Mythologizing the Bible

In a time of fear, division, and rising authoritarianism, these readings remind us that darkness isn’t dispelled by power or waiting. Darkness is challenged when ordinary people resist oppression and act together. This episode explores courage, cooperation, and the hard work of letting go of tribal loyalties to build something more humane, resilient, and hopeful.

Have you ever noticed how often, in moments of fear and uncertainty, people look for someone else to fix things. Someone powerful, decisive, even ruthless? Darkness has a way of making us desperate for authority, even when that authority ends up doing more harm than good.

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 Ordinary Time, we’ll explore what these stories say about living in dark times, resisting oppression, and rediscovering the power of ordinary people acting together rather than fragmenting into tribes.

In this episode, we’re asking a tough question: When the world feels like it’s unraveling, do we wait for someone else to save us? Or do we have the courage to step forward, let go of our familiar comforts, and work together to create something better?

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The idea of global cooperation might seem naïve at first glance but it’s not. It’s necessary. And like so many other challenging issues, there are several common pushbacks people offer when it comes to this idea… pushbacks like nationalism, competition, immigration, and isolationism. But the fact is that these fear-driven narratives and information silos aren’t protecting us, they’re pushing us toward fragility instead of strength. Our focus should be on outcomes, a bit of self-interest, and whether or not we’re willing to face reality!

The statement I made when summing up the lessons from the three readings in this week’s main episode, Humanity First, will probably trigger a lot of eye-rolling from otherwise decent people. That line was this: Cooperation, kindness, and responsibility at a global scale aren’t naïve ideals—they’re the ethical foundation of a much better future.

A lot of folks hear that and think, Sure. Sounds nice. Completely unrealistic.

But let me be even more blunt than usual. Instead of soft-pedaling this, I want to do the opposite. I want to take the most common objections seriously and then dismantle them. Not with slogans or memes. Not with moral posturing. Not even with Bible verses. But with logic, history, and verifiable outcomes.

Because if we’re going to claim we value reason, realism, and results, then we need to follow those principles where they actually lead.

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We are all citizens of a shared world, whether we like it or not. Moving beyond tribal loyalties and narrow identities, these ancient texts invite us to expand our sense of purpose. When we look beyond the supernatural framing, these readings challenge us to recognize equal human dignity everywhere and take responsibility for human flourishing on a global scale, especially in a time when fear and division are pulling us inward.

Have you ever noticed how often we’re encouraged to think small about our responsibilities, our loyalties, and who we’re supposed to care about? Sometimes it’s framed as realism or tradition, but underneath it all is a quieter message: focus on your own people, your own problems, and let the rest of the world sort itself out.

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 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, we’ll explore what these stories suggest when we strip away religious boundaries and focus instead on shared human dignity, global responsibility, and what it means to live as citizens of a deeply interconnected world.

In this episode, we’re asking an honest question: What if purpose, morality, and responsibility don’t stop at the edge of our tribe or nation? And what would change if we actually lived like that were true?

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When we dig below the surface of the Bible readings we discussed this week, we see that these scriptures confront three forces that are shaping our current moment: exemption, obedience, and waiting. Taken together, these three things explain why harm persists, and why living an exemplary life today means refusing special treatment, rejecting blind compliance, and taking responsibility now instead of trusting that time or institutions will save us!

An exemplary life does not ask for exemptions, does not confuse obedience with virtue, and does not wait while harm continues.

That’s a hard message. When you really think about it, you might get a little uncomfortable. Because this message cuts against almost everything we’re being encouraged to do right now… politically, religiously, and culturally.

So I want to take some time to pull that apart into three movements. Think of this as a three-act story: Exemption. Obedience. Waiting. And then we’ll talk about what it actually means to live an exemplary life when the stakes are real.

So, let’s dive into that… in this episode of Afterthoughts!

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An exemplary life is one rooted in responsibility, solidarity, and ethical action rather than belief, obedience, or waiting for divine rescue. Stripped of supernatural framing, these ancient texts challenge us to show up, reject exemption and domination, and model the change we keep hoping someone else will deliver.

Have you ever noticed how often we’re told to wait? Wait for things to change, wait for permission, wait for someone else to fix what’s broken. Sometimes that waiting is wrapped in religious language about divine plans or being chosen, but underneath it all is a quieter message: don’t rock the boat, don’t ask too much, and definitely don’t act like responsibility belongs to you.

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 Baptism of the Lord, we’ll explore what these ancient stories say when you strip away supernatural spectacle and focus instead on ethical responsibility, shared standards, and what it really means to live an exemplary life.

In this episode, we’re asking an honest question: What if the highest calling isn’t obedience or belief? What if the highest calling is showing up, standing in solidarity with others, and modeling the change we keep hoping someone else will bring?

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

The Feast of the Epiphany is a story about outsiders recognizing truth while insiders cling to fear and power. In this episode, we explore how Christianity built an “us vs. them” worldview and how the Epiphany narrative quietly disrupts that whole system. When we follow the light of curiosity and inclusion instead of fear, we reclaim the very values these ancient stories were meant to teach!

Here is something we don’t usually associate with Christmas or the Epiphany: the idea that Christianity (yes, the religion built around “love your neighbor”) became one of the most powerful engines in human history for dividing the world into us and them. But here’s the strange part: the readings for the Epiphany actually undermine that whole mindset. They break the pattern.

The readings for the Epiphany of the Lord are about light shining on everyone, truth revealed to outsiders, and a world where belonging isn’t limited to one tribe. Yet, when we look at Christianity today, especially the loud, political forms of it, we see the opposite. They’re all about gatekeeping. Drawing lines. Policing identities. Deciding who’s in, who’s out, who’s worthy, and who God allegedly hates this week.

The irony is… the very stories they quote to justify exclusion are the same ones that say the outsiders get it first.

So, let’s dive into that… in this episode of Afterthoughts!

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Epiphany’s readings are full of light, journey, and discovery but their deepest lessons aren’t supernatural. They remind us that becoming a guiding light for others requires strong values, courageous truth-seeking, and a commitment to building communities where differences are welcomed rather than feared. This episode explores how these ancient stories still call us to shine more brightly today.

Have you ever noticed how stories about light and revelation often get used to draw hard lines between who supposedly has “the truth” and who doesn’t? As if illumination is something granted to a select few rather than something we can all pursue through curiosity, courage, and honest reflection. The irony is that some of the most mythological parts of the Bible (the parts about stars, visions, and mysterious guidance) actually point toward something far more grounded: the human struggle to seek understanding, to welcome people who are different from us, and to become the kind of example that helps others find their way.

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 Epiphany of the Lord, we’ll explore how these ancient stories invite us to shine more brightly in the world, stay committed to the pursuit of truth, and build communities where differences aren’t threats but strengths.

In this episode, we’re asking an honest question: What does it take to become the kind of person and the kind of community whose light actually helps others grow, instead of trying to control or diminish them?

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

“Born again” is a phrase often claimed by religion, but the longing underneath it—renewal, growth, a fresh start—is completely human. In this bonus episode, we peel away the supernatural framing to explore how real transformation happens, why it’s messy and powerful, and how the New Year offers the perfect moment to choose a grounded, secular kind of rebirth!

Let’s talk about one of the most overused, misunderstood, and (honestly) mis-marketed phrases in all of Christianity: being born again. We’ve all heard it. Some of us grew up surrounded by it. And for a lot of people, it’s treated like a spiritual membership badge. You say a prayer, cry a little, maybe fall backward into someone’s arms, and boom… you’re “born again.”

New identity unlocked. Achievement badge earned. (Not really.)

But what does “born again” even mean? What is this “rebirth” that so many Christians talk about like it’s a one-time event that permanently changes your operating system? And more importantly… is there something valuable buried inside that phrase that we can reclaim, especially as we head into a new year? Because the truth is, you don’t need a supernatural intervention to experience a profound shift in your life. You don’t need a divine decree or a theological certificate of authenticity. New beginnings are a human thing, and we do them all the time.

So today, let’s peel back the layers—religious, cultural, psychological—and take a closer look at what it really means to be “born again.” And maybe, just maybe, we can turn this loaded religious phrase into something empowering, honest, and deeply human… right in time for the New Year.

Let’s dive into that in this BONUS Edition of Afterthoughts!

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Christmas didn’t appear fully formed from heaven, it was built slowly, layer by layer, from ancient festivals, political strategy, and our shared human longing for light in dark times. In this episode, we peel back the mythology to uncover the real origins of Christmas and explore why understanding its human roots actually makes the season more meaningful!

Now… let’s talk about Christmas. Not the sentimental Hallmark version, not the “baby Jesus glowing softly in a manger” version, and not even the “capitalism in a Santa suit” version. I mean the real origins of Christmas, where it actually came from, how it was assembled piece by piece, and why it looks the way it does today.

Because here’s the truth: Christmas did not begin the way most people think it did. The early Christians weren’t sitting around saying, “Let’s celebrate Jesus’ birthday every December 25th!” In fact, for the first couple centuries of Christianity, nobody cared about Jesus’ birthday at all. It wasn’t even on the radar. The crucifixion and resurrection were everything. The birth stories were late additions—mythic, symbolic, written to make theological points, not historical ones.

And yet here we are, centuries later, with a massive global holiday built on these stories, wrapped in lights, decorated with trees, and fueled by enough sugar to power a small nation-state.

So what happened?

How did this incredibly complex holiday get built?

And why is it such a beautiful, bizarre, and deeply human mosaic of traditions?

So, let’s dive into that… in this episode of Afterthoughts!

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This Christmas episode explores the deeper, human themes hiding beneath the theological language: the joy of present-day victories, the importance of choosing guiding values that actually serve human flourishing, and our very real capacity for growth and transformation. We’ll look at how these ancient texts, mythic as they are, still point toward the best possibilities within us.

Have you ever noticed how the Christmas season tends to put the most mythological parts of the Christian story front and center… angelic proclamations, cosmic revelations, “light breaking into darkness”… yet the real beauty of the season often comes from ordinary human moments? It’s a time when people gather, reflect, hope, and reconnect, even if the supernatural framing of the holiday doesn’t resonate the same way it once did. Sometimes the stories point upward toward heaven, but the meaning we actually experience happens right here on the ground.

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 Christmas Day, we’ll explore how these ancient texts, despite their theological layering, still echo with universal themes like hope, renewal, and the astonishing human potential for growth and transformation.

In this episode, we’re asking an honest question: What if the real power of Christmas isn’t found in supernatural claims at all, but in the very human ability to celebrate progress, choose guiding values, and keep moving toward a better future?

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