The Bible For Normal People

Should Christians use the Bible as a template for a healthy marriage? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Dr. Jennifer Bird joins Jared and Angela Parker to bust the myth of “biblical” marriage. She dives into the ways scripture has been used to enforce traditional gender roles, the cultural assumptions embedded in biblical texts about marriage, sex, and property rights, and how these interpretations have influenced Christian thought.

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In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Lee Camp joins Pete and Jared to discuss the relationship between Christianity and politics, challenging the idea that Christianity is apolitical by arguing that Christian faith is inherently political in addressing fundamental human concerns like reconciliation, justice, and community. He also addresses the problematic notion of America as a "Christian nation" and calls for a more thoughtful, less partisan Christian engagement in politics.

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In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete dives into the story of Abraham in Genesis. Pete explores Abraham’s importance as a pivotal figure in the Bible, detailing his journey, covenants with God, and major themes found in the stories about him. Through a "flyover" of Abraham's life, Pete highlights connections to other parts of the Bible and explores theological tensions for Christians today.

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In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Elizabeth Orr joins Pete and Jared to discuss the Enneagram and its role in fostering self-compassion and personal growth. Together they highlight how understanding your Enneagram type can lead to greater self-awareness and healthier relationships, and how self-discovery tools like the Enneagram give us a chance to love ourselves—and therefore our neighbors—better.

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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.

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In this bonus episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared continue their conversation with Jon D. Levenson about the theme of child sacrifice in the Bible, focusing on how the idea evolved from ancient times into later religious traditions. They uncover how the practice became condemned while the meaning persisted through symbolic acts like substitution rituals and how its theology extended into the New Testament. Want to hear the full episode? Become a member of our online community The Society of Normal People at www.thebiblefornormalpeople.com/join.

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In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Jon D. Levenson to discuss the complex and ancient practice of child sacrifice, focusing on biblical and ancient Near Eastern contexts. Together they explore the historical, theological, and cultural significance of these sacrifices, particularly in relation to divine favor, gift-giving, and the transformation of such practices in Judaism and Christianity. You can get part two of this conversation by becoming a member of the Society of Normal People at www.thebiblefornormalpeople.com/join. 

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In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Valarie Kaur, a renowned Sikh activist, lawyer, and author, about the Sikh tradition and her philosophy of Revolutionary Love. Together they explore the history of Sikhism and its roots in love, oneness, and social justice, as well as the importance of music, poetry, and storytelling in awakening wisdom and fostering connection with others.

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This episode is sponsored by Beam. If you want to try Beam’s Greens, get up to 40% off for a limited time when you go to shopbeam.com/normal and use code NORMAL at checkout.

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In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Aaron Higashi talk to Madhavi Nevader about the rise and fall of monarchy in ancient Israel and its representation in the Bible. Together they explore how Israel's kingship model of power developed, the tension between divine rule and human kingship, and how the theological shifts shown in the Bible after the fall of the monarchy led to the rise of priests and prophets.

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In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete continues his exploration of the Book of Genesis, diving into Genesis 5-11 by examining the complexities of the genealogies and the flood narrative, defining source criticism, and more.

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This episode is sponsored by Beam. If you want to try Beam’s Greens, get up to 40% off for a limited time when you go to shopbeam.com/normal and use code NORMAL at checkout.

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In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Greg Carey to explore the concept of apocalyptic literature within the Bible and its broader implications. Greg delves into the meaning of apocalyptic, explains the evolution of apocalyptic literature from proto-apocalyptic texts in the Old Testament to its more developed forms in Second Temple literature and the New Testament, and also addresses how apocalyptic themes might resonate with contemporary issues like political nationalism and economic exploitation. 

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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.

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