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
Mar 24, 2021 • 1h 8min
#97 – Dr. Mario Livio - Galileo and science deniers
Why is science denialism more prominent in the Christian church? What are the consequences of suppressing scientific curiosity in the Church? How do we have conversations with friends and family who deny scientific findings and new information? Nate talks with world renowned astrophysicist Dr. Mario Livio about his new book Galileo: And the Science Deniers.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 10, 2021 • 1h 40min
#96 – Krispin and D.L. Mayfield: Mister Rogers, Dave Ramsey and Attachment Theory
Why is Mister Rogers' message to children better than Sunday school? How did Dave Ramsey make the accusation of money a christian value? How can Attachment Theory shine a light on shame-filled messages we often hear in the church? Nate sits down with his friends Danielle and Krispin Mayfield to discuss all of this and more. You can also check out Krispin's podcast Attached to the Invisible and their joint podcast The Prophetic Imagination Station.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
Feb 24, 2021 • 1h 19min
#95 – Julie Anne Smith - Spiritual and Sexual Abuse
Join expert Julie Anne Smith, a researcher dedicated to exposing spiritual and sexual abuse within religious institutions, as she sheds light on the painful stories of survivors like Lori Anne Thompson in the wake of the Ravi Zacharias scandal. Smith discusses the systemic silencing of women's voices and the urgent need for accountability among church leaders. They tackle common dismissive responses to abuse, advocating for genuine dialogue and reform. Learn how critical thinking and transparency can help prevent further abuse in faith communities.
Feb 10, 2021 • 1h 11min
#94 – Kristin Du Mez: From Jesus to Trump
How did a suffering servant named Jesus of Nazareth lead to Christians in America electing and defending someone so opposite in Donald Trump? When and why did voting Pro Life become the main issue in evangelicalism? For all of us that see the problems with Trumpism and evangelicalism already, where do we go from here? Nate talks with Dr. Kristin Du Mez about her book Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation.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
Feb 3, 2021 • 24min
#93 – What happened in 2020
Why did we take a break from the show for almost a year? Nate and Tim share about what happened to them personally in 2020 and talk about what is coming next for the show.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 18, 2020 • 1h 4min
#92 – Unequally yoked
What does it even mean to be unequally yoked? And does any part of the New Testament actually forbid Christians getting married to people who aren’t Christian? And if so, why?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 11, 2020 • 1h 15min
#91 – The Disappointment of the Spirit
God’s spirit living inside of our bodies. That is the central, climactic idea of the New Testament. But what if this grand climax also turned out to be a little disappointing? And what if much of the New Testament actually seems to acknowledge and deal with that disappointment?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
Feb 26, 2020 • 1h 5min
#90 – Sacrifice after Jesus
How did the early church think about the Levitical system and sacrifices after Jesus? Nate and Tim discuss this common and problematic question while seeking to avoid antisemitic supersessionism and find a more sensible understanding of things.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
Feb 12, 2020 • 1h
#89 – Shower first, spirit second
Is baptism really just a bath? Does God really only forgive ignorant people? What is the order of operations related to atonement? Nate and Tim respond to a few more listener questions.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
Feb 5, 2020 • 1h 12min
#88 – Atonement must be Universal
Nate and Tim respond to a few listener questions, discussing how forgiveness itself is tied to liberation as well as why universal atonement isn’t just a possibility but a necessity.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
