EP: 377 The Dragon in Eden: Monsters, Chaos, and Humanity with Dr. Manny Arango

Dr. Manny Arango, New Testament scholar and author of "Crushing Chaos," joins us to explore the biblical monsters we've sanitized out of our modern understanding of Scripture. From the dragon in Eden to Leviathan in Job, Manny argues we've fallen victim to the "lullaby effect"—becoming so familiar with these stories that we've missed their jarring, supernatural elements.
In this fascinating conversation, Manny reveals why the talking serpent in Eden was likely a dragon, why God describes Leviathan to Job in excruciating detail, and how Jesus' ministry was fundamentally about conquering chaos monsters. But the real twist? Manny argues that humans can become the monsters—that the Bible's greatest concern isn't external beasts, but our own potential to devolve into chaos.
From ancient Near Eastern mythology to modern anxiety, this episode explores how biblical monster stories are actually roadmaps for retaining our humanity in a world designed to make us beastly. Manny's insights on chaos versus sin, the nature of humanity, and Jesus as the ultimate dragon-slayer offer a fresh perspective on spiritual warfare and what it means to stay human in a chaotic world.

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