
Almost Heretical
Are you ready to rethink the Bible and challenge easy answers? Join guests like Neil deGrasse Tyson, Marianne Williamson, Tim Mackie (BibleProject), Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Rainn Wilson (The Office), and Rob Bell as we dive into complex conversations about faith, moving beyond conservative and liberal camps. If you don’t fit neatly into either space, you’ll fit in just fine here. Hosted by Nate Hanson (former Crazy Love pastor) and Shelby Hanson (MA Biblical Studies & Dead Sea Scrolls), Almost Heretical invites you to explore Christianity without subscribing to tribal ideologies. With over 2 million downloads, this is a space for those asking tough questions and seeking honest answers. You’re not alone.Join 1,000+ others for bonus episodes and our private community: almostheretical.com/subscribe
Latest episodes

Apr 10, 2024 • 1h 5min
#136 – Tiffany Yecke Brooks: Spiritual Anxiety & Religious Trauma
Tiffany Yecke Brooks discusses her evolution from fundamentalist roots, spiritual anxiety, trauma response, and reinterpreting biblical stories. She emphasizes self-trust, questions authority in religious contexts, encourages personal exploration of faith, free from traditional interpretations.

Apr 3, 2024 • 1h 11min
#135 – Thomas Jay Oord: Open Relational Theology
Listen to the Utterly Heretical after show episode that Nate & Shelby recorded debriefing this conversation with Thomas Jay OordDr. Thomas Jay Oord delves into open relational theology, highlighting a non-controlling, relational God and rethinking traditional omnipotence. Check out his book God After Deconstruction with Tripp Fuller. We addresses deconstruction, the afterlife, and inclusivity beyond Christianity. Oord's perspective challenges conventional views on prayer, spirituality, and divine interaction, advocating for a faith that embraces questioning and experiential understanding of the divine.Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email almostheretical@gmail.comBecome a member and get:1. Bonus episodes of Utterly Heretical (our private podcast) every month2. All full-length episodes3. Access to our private community of 350+ listenersBecome a member: https://almostheretical.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 20, 2024 • 1h 4min
#134 – Dr. Laura Anderson: Sex, Dating, Courtship and Trauma
Listen to the 20-minute Utterly Heretical after show episode that Nate & Shelby recorded debriefing this conversation with Dr. Laura AndersonDr. Laura Anderson tackles religious trauma, explaining it as our physiological response to religious experiences, distinct from the events themselves. She critiques purity culture for its detrimental effects on personal development and relationships, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of the Bible and recognizing its flaws. The conversation extends to the challenges churches face in addressing trauma, the variety of Christian views on mental health, and navigating relationships amid political and religious differences.Become a member and get:1. Bonus episodes of Utterly Heretical (our private podcast) every month2. All full-length episodes3. Access to our private community of 350+ listenersBecome a member: almostheretical.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 13, 2024 • 1h 1min
#133 – David Fitch: Is God's Love Coercive?
Listen to the extra 20-minute Utterly Heretical episode that Nate & Shelby recorded debriefing this conversation with David.Does Hell or even annihilationism mean that God's love is coercive? David Fitch (author of Reckoning With Power) debates with Nate and Shelby about whether we can call God's love "non-coercive".Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email almostheretical@gmail.comBecome a member and get:1. Bonus episodes of Utterly Heretical (our private podcast) every month2. All full-length episodes3. Access to our private community of 350+ listenersBecome a member: almostheretical.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 6, 2024 • 1h 7min
#132 – Elaine Pagels: Trump and Doubting Thomas
Elaine Pagels presents the compelling theory that the Gospel of John might have intentionally silenced the Gospel of Thomas. This interview not only explores the hidden gospels but also challenges us to rethink the foundational narratives of Christianity through the insights of Elaine Pagels.Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email almostheretical@gmail.comBecome a member and get:1. Bonus episodes of Utterly Heretical (our private podcast) every month2. All full-length episodes3. Access to our private community of 350+ listenersBecome a member: almostheretical.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

15 snips
Feb 28, 2024 • 1h 22min
#131 – Peter Rollins: The Philosophy of Deconstruction
Philosopher Peter Rollins delves into deconstructing faith, emphasizing the power of questioning religious narratives. Discussions include negation in theology, work culture in Ireland and America, the gift economy, love, and bridging divides through embracing diversity and challenging beliefs.

Feb 21, 2024 • 46min
#130 – Anna Gazmarian: Religious OCD and Mental Illness
Anna Gazmarian shares her journey of faith, getting fired from a church, and confronting mental health issues within the church. Discussions on Religious OCD, scrupulosity, and challenging toxic purity culture. Emphasis on redefining God and sin, navigating mental health struggles in a religious context, and choosing faith amidst overwhelming negativity.

Feb 14, 2024 • 50min
#129 – Did Noah's Ark Actually Happen?
The hosts discuss the story of Noah's Ark, its dark elements, and its depiction in different ancient cultures. They explore the comet theory suggesting a global flood and the challenge of interpreting the flood story as non-literal. They examine the significance of the story, its portrayal of God's existence and power, and the impact of cultural adaptations. They also discuss the change in perspective on scripture, navigating different perspectives on the Bible, and having grace for others in their journeys of faith.

Feb 7, 2024 • 51min
#128 – Nephilim and Gender Dynamics (Genesis 6:1-4)
Delve into ancient texts like the Book of Enoch to unravel the secrets of the Nephilim and the "sons of God" mentioned in Genesis 6:1-4. Explore the connections between these stories and gender dynamics in biblical narratives. Challenge the literal interpretation of biblical stories and question their purpose. Discover the significance of ancient texts in understanding Genesis and the portrayal of women and divine beings. Reflect on the power of language in the stories of Genesis and the infinite interpretations they offer.

Sep 27, 2023 • 39min
#127 – Eve and the Apple (Genesis 3)
Join us as we delve into Genesis 3 and explore its long-lasting impact on women. We'll tackle big questions like: Did God really say what we've been told? And why isn’t the serpent identified as Satan? We’ll discuss how much of what we believe comes from Paul's interpretations and how this story has shaped women’s experiences, especially around leadership. Get ready for an eye-opening chat about challenging old notions and seeing this story in a new light!Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email almostheretical@gmail.comBecome a member and get:1. Bonus episodes of Utterly Heretical (our private podcast) every month2. All full-length episodes3. Access to our private community of 350+ listenersBecome a member: almostheretical.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices