In this episode, Jared & Pete answer questions submitted from The Bible For Normal People community. How do we handle a Bible that lies to us? What’s a good Study Bible? Does God allow everything, from death to sickness, droughts, elections, etc? Are all things a present from God? What is the significance of baptism? […]

Pete & Jared talk with Sarah Bessey about her background in the Word of Faith movement, her deconstruction, and her journey to finding freedom in the Scriptures as she learned to read and understand it in a new way.

Pete takes us into the somber book of Ecclesiastes. He cautions us against an optimistic reading as the author intends to question everything — even God Himself. It’s a book that’s not for the faint of heart (or for the new Believer) as you need to have weathered the storms of faith to fully appreciate the tough questions being asked . . . and ultimately, the hope found within!

In this episode, Pete and Jared talk with Jamie Wright, whose experience as a missionary in Costa Rica had led her to question the church, missions and evangelicalism all while retaining her deep love for and faith in Jesus.

In this episode, Jared & Pete talk with Rob Bell about his book, “What is the Bible” and his own evolution in his thinking about the Bible.

In this episode, Pete & Jared define critical thinking and unpack what it means to read the Bible critically. They suggest that a “God said it, that settles it” approach to scripture may not factor in the context, audience and literary style that the author employs in writing. Thinking critically about how we approach scripture allows us to experience the fullness and richness of the text.

In this episode, Pete & Jared speak with Jeffrey Stackert about the origins of the Pentateuch, or the first five books of the Old Testament. Rather than looking at the books as separate works written by Moses, they discuss the documentary hypothesis which suggests that the Pentateuch was compiled from four sources. And many of the contradictions in the text may actually be indications of converging viewpoints from editors including or omitting details to preserve the integrity of the text.

In this episode, Pete & Jared speak with recording artist Audrey Assad about her music, her theology, and the shift from her conservative fundamentalist roots to Catholicism.

In this episode, Jared & Pete talk to Wil Gafney about the Womanist interpretation of the Bible. In their discussion, she brings out fascinating nuances in the text and challenges the predominantly patriarchal interpretation of the past.