We’re back for Season 9 of The Bible for Normal People and we’re still asking ourselves, “What is the Bible, and what do we do with it?” In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete Enns and Jared Byas examine how biblical criticism raises questions about traditional understandings of Scripture. They explore the historical evolution of biblical interpretation, from the medieval period to the Enlightenment and then modernism, highlighting the influence of major intellectual and religious movements on the practice of Christianity as we recognize (or don’t recognize) it today. 

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Happy holidays! Podcast producer Brittany and audio engineer/editor Stephen have joined forces to bring you a new tradition—our yearly blooper episode! All of these behind-the-scenes clips were collected throughout Season 8 of The Bible for Normal People and Season 2 of Faith for Normal People. From all of us at B4NP, we wish you a joyful, hopeful end to 2024. See you next year!

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In this festive finale of The Bible for Normal People Season 8, Pete and Jared unwrap a big question: does the Old Testament really predict Jesus’s birth? They dive into Matthew’s creative storytelling, explore what prophecy and fulfillment actually mean, and break down some common assumptions about the Christmas story.

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This episode is brought to you by Pretty Litter. Pretty Litter sounds amazing, and we’re excited to give it a try. If you’d like to try it too, go to prettylitter.com/normalpeople to save 20% on your FIRST order and get a free cat toy. Terms and conditions apply. See site for details.

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How do experiences of pain, identity, and reconciliation shape one’s understanding of God and faith? In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Esau McCaulley to talk about how his faith has been formed in the midst of family trauma, anti-Black racism, and the search for identity in America. Together they ponder forgiveness as a transformative process, the hard parts of cultivating a desire for others' flourishing, and the ways suffering can deepen faith.

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What if the Song of Songs isn’t just ancient love poetry but a key to unlocking deeper biblical conversations about a better world? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Havilah Dharamraj explores how intertextual readings connect Song of Songs with the prophets, revealing themes of deity-devotee connection, sacred marriage, divine hope, and a return to Eden.

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This episode is brought to you by Litter Robot! Litter-Robot by Whisker is the solution to all your litter box problems, with self-cleaning technology that automatically cleans after every use so your cats will always have a fresh bed of litter to do their business - and your friends won’t think your house smells like a litter box. Right now, Whisker is offering $75 off Litter-Robot bundles. AND, as a special offer to listeners, you can get an additional $50 off when you go to stopscooping.com/NORMALPEOPLE.

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In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared Byas talks with therapist and author Hillary McBride along with theologian and psychological scientist Preston McDaniel Hill about the psychological impacts of navigating faith transitions. They explore how faith intersects with mental health and discuss the importance of community, self-trust, and relational support during the process. Hillary and Preston work together on the Spiritual First Responders Project (https://www.sfrproject.org).

The Spiritual First Responders Project is a research initiative on mental health and spiritual meaning-making for those experiencing faith deconstruction. They offer spiritual process groups led by licensed mental health professionals for those who are deconstructing or have experienced church hurt. The project is not religiously affiliated or sponsored by any church. Its only goal is to support you in your mental and spiritual health. For more information and to get involved, visit sfrproject.org or email them directly at [email protected].

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This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Greenlight is a debit card and money app made for families: parents can send money to their kids and keep an eye on kids’ spending and saving, while kids and teens build money confidence and lifelong financial literacy skills. Sign up for Greenlight today at greenlight.com/normalpeople.

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How does Judaism approach the topic of disability? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Julia Watts Belser joins Pete and Cynthia to examine how the Hebrew Bible portrays disability and how Jewish tradition engages these texts in both ancient and modern contexts. She explains what a “blemish” means in Leviticus, the rabbinic tradition of sacred interpretation, and how disability wisdom can make a better world for everybody.

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In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete dives into the chaotic sibling soap opera of Jacob and Esau and all its trickery, questionable family dynamics, and divine wrestling matches. Pete explains how and why this ancient family drama was likely written and edited much later to make sense of Israel’s political squabbles.

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This episode is brought to you by Pretty Litter. Pretty Litter sounds amazing, and we’re excited to give it a try. If you’d like to try it too, go to prettylitter.com/normalpeople to save 20% on your FIRST order and get a free cat toy. Terms and conditions apply. See site for details.

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This episode is sponsored by Aura Frames. Named the #1 digital photo frame by Wirecutter, Aura frames are incredibly smart and easy to use. For a limited time, visit AuraFrames.com and get $45 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code NORMALPEOPLE at checkout. This exclusive Black Friday Cyber Monday deal is their best of the year, so don’t miss out! Terms and conditions apply.

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Does the Hebrew Bible matter for Christians? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete is joined by Nerds-in-Residence Anna Sieges-Beal, Aaron Higashi, and Cynthia Shafer-Elliott to answer your questions about the Hebrew Bible (aka Old Testament) including the role it plays for Christians, the historical basis for events like the exodus, and the structure of biblical texts. They explore the origins of familiar stories, differing interpretations, and what these ancient writings mean for people of faith today.

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What parts of our faith are worth holding onto? In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry joins Pete and Jared to discuss ways to think differently about scripture and the importance of keeping love at the center of your being. This is a reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 192 from February 2022.

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This episode is brought to you by Litter Robot! Litter-Robot by Whisker is the solution to all your litter box problems, with self-cleaning technology that automatically cleans after every use so your cats will always have a fresh bed of litter to do their business - and your friends won’t think your house smells like a litter box. Right now, Whisker is offering $75 off Litter-Robot bundles. AND, as a special offer to listeners, you can get an additional $50 off when you go to stopscooping.com/NORMALPEOPLE.

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This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Greenlight is a debit card and money app made for families: parents can send money to their kids and keep an eye on kids’ spending and saving, while kids and teens build money confidence and lifelong financial literacy skills. Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/normalpeople.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices