
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

Feb 8, 2023 • 1h 9min
#113 – Cindy Wang Brandt: Raising Children During a Spiritual Transition
Parenting & Deconstruction Part 1: Do formerly fundamentalist parents project their own trauma on their children? What kind of “stability” do kids of deconstructing parents actually need? Is it okay to not ever get community back? Nate and Shelby discuss this all and more with Cindy Wang Brandt, the author of Parenting Forward and You Are Revolutionary.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

Jan 25, 2023 • 42min
#112 – From Outreach to Outsider: Katherine's Story
In this episode, we hear from listener Katherine about her disillusionment with Christianity due to Trump, hell, and bad biblical interpretations on women. What was your breaking point? Join us as we discuss the cracks in our experience of Christianity and explore how to move forward.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

Jan 11, 2023 • 1h 3min
#111 – Canon: Extra-Canonical Text
What kinds of texts were rejected from the New Testament canon? Are extra-canonical texts as dangerous and bad as we used to think? How does history and archaeology affect how we read the Bible today? We wrap up the Canon series diving into these questions and more as we seek to discover better ways to approach biblical and non-biblical texts and use them today.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

Dec 7, 2022 • 1h 12min
#110 – Canon: The Criteria of the New Testament
How did the early church determine which texts would go into the canon and which would not? Are all texts outside the New Testament heretical or dangerous? Does the truth of the canon formation process change how we think about the Bible we have? Nate & Shelby look at how we got the books we have in our bibles and debunk some myths about the process.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

Oct 19, 2022 • 1h 5min
#109 – Canon: Is the Bible Inspired, Inerrant and Infallible?
Explore the canonization of the New Testament Bible. Discuss the meaning of 'theopneustos' in 2 Timothy 3:16. Question the necessity of inerrancy and infallibility. Delve into the linguistic dynamics of first-century Judea. Explore how biblical texts are compiled like a mosaic. Address listener questions about the book of Revelation and eschatology. Discuss the openness of the Ethiopian Orthodox canon and the absence of written works by Jesus.

Sep 7, 2022 • 58min
#108 – Canon: Timeline of New Testament Writings
When were the documents of the New Testament written? Does it matter that details of the Gospels changed over time? What did “Bible,” “scripture,” or “canon” even mean in the first century? In this new series, Nate and Shelby dive into the formation of the New Testament canon. This episode examines the order in which the gospels were written and how we see changes and developments over time.Notes:Pilot's Guilt in Crucifixion of Jesus:
Mark 15:1-15
Matthew 27:11-26
Luke 23:3-27
John 18:28 - John 19:16
Where does Jesus' divinity begin in each gospel?:
Mark 1:9-11
Matthew 1:18 - Matthew 2:23
Luke 2
John 1:1-14
More stories to watch progress over time through Mark, Matthew, Luke, then John:
Woman who anoints Jesus
Peter's denial
Resurrection
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

Aug 31, 2022 • 3min
What is Almost Heretical?
Do you feel alone and crazy as you reimagine your faith? There are so many people on this journey or reexamining Christian faith and doctor, and we provide resources to help you see the Bible in its true ancient and history context.Join the community at almostheretical.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 4, 2022 • 52min
#107 – The January 6th intersection of politics and religion
In the aftermath of the Capitol insurrection on January 6, a prayer was said by the perpetrators in the Senate chamber. The shocking words of that prayer left us stunned. Join us as we dissect the implications and response to this prayer in our latest episode.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

May 11, 2022 • 1h 14min
#106 – Barbara Brown Taylor: Religious Pluralism
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on religious pluralism as we interview Reverend Barbara Brown Taylor, author of Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others. Explore the possibility of Christianity coexisting with other religions and how we can learn from them to become better humans. We also dive into John 14:6 (“I am the way, the truth and the life) and its implications. Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation!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

Apr 27, 2022 • 1h 4min
#105 – Matt Chandler's Views on Deconstruction
What are pastors getting wrong about deconstruction? Do we need more grace for church abuse? Is there ever a good reason to leave church? Nate and Shelby listen to a recent sermon by Matt Chandler of The Village Church and Acts 29 where he talks about the problems with people deconstructing their faith and leaving their church.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
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