Theology Nerd Throwdown State Mandated Bible Verses & Chronic Lonliness
What's up Theology Nerds! Today's episode goes all over the place - from Easter rituals to mandatory Bible readings, with plenty of religious baggage unpacked along the way.
Bo starts us off with his discomfort over some potentially mandatory Bible reading legislation in Idaho (which I kept confusing with Iowa - my bad, flyover state friends). This leads to a fascinating discussion about religious literacy versus using religion as a tool of conformity and exclusion in education systems.
We share some personal stories - including my "Resurrection Smoke-a-thon" Easter tradition with themed cigars and smoked meats (because nothing says "resurrection" like brisket and tobacco), and Bo's frustration with having the EXACT SAME conversation with locals every week as a Methodist minister in a community where only 4-6% of people would ever consider attending his church.
The loneliness epidemic gets real as Bo talks about eating Easter dinner alone and the challenge of building meaningful relationships when you know the denomination will move you in 5 years. We unpack how late-stage capitalism is shredding our social fabric, delaying home ownership and family formation, which historically provided entry points to community.
In true TNT fashion, we tangent into:
- The toxic effects of social media (seriously, studies show quitting improves your mental health as much as TWO YEARS of quality therapy)
- A proposed Bible Quiz Bowl showdown at Theology Beer Camp featuring recovering Sword Drill champions
- My college-era protest of wearing an Ezekiel 23:20 t-shirt to a Bible inerrancy event (the verse about donkey genitals...)
- The passing of Pope Francis and his open-handed approach to Catholic tradition
- Post-liberal theology, narrative approaches to scripture, and creeds as questions rather than conclusions
For our next episode, we're bringing back the topic we skipped today: "Does Liberal Theology Have a Future?" Also, we want YOU to send us audio recordings making the case for which Bible verses should be mandatory reading if schools start requiring it. The more interesting your take, the more likely we'll feature it! CLICK HERE TO SEND A MESSAGE
Don't forget - Theology Beer Camp is coming up! Get your tickets at theologybeercamp.com. For our Christology series, check out ManyFacesOfChrist.com .
Until next time, keep thinking deeply and drinking good beer!
You can WATCH the conversation on YOUTUBE
Theology Beer Camp | St. Paul, MN | October 16-18, 2025
3 Days of Craft Nerdiness with 50+ Theologians & God-Pods and 600 new friends.
ONLINE CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT: The Many Faces of Christ Today
The question Jesus asked his disciples still resonates today: "Who do you say that I am?"
Join our transformative 5-week online learning community as we explore a rich tapestry of contemporary Christologies. Experience how diverse theological voices create a compelling vision of Jesus Christ for today's world.
Expand your spiritual horizons. Challenge your assumptions. Enrich your faith.
As always, the class is donation-based (including 0), so head over to ManyFacesOfChrist.com for more details and to sign up!
_____________________
This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 80,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 45 classes at www.TheologyClass.com
Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices