Latest articles, page 3 of 6 ↓
This 1,700-Year-Old Song Is the Oldest Christian Music We Have
Ever wondered what the first Christian praise and worship service sounded like? Join us as Dr. Charles Cosgrove unveils the mystery of the Oxyrhynchus Hymn, the earliest known Christian hymn with musical notation!
Inside purity culture and Christian nationalism with Monte Mader
What happens when you're raised to be a militant Christian nationalist Supreme Court justice, but you decide to actually study church history instead? This week, we are thrilled to welcome social media powerhouse, educator, and musician Monte...
Why No One Can Prove the Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus is probably one of the most well known stories from the New Testament. But how do historians deal with this miraculous event? Should it be discounted in its entirety, or can it be investigated using the historical method?...
EP 350: The Wounded Church: Tending to the Harm within Catholicism w/Dr. Annie Selak
Dr. Annie Selak (she/her/hers) is an expert in feminist ecclesiology. She studies wounds in the church, or moments where the church fails to live into its mission and causes harm. Racism, sexism, and the clergy sex abuse crisis are examples of the...
Let's Get Weird!
Most parents think their kids are pretty great. That makes sense. But if your son is the messianic savior of the world, the bragging rights are kind of through the roof. And that's what we get in Hebrews 1. The claim here is that God told the...
[Bible] Episode 330: Bruce Longenecker - The Vision of Galatians
In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Bruce Longenecker about Galatians, Paul’s understanding of the Torah, and the kind of community he believed the gospel creates. They explore how Paul reframes identity...
Evangelicals and Queer Activism
What is the history of evangelical queer activism? William Stell, author of Born Again Queer: A History of Evangelical Gay Activism and the Making of Antigay Christianity, joins us to discuss what gay evangelical activists set out to achieve. Who...
Before Genesis: What the Old Testament Borrowed from Mesopotamian Stories
The Old Testament wasn't written in a cultural vacuum, but who and what influenced its writers. Today we're talking about the cultural background of the Old Testament and how the literature and societies of the surrounding cultures impacted its...
C. S. Lewis and the Bible with Leslie Baynes
Beloved novelist Clive Staples Lewis (Jack to his friends)(?) went through an atheist phase in his life. But that didn't last, and when he came back to Christianity, he came back HARD! Everyone who knows his work beyond life in a wardrobe is well...
[Faith] Episode 72: Roberto De La Noval & Jordan Wood - How the Early Church Read the Bible (Reissue from Bonus)
In this week’s episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared talks with Roberto de la Noval and Jordan Wood about the church fathers, the development of doctrine, and how early Christians approached the Bible. They explore how figures like Augustine...
Madang Podcast: James F. McGrath, Ep.60
Welcome to Madang.Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in...
Who Was Allah Before Islam?
EP 349: The YouTube Prosperity Gospel w/Dr. Kaitlyn Ugoretz
Kaitlyn Ugoretz (Lecturer, Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, Nanzan University, Japan; PhD, East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, in progress) is an anthropologist of religion focused on the...
65. Antti Marjanen, "Is Thomas a Gnostic Gospel?"
Is the Gospel of Thomas a gnostic gospel? And what would that mean anyways? A discussion of Antti Marjanen's essay, "Is Thomas a Gnostic Gospel?."
5 Evangelical Truisms that Aren't True
Love him or hate him, if you're listening to this podcast then you're probably familiar with some of Dr. Bart Ehrman's beliefs - but how familiar are you with the ideas he used to hold when he was an evangelical Christian?
The Queen of Heaven?
Just when you think you have biblical theology figured out, they throw you a curveball! In this case, the curve in question is the character explicitly referred to in Jeremiah as the queen of heaven. "Wait!" you might be saying to yourself, "I know...
[Bible] Episode 329: Jared Byas - 10 Aha Moments in Biblical Scholarship: Part 1
In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared takes listeners on a tour through the history of modern biblical scholarship, tracing key “aha moments” that changed how scholars understand the Bible. From source criticism and the...
EP 348: Dr. Kira Ganga Kieffer on "Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America"
Kira Ganga Kieffer is a scholar of American religions, history, culture, and politics with a PhD in Religious Studies from Boston University. She is Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Fairfield University. Kieffer's first book,...
Is the Trinity Really in the Bible?
The doctrine of the Trinity - that there's one single God who is father, son, and holy spirit - is central to modern Christianity. But is it even in the Bible?
Even Heretics Deserve Rituals! With Jeremy Steele
For as long as there have been humans, there have been rituals. Every religion and spiritual practice has developed its own set of practices and rites, and attached sacred meaning to them. But behind the theology and mysticism, is there something...
[Bible] Episode 328: Vanessa Lovelace - Is Deuteronomy History?
In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Vanessa Lovelace about the Deuteronomistic history and why Deuteronomy plays such a central role in shaping Israel’s story. They explore how biblical writers...
A Study in How Migration Shapes Religion (Rerun)
Today, we are bringing you a rerun from our very first season. Dr. Chaves' research is a strong reminder of the migration experience and how it shapes religious life.In this episode, Dr. João Chaves discusses what he learned from years of research...
[Bible] Episode 327: Douglas Campbell - Ripping Up the Romans Road
In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Douglas Campbell about rethinking the “Romans Road” and what Paul is really doing in his letter to the Romans. They explore how common readings have turned Romans into...
Vaccine Hesitancy and Religion
How is vaccine hesitancy in America like a religion? Kira Ganga Kieffer, author of Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America, joins us to discuss connections between vaccine hesitancy and religion. What factors...
Theology, Ethics, and a Church in Conflict: A Conversation with Amy Carr and Christine Helmer (Rerun)
Enjoy this rerun from the Fall 2023 season! What an excellent episode.-------------------------Welcome to our Fall 2023 season! In this episode, Zen speaks with Amy Carr and Christine Helmer about their brand new Baylor University Press book...
Madang Podcast: Kelly Nikondeha, Ep. 59
Welcome to Madang.Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in...
EP 347: Beyond Wellness with Liz Bucar
Liz Bucar is a religious ethicist and professor of religion at Northeastern University, as well as a certified intenSati and Kripalu yoga instructor. Her popular writing has appeared in The Atlantic, the Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, and The Wall...
[Bible] Episode 326: Chris Keith - How do Scholars Reconstruct the "Historical Jesus?"
In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Chris Keith about the historical Jesus, and how scholars approach the gap between the Jesus of history and the Jesus of the Gospels. They explore why the Gospels...
EP 346: Deepak Chopra-Jeffrey Epstein Connections & the Spirituality Industry Crisis w/Dr. Ann Gleig
Ann Gleig (Professor of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Central Florida; PhD, Rice University, 2010) studies spirituality emerging from the encounter between Buddhism and American culture, particularly meditation and mindfulness. The...
Trans Studies in Religion and Feminism mini-series by El/yse Ambrose: Palgrave Handbook of Queer and Trans Studies in Religion panel
In this special episode of Feminists Talk Religion, part of the ongoing Trans Studies in Religion and Feminism mini-series by El/yse Ambrose, contributors collectively reflect on the publication of a new discipline-defining text, Palgrave Handbook...
[Bible] Episode 325: Pete Ruins Everything with Amy-Jill Levine
In this week’s episode of Pete Ruins Everything, Pete talks with Amy-Jill Levine about supersessionism and its impact on how Christians understand Judaism and the New Testament. They explore how ideas like “replacement theology” show up in biblical...
BSIR: Everyday Christianity with Global Voices
Today's guest host is Joao Chavez and he speaks with BSIR scholars Paul Fiddes and Raimundo Baarreto on everyday christianity with global voices. João B. Chaves joined the Department of Religion at Baylor University in the fall semester of 2023....
Aramaic Jesus: Tradition, Identity, and Christianity's Mother Tongue: A Discussion with Bruce Chilton
In today’s episode, Claire is joined by Bruce Chilton to discuss his book Aramaic Jesus with Baylor University Press. Bruce Chilton’s Aramaic Jesus is a groundbreaking study in pursuit of this "Aramaic Jesus," a pursuit that requires awareness of...
Madang Podcast: Kristin T. Lee , Ep. 58
Welcome to Madang.Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in...
After 1177BC: The Survival of Civilizations: A Chat with Eric Cline
In today’s episode, I am joined by Eric H. Cline, an archaeologist and ancient historian at George Washington University. He speaks about the time of innovation and change that comes as the Bronze Age collapses and the Iron Age emerges in his book...
Puerto Rican Converts to Islam
What is contributing to the number of Puerto Ricans converting to Islam, and what is the longer history of Latino Muslims in the Americas? Ken Chitwood, author of Borícua Muslims: Everyday Cosmopolitanism among Puerto Rican Converts to Islam, joins...
Negotiating Jewishness: Paul's Ethnicity Between Continuity and Discontinuity: A Discussion with Ruben A. Bühner
In today’s episode, Claire is joined by Ruben Buhner to talkabout his book Negotiating Jewishness: Paul's Ethnicity Between Continuity and Discontinuity. The assertion that Paul remained a Jew throughout his liferequires little further...
EP 345: Relational Ethics and Indigenous Plant Medicines w/Dr. Natalie Avalos
Natalie Avalos (Assistant Professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies, University of Colorado Boulder; PhD, University of California Santa Barbara, 2015) is an ethnographer of religion whose research examines contemporary Indigenous...
Murder in the Tidwell Building: Meet the Authors Jim Nogalski and Mark Biddle
In today’s episode, I am speaking with James "Jim" Nogalski and Mark Biddle about their book Murder in the Tidwell Building. This is a rare treat for us as one of our very own Baylor Religion professors has written a crime novel set in the Religion...
Madang Podcast: Stephanie Spellers, Ep. 57
Welcome to Madang.Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in...
Madness, Theocracy, and Anarchism: A Discussion with Barry Harvey
According to some of the most influential thinkers of the modern era, it is madness to subordinate all one’s aims to one end. Such thinkers believe that the church in particular should limit itself to matters of religion, spirituality, and moral...
Understanding Gaza
What was life like in Gaza before October 7, 2023, and what has it been like since the ceasefire at the end of 2025? Gilbert Achcar, author of Gaza Catastrophe: The Genocide in World-Historical Perspective, joins us to discuss Gaza today and...
The Roots of Reproductive Injustice: A conversation with Elizabeth O'Brien
Elizabeth O'Brien, associate professor of history at UCLA and winner of the 2024 AAR Best First Book in the History of Religions Award, speaks to Kristian Petersen about her book, Surgery and Salvation: The Roots of Reproductive Injustice in...
The Roots of Reproductive Injustice: A conversation with Elizabeth O'Brien
Elizabeth O'Brien, associate professor of history at UCLA and winner of the 2024 AAR Best First Book in the History of Religions Award, speaks to Kristian Petersen about her book, Surgery and Salvation: The Roots of Reproductive Injustice in...
Grounded Theology: A Chat with Elizabeth Backfish and Cynthia Shafer-Elliott
In this week's episode, Claire is joined by Elizabeth Backfish and Cynthia Shafer-Elliott to discuss their book Grounded Theology in the Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Cultural Context That Formed Ancient Israel. This book combines archaeology and...
Madang Podcast: Robert G. Callahan, II, Ep. 56
Welcome to Madang.Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in...
Guns and White Evangelicals
Why do so many white evangelicals, the religious group with the highest gun ownership rates in the country, believe they have a “God-given right” to possess firearms? William Kole, author of In Guns We Trust: The Unholy Trinity of White...
NT Pod 114: Is Luke a Historian?
NT Pod 114 asks, "Is Luke a Historian?" It is just over 14 minutes long. NT Pod 114: Is Luke a Historian? (mp3) Key texts: Luke 1.1-4, 1.5, 2.1-2, 3.1-2, 4.16-30, 5.1-11, 7.36-50.The video version is here. Feel free to leave your feedback...
Madang Podcast: Wes Granberg-Michaelson, Ep. 55
Welcome to Madang.Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in...