The Bible For Normal People

The Bible For Normal People episodes:

• 04.22.2024

  [Bible] Episode 269: Jack Levison - The Greek Life of Adam & Eve

  Cain is a cannibal, Eve tells her own version of the fall of man, and the Garden of Eden has a dividing wall? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk to Jack Levison about...

  
• 04.15.2024

  [Bible] Episode 268: Pete Enns - Pete Ruins Chronicles

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete makes the case for why you shouldn’t skip 1 and 2 Chronicles after slogging through Samuel and Kings. He explores the Chronicler’s distinct theology, uncovers themes of hope and divine...

  
• 04.08.2024

  [Bible] Episode 267: Jamal-Dominique Hopkins - Sacrifice in the Dead Sea Scrolls

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and co-host Cynthia Shafer-Elliott learn from Jamal-Dominique Hopkins about the history of sacrifice in the Qumran community and the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls in understanding Judaism during the...

  
• 04.01.2024

  [Faith] Episode 36: J.S. Park - Sitting with the Dying

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared talks with J.S. (Joon) Park about his experiences with death, grief, and loss as a hospital chaplain for a Level 1 Trauma Center. Together they discuss the varying manifestations of grief,...

  
• 03.25.2024

  [Bible] Episode 266: Candida Moss - Enslaved People & the Making of the Bible

  Whose contributions to the production of the Bible have been historically overlooked? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared have a fascinating conversation with Candida Moss about enslavement in the Roman Empire, challenging our perception...

  
• 03.18.2024

  [Faith] Episode 35: Pete Enns & Jared Byas - Navigating Through Black-and-White Thinking

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared tackle your questions about faith, identifying a common theme of the tendency toward dualism and binary thinking and exploring how to think more critically when faced with either/or theological...

  
• 03.11.2024

  [Bible] Episode 265: Pete Enns - Pete Ruins 2 Kings

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete is back to his usual antics ruining a book of the Bible. This time he’s conquering 2 Kings, uncovering the historical context, socio-political influences, and bigger picture of the biblical...

  
• 03.04.2024

  [Faith] Episode 34: Grace Semler Baldridge - Faith Is a Moving Target

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Grace Baldridge (known by the artist name Semler) joins Pete and Jared to talk about the moving target of faith, whether leaving church is leaving God, and Grace’s journey as a queer...

  
• 02.26.2024

  [Bible] Episode 264: Aaron Higashi - Five Things You Need to Know About 1 & 2 Samuel

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Aaron Higashi joins Pete to talk about five key points in understanding 1 & 2 Samuel—and why our reading of this biblical tragedy doesn’t have to be tragic. Show Notes → ***** This episode...

  
• 02.19.2024

  [Faith] Episode 33: Pete Holmes - A God That’s Better Than Larry

  We’re back for our second season of Faith for Normal People! Comedian Pete Holmes joins Pete and Jared to contemplate oneness with God, what it means to identify as a Christian, the parable of the prodigal son, and how awareness...

  
• 02.12.2024

  [Bible] Episode 263: Bart Ehrman - The Gospels & Historical Reliability

  We’re back for our eighth season of the podcast! In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman joins Pete and Jared to discuss the historical reliability of the Gospels, highlighting the roles of oral...

  
• 12.25.2023

  [Faith] Episode 32: A Holiday Roast

  Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Podcast producer Brittany and audio engineer/editor Stephen have joined forces to bring you a special blooper episode with behind-the-scenes clips from Season 7 of The Bible for Normal People and Season 1 of Faith for...

  
• 12.18.2023

  [Bible] Episode 262: Pete Enns & Jared Byas - Pete & Jared Aren’t Trying to Ruin Christmas (This Time)

  Join us for the final episode of The Bible for Normal People Season 7 as Pete and Jared end the year on an easy note by tackling the cultural, historical, and societal context of the birth of Jesus as found...

  
• 12.11.2023

  [Faith] Episode 31: Adil Hussain Khan - Islam & Interreligious Dialogue

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Adil Hussain Khan to talk about the story of Abraham in the Islamic tradition, how Islam differs from Judaism and Christianity, and whether the concept of...

  
• 12.04.2023

  [Bible] Episode 261: Ekaputra Tupamahu - Speaking in Tongues

  Is the phenomenon of speaking in tongues purely ecstatic or purely linguistic? Join Pete and Jared in this episode of The Bible for Normal People as guest Ekaputra Tupamahu analyzes the history and interpretation of speaking in tongues in the...

  
• 11.27.2023

  [Faith] Episode 30: Pádraig Ó Tuama - A Poetic Look at the Bible

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, hosts Pete Enns and Jared Byas speak with Irish poet and theologian Pádraig Ó Tuama, delving into the appreciation and understanding of the Bible through the lens of poetry and exploring how...

  
• 11.20.2023

  [Bible] Episode 260: Jacob L. Wright - Why the Bible Came to Be

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jacob L. Wright joins Pete and Jared to discuss the origins of the Hebrew Bible, moving beyond just the “how” and asking the deeper question of “why” the Bible began, revealing...

  
• 11.13.2023

  [Faith] Episode 29: Grace Ji-Sun Kim - A Theology of Visibility

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Anna talk to Grace Ji-Sun Kim about how theology impacts marginalized communities, what intersectionality means, and how theology and biography are synonymous. Show Notes → ********** This episode is sponsored by Lumi. To...

  
• 11.06.2023

  [Bible] Episode 259: Robyn Whitaker - The Book of Revelation

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Robyn Whitaker to discuss the themes, movements, and symbolism found within the book of Revelation, as well as the various ways the text has been...

  
• 10.30.2023

  [Faith] Episode 28: Thomas Jay Oord - The Problem of Evil (Part 2)

  In part two of our series on the problem of evil, Jared and Pete talk with Tom Oord about why people struggle to reconcile evil and suffering with a good God, theological solutions to the problem throughout history, and how...

  
• 10.23.2023

  [Bible] Episode 258: Marc Brettler & Alan Lenzi - The Problem of Evil (Part 1)

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Marc Brettler and Alan Lenzi join Pete and Jared to discuss the context of evil in the Bible and other ancient Mesopotamian texts, giving insight into how people thousands of years...

  
• 10.16.2023

  [Faith] Episode 27: Christin Fort - Attachment Theory & God

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Christin Fort and Jared discuss how attachment theory plays into our perceptions of God, the impact of theology on mental health, and how understanding ourselves better psychologically could enrich our faith. Show Notes...

  
• 10.09.2023

  [Bible] Episode 257: Pete Enns - Pete Ruins 1 Kings

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, our resident destroyer Pete is on a mission to ruin the book of 1 Kings by delving into the historical context and narrative themes of this ancient text which marks the...

  
• 10.02.2023

  [Faith] Episode 26: Matthias Roberts - Psychology, Religious Trauma, & Reconstructing Faith

  Matthias Roberts joins Jared and Angela Parker in this episode of Faith for Normal People to talk about his work as a psychotherapist, the path to healing from religious trauma, and what faith after religious trauma might look like. Show Notes...

  
• 09.25.2023

  [Bible] Episode 256: Barbara Leung Lai - The Inner Life of Biblical Characters

  Nerd alert—we’re diving into biblical studies in this episode of The Bible for Normal People as Pete and Jared talk with Barbara Leung Lai about her work studying the inner life of characters in the Hebrew Bible. Combining psychological exegesis,...

  
• 09.18.2023

  [Faith] Episode 25: Eddie Howells - Christian Mysticism Is Actually a Thing

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Eddie Howells joins Pete and Jennifer for an enlightening conversation on the history and theology of Christian mysticism, talking about three strands of its development throughout history, what it looks like to...

  
• 09.11.2023

  [Bible] Episode 255: John Dominic Crossan - The Other Gospels

  Pete and Jared are joined by renowned scholar John Dominic “Dom” Crossan in this episode of The Bible for Normal People as they take a tour of the gospels that didn’t make the cut for the New Testament. Together they...

  
• 09.04.2023

  [Faith] Episode 24: Cole Arthur Riley - The Body of Faith

  Cole Arthur Riley joins Jared on this episode of Faith for Normal People to talk about the harm done by disembodied theology, the value of intergenerational spirituality, the hard work of remembering well, and what a path toward embodied spirituality...

  
• 08.28.2023

  [Bible] Episode 254: Richard Kalmin - The Talmud

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Richard Kalmin about the origins and history of the Talmud, why it was written, and how the text has functioned not just within Jewish history, but...

  
• 08.21.2023

  [Faith] Episode 23: Felipe Hinojosa - Latino Church History is American Church History

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Felipe Hinojosa joins Pete and Jared to talk about the history of the Latino Mennonite tradition in the United States, Latino political and religious resistance, and what the Civil Rights movement can...

  
• 08.14.2023

  [Bible] Episode 253: Rev. Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams - The Book of Ruth

  We’re uncovering more than Boaz’s feet in this episode of The Bible for Normal People as Judy Fentress-Williams joins Pete and Jared to take a historical-critical look at the symbolism, cultural context, and subversive embrace of the other within the...

  
• 08.07.2023

  [Faith] Episode 22: Lisa Fullam - Making Decisions the Ignatian Way

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, moral theologian Lisa Fullam joins Jared to explore virtue ethics, Ignatian spirituality, matters of conscience, and practical methods for moral decision making. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  
• 07.31.2023

  [Bible] Episode 252: Steed Davidson - The Bible’s Ambivalence Toward Empire

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Steed Davidson joins Pete and Jared to explain the origin of postcolonial biblical studies, the outcome of reading Scripture through a postcolonial lens, and how ancient empires could have used the...

  
• 07.24.2023

  [Faith] Episode 21: Hans Halvorson - God & The Cosmos

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Hans Halvorson ponder the origins of the universe, quantum theory, entanglement, the existence of God, and the tension (or lack thereof) between science and faith. Show Notes → ********** This episode is sponsored...

  
• 07.17.2023

  [Bible] Episode 251: Pete Enns - Pete Ruins 2 Samuel

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, we continue on the ruinous journey through the Deuteronomistic History as our troop leader Pete fearlessly guides us through the book of 2 Samuel. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices....

  
• 07.10.2023

  [Faith] Episode 20: Jared Byas - The Revelations of Jared Byas

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared continues his journey of vulnerability and shares how his self-perception, desire for belonging, and struggle with his childhood traditions molded his faith into the shape it takes now. Show Notes → Learn more...

  
• 07.03.2023

  [Bible] Episode 250: Safwat Marzouk - The Bizarre Book of Ezekiel

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Safwat Marzouk joins Pete and Jared for a deep dive into the book of Ezekiel, exploring its historical and geopolitical context, the dual callings of Ezekiel as priest and prophet, and...

  
• 06.26.2023

  [Faith] Episode 19: Sarah Lane Ritchie - Belief & the Brain

  Can science explain our personal religious experiences? In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Sarah Lane Ritchie to talk about the advancements and limits of cognitive science of religion in helping us understand...

  
• 06.19.2023

  [Bible] Episode 249: Shannon T.L. Kearns - Reading Scripture as a Transgender Christian

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared talks with Father Shannon T.L. Kearns, cofounder of Queer Theology, about engaging with Scripture as a transgender Christian, finding a better way to address clobber passages, and why reading the...

  
• 06.12.2023

  [Faith] Episode 18: David Bentley Hart - What’s the Deal with the Creeds?

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and David Bentley Hart journey through an abridged history of the origin of the Christian creeds and discuss the purpose the creeds have served in the story of the Christian faith. Show...

  
• 06.05.2023

  [Bible] Episode 248: Cheryl B. Anderson - The Ethical Impact of Biblical Interpretation (REISSUE)

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Cheryl B. Anderson joins Pete and Jared to discuss ethics, law, and how we read the Bible. This is a reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 173 from July...

  
• 06.01.2023

  [Faith] Episode 17: Ally Henny - Finding Your Voice in the Face of Injustice

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Ally Henny joins Jared to talk about the history of using her voice, what it means to embrace your Holy Hell No, and how speaking the truth can set you free in...

  
• 05.29.2023

  [Bible] Episode 247: Jared Byas - What It Means to Take the Bible Literally

  What do people mean when they say they take the Bible literally? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared breaks down how words in this common phrase are overworked and underpaid, how it functions as a cultural...

  
• 05.25.2023

  [Faith] Episode 16: Brian McLaren - The Four Stages of Faith (REISSUE)

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared sit down with Brian McLaren to discuss stages of faith, the prevalence of doubt, and what paths to faith after doubt might look like. This is a reissue of...

  
• 05.22.2023

  [Bible] Episode 246: Amy Kalmanofsky - Dangerous Sisters in the Hebrew Bible

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared and Pete are joined by Amy Kalmanofsky to reveal the narrative role of sisters in the Hebrew Bible, explain three categories of sister relationships, and identify “ideal” and “dangerous” sisters...

  
• 05.18.2023

  [Faith] Episode 15: Dale C. Allison Jr. - Encountering Mystery

  Dale C. Allison Jr. joins Pete in this episode of Faith for Normal People to talk about his own mysterious divine encounters, how testimony can become data, and why it’s important to acknowledge the limits of logic when it comes...

  
• 05.15.2023

  [Bible] Episode 245: Elizabeth Schrader Polczer - Resurrecting Mary the Tower

  Everything you thought you knew about Mary Magdalene is questioned in this episode of The Bible for Normal People, in which Elizabeth Schrader Polczer joins Pete and Jared to discuss textual criticism, the meaning of Magdalene, and why John 11...

  
• 05.11.2023

  [Faith] Episode 14: Danté Stewart - The Power of Black Literature

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Danté Stewart joins Pete and Jared to share how reading the works of Black authors shaped his spiritual journey and how viewing Black literature as sacred can make us larger, freer, and...

  
• 05.08.2023

  [Bible] Episode 244: Manuel Cruz - What It Means to Be Moral

  In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Manuel Cruz to discuss the philosophy of being moral, how morality intersects with the Christian spiritual life, and what we can learn about God from...

  
• 05.04.2023

  [Faith] Episode 13: Kaitlin Curtice - A Fresh Vision for the Spiritual Life

  In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Kaitlin Curtice joins Pete and Jared to talk about her new book Living Resistance and how a life of faith can thrive if we let go of the need for linear success...