The Bible For Normal People

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People Podcast, Jared responds to Skillet lead singer, John Copper, and his public statement, "What in God's Name is Happening in Christianity?" Jared unpacks Christian ethics and the origins of our collective concept of right and wrong. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People Podcast, Pete and Jared talk with theologian and professor Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns about how feminism has changed over the years and the importance of both being rooted in your own traditions and staying open to "the other." Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join a thoughtful exploration of God's goodness through biblical narratives, challenging traditional interpretations with contemporary morality. Engage with the complexities of faith, where personal experiences redefine spirituality. Discover the significance of community, justice, and peacemaking in modern practices. Embrace a diverse theological landscape that honors individual journeys and authentic expressions of belief, moving beyond rigid doctrines to celebrate the richness of faith.

Join renowned biblical scholar Dr. Sylvia Keesmaat and theologian Dr. Brian Walsh as they dive into the Book of Romans. They challenge conventional views on salvation and politics, encouraging a deeper understanding of the text's communal implications. Discover how Jesus' sacrifice redefines concepts of justice and love over divine wrath. Their anti-imperial lens highlights community life in early Christianity, emphasizing inclusivity and resistance against societal injustices. Engage with practical insights that are both timely and transformative.

On this episode of The Bible for Normal People Podcast, we look back to our time with Dr. Amy-Jill Levine on understanding Jesus is his Jewish context. Levine is University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and the author of a number of books including Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete continues his award-winning (his cat seems to like it) and mind-altering series on Exodus by diving into chapters 5-13: Moses and Aaron’s first confrontation with Pharaoh (which did and did not go well) and the story of the plagues, which are loaded with all sorts of symbolic, theological, and mythic meaning. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this engaging discussion, Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar and ecumenical teacher, delves into the concept of the 'universal Christ.' He highlights the need for broader theological education and the importance of personal experience in understanding faith. Rohr explores how this perspective challenges traditional interpretations and emphasizes interconnectedness with creation. He also discusses the complexities of universalism, financial responsibility, and the evolution of Christian thought, ultimately advocating for a more holistic approach to spirituality and social issues.

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People Podcast, Pete and Jared take a close look at the call of David and the battle with Goliath (1 Samuel 16-17) to show how these biblical stories already portray David as a morally complex character from the beginning. These stories also tell us something of the intricate and layered nature of biblical storytelling. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s episode with Rachel Held Evans is among her last podcast interviews, recorded 2 months before her untimely passing on May 4. We offer this episode, unedited, in Rachel’s honor and as a testimony to her humor, insight, power, gentleness, and courage.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: "Inspired" by Rachel Held Evans "Searching For Sunday" by Rachel Held Evans "A Year of Biblical Womanhood" by Rachel Held Evans "Faith Unraveled" by Rachel Held Evans. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Renowned literary scholar Robert Alter shares his insights from decades of translating the Hebrew Bible. He reveals the artistic motivations behind creating a fresh version, emphasizing the need to preserve Hebrew wordplay and literary style. Alter discusses the challenges of translating complex texts like Job and the importance of retaining metaphors to convey their full meaning. He explains how a blend of creativity and scholarly rigor shapes his translation, arguing that the nuances of Hebrew should resonate in English without simplification.