In this conversation, Daniel Rogers, Kyler Burk, and Jared Byas discuss the book of Jonah and how it should be interpreted. They explore the idea that Jonah may not be a historically accurate tale, but rather a work of satire, parody, or allegory. They highlight clues within the text, such as hyperbole and the use of different literary styles, that…

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Aaron Higashi talk to Madhavi Nevader about the rise and fall of monarchy in ancient Israel and its representation in the Bible. Together they explore how Israel's kingship model of power developed, the tension between divine rule and human kingship, and how the theological shifts shown in th…

In this episode, Daniel and Kyler discuss Acts 17 and the different perceptions of God in Greek thought. They explore the idea of an abstract, impersonal deity and the Stoic belief in a withdrawn and indifferent God. They highlight how Jesus, through the Incarnation, challenges these views and reveals a God who is compassionate, loving, and present…

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete continues his exploration of the Book of Genesis, diving into Genesis 5-11 by examining the complexities of the genealogies and the flood narrative, defining source criticism, and more. Show Notes → ********** This episode is sponsored by Beam. If you want to try Beam’s Greens, get up to 40% off …

In this episode, Daniel and Kyler discuss the emphasis on the Holy Spirit and the inclusivity of all people in the outpouring of the Spirit. The sermon in Acts 2 is examined, focusing on the resurrection of Jesus and his exaltation as Lord and Messiah. They discuss the significance of baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, highlighting the tra…

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Greg Carey to explore the concept of apocalyptic literature within the Bible and its broader implications. Greg delves into the meaning of apocalyptic, explains the evolution of apocalyptic literature from proto-apocalyptic texts in the Old Testament to its more developed …

In this conversation, Daniel Rogers interviews William Paul Young, the author of The Shack. They discuss the imagery of God as Father and why some people struggle with this concept. Young explains that many people have difficulty with the Father imagery because of negative experiences with their own fathers. He emphasizes that God as Father is a me…

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared and J. Aaron Simmons delve into the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard’s radical critique of Christendom, explaining why he thought institutionalized religion had strayed from a more true Christian faith. They also cover Kierkegaard’s belief in faith as a lived experience rather than mere doctrine and th…

In this episode, Daniel and Kyler have a conversation with author, podcast host, and all around great guy Jason Clark of "Rethinking God with Tacos." We talk about "Leaving and Finding Jesus", living "from" and not "to" God, and how our mind is renewed through encountering God's kindness through Jesus. We discuss our backgrounds and experiences wit…

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Amy-Jill Levine about misconceptions surrounding the Pharisees and how to understand them in their context. The conversation delves into the historical background of the Pharisees, their role in Jewish society, and how they have been stereotyped over time. Show Notes → *******…

In this episode, Daniel and John Philip Newell discuss his new book "The Great Search." They explore original goodness, Celtic Christianity, and how all of us have a longing for Love, Peace, and a place to call home. Preorder "The Great Search" today: https://www.earthandsoul.org/ Subscribe to my substack for weekly posts: https://danielcrogers.sub…

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared and Angela Parker talk to Yolanda Pierce about the different paths of deconstruction, how womanist and intersectional theology provides plenty good room, and why true multicultural diversity is more than just different faces in a shared space. Show Notes → ********** Mentioned in This Episode Class:…

This is a follow up of the last episode (Season 1: Episode 4). In this episode, Daniel and Kyler discuss how Kyler's new perspective on God and life has lead him to seek fellowship with Christians of other denominations. Subscribe to my substack for weekly posts: https://danielcrogers.substack.com Daniel's Usual Self-promotion Daniel's new book (an…

A tale as old as time…Pete is ruining the book of Genesis! In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete lovingly dissects Genesis 1-4 and the biblical story of “how things began.” Show Notes → ********** This episode is sponsored by Lumi. To learn more about microdosing THC, go to Microdose.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE to get free shipping…

In this podcast, Daniel talks with Kyler Burk, a listener of Exploring Faith, Pursuing Grace. Kyler began listening to the podcast after reading Daniel's book "How a 25-Year-Old Learned He Wasn't the Only One Going to Heaven." Through the podcast, he learned about grace, mercy, and the love of God. Here's here now to tell his story. Subscribe to my…

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete talks to David Dark about the necessity of doubt in the life of faith and the human experience. Show Notes → ********** This episode is sponsored by AG1. If you want to take ownership of your health, it starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs …

In this podcast, Daniel and Brian McLaren talk about his new book "Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart." You can find details about it here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/194534247-life-after-doom Subscribe to my substack for weekly posts: https://danielcrogers.substack.com Daniel's Usual Self-promotion Daniel's new …

What makes biblical studies different from theology, and vice versa? Why does it matter? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared ruminate on the goals, methods, and focus of each distinct field and why it’s important to understand the difference when engaging with the Bible and faith. Show Notes → ********** This episode is s…

In this podcast, Daniel talks with Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns about her recent book "Re-enchanting the Text: Discovering the Bible as Sacred, Dangerous, and Mysterious." Follow Cheryl on Twitter: https://x.com/cb_johns Order Re-enchanting the Text: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59867326-re-enchanting-the-text Daniel's Usual Self-promotion Subsc…

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared and Jennifer Garcia Bashaw talk with Regina Shands Stoltzfus about the intersection of faith and nonviolence, how theology taught in church moves us to certain beliefs about violence, and how we can begin addressing societal issues through peace-focused actions. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad…

Want to be on the podcast? Know someone who does? Just want to chat through Zoom about your faith journey without an audience? Use this link: https://calendly.com/danielcr2011/90min Subscribe to my substack for weekly posts: https://danielcrogers.substack.com Daniel's Usual Self-promotion Daniel's new book (and audio book!): How a 25-Year-Old Learn…

Who was really responsible for the execution of Jesus—Roman soldiers or Jewish leaders? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, J. Christopher Edwards joins Pete and Jared to explore early Christian narratives that began shifting culpability for the crucifixion from Roman soldiers to Jewish leaders, and highlighting how these misconceptions…

What does Nehemiah have to teach us about the challenge of hermeneutics and theology today? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete ruins the book of Nehemiah by illuminating the key concepts, overarching themes, character arcs, and sociopolitical context found in the text; plus gives some takeaways about biblical interpretation for ou…

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jennifer Garcia Bashaw joins Pete and Jared to discuss how various atonement theories attempt to explain Jesus’s death. This is a reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 183 from October 2021. Show Notes → For those of you who pay attention to the show notes, you can learn more about atonement …