadership isn’t about control? What if real leadership is about clarity, care, and creating space for growth?

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 3rd Sunday in Lent, we’re going to look beyond the traditional Christian narrative to uncover a few lessons that should resonate with all of us, regardless of our religious background… or lack thereof.

In this episode we’re looking at the difference between leadership that nurtures and leadership that dominates. We’ll explore how ancient stories—whether about Moses, Paul, or Jesus—have been used to either inspire or manipulate, and what that means for us today. Because when we strip away the supernatural and the fear-based messaging, what’s left is a simple truth: the best way to live—and to lead—is through clarity, kindness, and care.

So let’s dig in. Let’s question what we’ve been told. Let’s re-examine these stories and find a way forward that actually makes sense. Because life isn’t supposed to be a confusing riddle, and leadership isn’t supposed to be about fear. If we want a better world, we have to start by leading in a better way.

Thanks for reading CODA Project! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is one of my favorite parts of these weekly presentations because it gives us a chance to dig a little deeper, connect the dots, and really challenge ourselves to think critically about what we discussed during the main episode.

In today’s main episode, we talked about how stories and leadership shape the way people think and act. We explored how narratives—whether in ancient texts or modern politics—are powerful tools for shaping culture, guiding movements, and sometimes, manipulating people into following dangerous ideologies.

Now, let’s be honest—many of us are feeling frustrated right now. We see the rise of religious extremism, the spread of conspiracy theories, and the way certain groups twist faith to justify exclusion, control, and even outright harm. And what’s worse? It’s working. These movements are gaining power, shaping laws, and influencing public policy. And that’s terrifying because many of the things they advocate for directly threaten democracy, human rights, and even basic decency.

So here’s the big question: We know what we’re against. But what are we for?

How do we push back against extremism without becoming reactionary ourselves? How do we resist without playing the same game—without resorting to anger, fear-mongering, or the same divisive, us-versus-them thinking?

Because, let’s be real—extremist movements thrive on reaction. They want opposition to be loud, emotional, and easily dismissed because it reinforces their narrative of being persecuted truth-tellers. If we just fight fire with fire, we’ll never get anywhere.

So that’s what we’re going to explore in this Afterthoughts session. This isn’t just about fighting back—it’s about building something better.

We’re going to talk about how a single person—yes, you—can help lay the groundwork for a movement rooted in reason, compassion, and ethical leadership. Because change doesn’t start with grand, sweeping actions. It starts small. It starts with how we communicate, how we lead, and how we model the values we actually want to see in the world.

So, let’s get into it. How do we push back without pushing people further away? How do we resist extremism without mirroring its worst qualities? And how do we start building something that can actually last? Let’s talk about it.

Thanks for reading CODA Project! This post is public so feel free to share it.