The Bible For Normal People

In this engaging discussion, Sarah Byas, wife of Jared Byas, shares her journey of faith transition and its profound impact on parenting. They explore how to talk to their children about Christianity and the Bible, emphasizing the importance of fostering individual expression and critical thinking. The couple navigates the shift from strict rules to more flexible boundaries, tackling complex topics like mortality. Throughout their conversation, they highlight the need for open communication and adaptable parenting strategies that support their children's spiritual growth.

Amanda Mbuvi, a professor of religion, discusses how the Bible plays a role in identity formation. Topics include challenging cultural assumptions for new insights, the role of genealogy in shaping human identity, and the Bible's purpose to create community. They also explore the purpose of Genesis for identity formation and offer tips on approaching the Bible for personal growth and understanding.

The hosts tackle the contentious topic of biblical inerrancy, exploring why many cling to this belief. They delve into its historical roots and emotional attachments, contrasting traditional views with modern interpretations. A discussion on the psychological comfort inerrancy offers in times of doubt leads to a deeper examination of mortality through Ecclesiastes. The conversation encourages embracing uncertainty and reimagining biblical interpretations, promoting a more nuanced relationship with scripture.

We love a good discussion on the formation of the Bible. Listen in as we talk to scholar Richard Elliott Friedman about the various texts that make up the Hebrew Bible, what clues we have to date them, and what makes the Bible a unique work of writings. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s many difficult stories the Bible but one people struggle with the most are those dealing with the death of children. On this episode, we are joined by Maria Doerfler who shares rich perspectives on the stories of Jephthah’s daughter, the sacrifice of Isaac, and how people throughout history have interpreted them. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We had a great conversation with Nadia Bolz-Weber about what is compelling about Christianity, why we all need to stop trying so hard, and what in the world there is to be hopeful about. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode we are answering some of the most asked questions on our Ask Pete page. We get into a lot of topics like how other cultures interpret Jesus, how normal people can study the Bible on their own, and how we make meaning out of the Bible. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah Bessey joins the hosts to talk about her book on prayer and shares what has been helpful in her discovery of what it means to pray. They discuss different forms and purposes of prayer, the importance of authenticity, and the role of scripture. The hosts also pay tribute to Rachel Held Evans and express gratitude to their team.

It shouldn’t be a surprise to us now that people can read the same text and walk away with vastly different meanings. On this episode of the podcast, we’re talking with Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Brettler who share some reasons why Jews and Christians use and understand the Bible in different ways. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Kugel is back on the podcast sharing about how people during the biblical period understood God and how their views changed overtime. How does their understanding of God influence our understandings today?Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices