Faith Lab

Rebecca McLaughlin joins Faith Lab to confront Christianity’s hardest objections and ask whether Christian faith can actually stand up to serious scrutiny. In this conversation, Nate and Shelby talk with Rebecca about the historical reliability of the Gospels, eyewitness testimony, women in the early Christian movement, moral critiques of Christianity, and the problem of suffering. Rather than treating faith as a blind leap, Rebecca explains why Christianity has always made public and testable claims about reality, claims that invite investigation rather than shut it down. They explore why Jesus continues to provoke resistance, how modern skepticism often relies on values Christianity helped introduce, and why deconstruction so often happens when questions are postponed rather than engaged. From the resurrection accounts and the presence of embarrassing details in the Gospels to the role of women as primary witnesses, this episode walks through why the Christian story may be far more historically and intellectually resilient than many assume. This episode is for skeptics, deconstructing Christians, and anyone wondering whether Christianity can survive honest doubt in a pluralistic world by facing hard questions directly rather than avoiding them. Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email hi@faithlabshow.com Become a member and get: 1. Bonus episodes 2. Ad-free episodes 3. Early release episodes 4. Access to the private Faith Lab Facebook Group (350+ listeners) Become a member: faithlabshow.com/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a preview, listen to the full bonus episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/148177291 Faith usually doesn’t disappear all at once. It tends to erode slowly when questions feel unsafe or when certainty is treated as a requirement. In this bonus episode, Nate reflects on the first two episodes of Faith Lab: Deconstruction Led Me Back to Christianity. Faith Isn't Supposed to be Blind with Shane Rosenthal Nate responds to an idea from Shane Rosenthal that reshaped how he thinks about faith as trust rather than certainty. He shares how that shift helped him make sense of deconstruction, answers a couple listener questions about the direction of the show, and reads a listener story that captures what it feels like to find faith again through honesty and time. This episode is a quiet reflection on rebuilding trust without pretending and following questions without fear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For most people, faith means believing without evidence. A leap. A feeling. Something you are told to accept rather than question. But what if that is not what faith meant at all? In this conversation, Nate and Shelby sit down with Shane Rosenthal to explore why the New Testament idea of faith was rooted in trust, eyewitness testimony, and public events rather than blind belief. They unpack how faith slowly became detached from evidence, why that shift matters, and how it helps explain why so many people deconstruct today. This is not about winning arguments or turning Christianity into an academic exercise. It is about recovering a version of faith that expects questions, invites investigation, and gives real reasons to believe. You can find Shane’s work at humbleskeptic.com, and be sure to check out this recent video he released on whether archaeologists have discovered biblical Bethsaida⁠. If you have ever wondered why doubt feels inevitable, or why you were never taught this side of the story, this conversation is for you. Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email hi@faithlabshow.com Become a member and get: 1. Bonus episodes 2. All full-length, ad-free episodes 3. Access to our private community of 350+ listeners Become a member: faithlabshow.com/premium Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nate Hanson explores his transformative journey through deconstruction and how it ultimately deepened his Christian faith. He shares insights on questioning inherited beliefs and the significance of historical evidence in understanding the New Testament. Engaging with science, he discusses how cosmology and biology reshaped his perspective on theism. With a focus on thoughtful exploration, he introduces a new platform aimed at examining the evidence supporting Christianity, encouraging listeners to ground their faith in informed trust.

Could one ancient cloth change how we see the resurrection? Dr. Jeremiah Johnston joins us to unpack the Shroud of Turin, its baffling science, strange history, and the image that no one can explain. Does this relic prove Jesus physically rose from the dead, or is it just a misunderstood artifact? We explore what happens when modern science collides with first-century faith. Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email  contact@almostheretical.com Become a member and get: 1. Bonus episodes and aftershows 2. All full-length, ad-free episodes 3. Access to Heretical Together (our private community of 350+ listeners) Become a member: almostheretical.com/premium Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This discussion dives into the fascinating question of why Jesus didn't write anything during his life. It contrasts his lack of written texts with other religious figures and explores the importance of oral tradition in preserving his messages. The hosts highlight the cultural and logistical challenges of writing in Jesus' time, suggesting that his teachings were meant to resonate with the immediate, less literate audience. This choice invites listeners to consider the relevance of his message in a contemporary context, challenging traditional views of scripture.

What if the stories at the end of Genesis weren’t just family drama—but political storytelling? In this episode, Nate and Shelby revisit six key moments from Genesis 27 to 50—including Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing, Dinah and Shechem, Judah and Tamar, and Joseph’s rise in Egypt—to explore how these stories may have been written to explain Israel’s political identity, tribal dynamics, and national origin. We talk about: Why Jacob and Esau’s rivalry reflects Israel vs. Edom What Jacob’s wrestling match really says about the name "Israel" How the story of Dinah might not be about justice at all The subversive role of Tamar and why she’s called righteous Why Joseph marrying an Egyptian priest’s daughter created tension later And how Genesis closes by blessing tribes that already existed These aren’t just ancient stories—they’re layered political texts that reveal how Israel saw itself and its neighbors. Join us as we read Genesis a little more historically, and a little more honestly. Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email  contact@almostheretical.com Become a member and get: 1. Bonus episodes and aftershows 2. All full-length, ad-free episodes 3. Access to Heretical Together (our private community of 350+ listeners) Become a member: almostheretical.com/premium Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

→ Download the Practice Christianity Without Paul reflection booklet here (https://www.patreon.com/posts/jesus-faith-and-128319083) → Access the Paul-Free Church Statement of Faith (https://www.patreon.com/posts/church-statement-128321301) What does it mean to be a Christian without Paul? In this series finale, we walk through five alternate paths the Jesus movement could have taken—and still can—without relying on Paul’s theology. From mystical wisdom to Jewish observance to political resistance, we explore practical ways to follow Jesus that aren’t rooted in Pauline doctrine. Nate and Shelby also unveil a brand new “Paul-Free” Statement of Faith and share a reflection booklet for premium members. Paul Series:Part 1 (https://www.patreon.com/posts/123045409)Part 2 (https://www.patreon.com/posts/124165907)Part 3 (https://www.patreon.com/posts/125186503)Part 4 (https://www.patreon.com/posts/126248455)Part 5 (https://www.patreon.com/posts/128318250) Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email contact@almostheretical.com Chapters 00:00 Exploring the Existence of Paul and His Influence 12:06 Imagining Christianity Without Paul 22:28 The Ebionites and Early Christian Movements 23:26 Exploring Early Christian Beliefs 28:35 Potential Paths of Early Christianity 30:05 Modern Reflections on Following Jesus 37:36 Paths of Justice and Action 41:31 Reimagining Faith Without Paul Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dive into the fascinating world of early Christianity as the discussion unpacks Paul’s overwhelming influence on the New Testament. Discover how some epistles might not actually be by Paul and what it means for understanding church history. The complex relationship between Paul’s teachings and those from the Jerusalem movement is critically examined. There's also an exploration of the Gospels and how contextual factors shape interpretations. Finally, consider the implications of studying Jesus without the lens of Pauline theology.

Discover how Paul’s radical vision reshaped early Christianity, overshadowing the original Jesus movement led by James. Explore the tensions between them, focusing on Gentile inclusion and differing interpretations of faith. Delve into Paul's mystical revelations and the strategic ways he spread his teachings across major Roman cities. The discussion raises intriguing questions about the trajectory of Christianity—what if the Jerusalem community had prevailed? Rethink the origins and evolution of a faith that continues to impact billions.