Do you find yourself worried about a demon-haunted world? Do you look to angels for protection? This week, we're going to the source to see what the Bible actually says about all that. Forget the adorable winged toddlers your mother in law has hanging in her kitchen, because biblical angels are a whole 'nother type of celestial being! And as for demons... well, maybe you don't have to worry quite as much as certain megachurch pastors want you to believe you do. For an ad-free version of the show...
Oct 16, 2023•1 hr
Welp, armageddon is coming. Again. At least according to people who are watching for signs in the Euphrates river. This week the internet is taking biblical stories and really running with them, and we're here to check the facts and do the math. First, it's the great escape as angels attempt to free themselves from from their fluvial Alcatraz. Then, we fee-fi-fo-fum our way through the story of the Nephilim. Did divine beings really have sex with human women? What did they have to talk about? Fo...
Oct 09, 2023•1 hr
This week we welcome scholar and author Matthew Thiessen to talk about his new book A Jewish Paul: the Messiah's Herald to the Gentiles. Thiessen goes into the hotly contested realm of Pauline interpretation, and discusses how deeply problematic (read: antisemitic) some of those interpretations can be. You can find Dr. Thiessen's books wherever you find your great books. Go follow him on Twitter https://twitter.com/MattThiessenNT For an ad-free version of the show, exclusive content, and an oppo...
Oct 02, 2023•56 min
Jordan Peterson is a monster. Or at least he wants to be, and he wants you to be one too! This week on Data Over Dogma, we discuss the most famous sermon given by Jesus, and incredibly inaccurate (and frankly disgusting) way that J.P. decided to interpret it. We'll go through the sermon on the mount beatitude-by-beatitude, to explicate what each of them mean. We'll learn about how Jesus valued kindness and gentleness and yes, meekness. And then we'll learn that Dr. Peterson absolutely HATES that...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 7 min
This week we say shalom to TikToker and self-proclaimed "massive Jewish nerd" Miriam Anzovin. Miriam has delighted many and enraged others in the Jewish world with her unorthodox (in all the ways) take on important Jewish texts. In her TikTok series "Daf Reactions" Miriam goes through the Daf Yomi, a page-a-day cycle of Talmudic study, tying the Talmud in to her daily life as a milennial in modern society. Her videos take a critical look at the writings of the ancient sages, and connect the stor...
Sep 18, 2023•1 hr 5 min
It's one of the big issues of our time. A great dividing line in our society. In fact, at this point it's almost impossible not to have big feelings about the issue of abortion. And one of the big weapons used in galvanizing people in the culture war is the Bible. But does it actually say what people on both sides of the issue claim it says? This week, Data Over Dogma dives into the deep end of this controversial pool to explore whether the Bible actually takes a stance on abortion. Many in the ...
Sep 11, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Want to know why the first two books of the Bible conflict with each other? Confused by the story of Joseph that seems to keep switching its narrative mid-stream? Looking for an explanation for why the pentateuch (that's the first five books of the Bible) seems like it's a bunch of different traditions all smashed together? Well, this week on D>D, we've brought in Princeton University's Dr. Liane M. Feldman to talk about--brace yourself--neodocumentarianism! That's right, neodocumentarianism....
Sep 04, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Look out, Cecil B. DeMille, because the Dans are coming for you! That's right--making absolutely zero apologies to Messrs DeMille, Heston, or even Kilmer (for all you Dreamworks fans), we're letting the data run roughshod over the story of the biblical exodus. The tale is beloved: a man of lowly birth but raised among royalty returns to his roots to save his enslaved people from bondage, but did any of it actually happen? How much do we actually know, and how do we know it? Then we dive deep int...
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 6 min
How old was he? Well, he was so old that Dr. Dan is sick of getting asked about him all the time! That's right, this week we're starting the show discussing the ages of the patriarchs. Did Noah and his ancestors really live over nine hundred years each? Could Adam actually have celebrated his great, great, great, great, great, great grandson's 50th birthday with him? If not, why would the Bible say that? Then we move on to another tricky topic: the apocrypha! Why were some books kept in the Bibl...
Aug 21, 2023•1 hr
You're not going to want to miss this one! This week, the Dans are resurrected as star stuff when they interview scholar and friend David A. Burnett. You're not going to want to miss this one, as David connects Paul's ideas of the afterlife with the deposing of the divine council, and a new arrangement in the firmament. Will you make the cut as a celestial body? They'll also dig deep into the scholarship to discover whether monotheism was ever actually a thing in ancient southwest Asia, or if th...
Aug 14, 2023•1 hr 18 min
Move over Shrek, because Data Over Dogma got their own talking donkey. That said, this is D>D, so you won't be surprised to learn that the verbose ass may be the least interesting thing about the story of Balaam. You'll have to listen to find out what twists and turns the discussion takes, but you know you're in for some fun when we tell you that at some point, God might be labeled "satan". Speaking of... what's up with the devil anyway? In our second segment "Could it be... SATAN?" (you're w...
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 18
First off this week, we're talking KJV. Where did the King James version of the Bible come from? Why is it a "version" and not a "translation"? Why did King James decide a new version was necessary, and was he actually involved in its creation? Is there-gasp-more than one King James Version? Then, the Dan's grab their magnifying glasses and deerstalker caps to investigate why some versions of the Bible seem to have missing verses. Is foul play afoot? Tune in to find out! If you want to support o...
Jul 31, 2023•59 min
Do yo think you know your apostles? Can you name the original twelve? Is that even a thing that can actually be done? It seems like it should be a simple task, but this week the Dans dive in to the apostolic deep end, and find a total mess waiting. First, it's "what's in a name?" when Dan B can't figure out who is who. Fortunately, Dan M is there to step in and explain all the name-changes, the translations and transliterations, and possible substitutions in the original apostle roster. Then, it...
Jul 24, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Call Ted Danson, because this week we're going to the bad place. Does the Bible really threaten sinners and nonbelievers with eternal torment? Was the idea of hell made up long after the Bible was written? Get out your asbestos snorkle and mask, because we're going to probe deep into the lake of eternal fire, and see what we can find. Then, it's "what ever happened to baby Judas" as we look at two Biblical accounts of how brother Iscariot met his earthly end, and realize they don't quite match u...
Jul 17, 2023•1 hr 1 min
This week we're delving into the legends, myths, misunderstandings, and slanders surrounding Lilith. Who or what is Lilith? Feminist icon? First wife to Adam? Night demon? Owl? We break down the origin stories, and get to the bottom of this mysterious and fascinating character. Then, "stele" Dan McClellan gives the inside scoop on the standing stones of ancient southwestern Asia. We discuss their archaeological importance, their cultural and religious significance, and where you can get one of y...
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr 1 min
This week Dr. Dan says "alright, let's see it" to claims about whether or not God can regret. Does Genesis actually say that God repented for making humanity? Then, hot on the heels of a big trip to Israel, the Dans discuss modern archaeology and what it can tell us about the ancient world. If you want to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at www.patreon.com/DataOverDogma Also, follow us on the various social media places: facebook.com/DataOverDogmaPod twitter.com/data_o...
Jul 03, 2023•1 hr 1 min
This week Bible scholar (and singer/songwriter) Elizabeth Schrader Polczer joins us to discuss Mary Magdalene. Dr Schrader Polczer plumbs the depths of textual criticism to explore a fuller and possibly more accurate view of the mysterious and often misunderstood character. Could it be that she was a much more prominent figure than we previously thought? If you want to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at www.patreon.com/DataOverDogma Also, follow us on the various soci...
Jun 26, 2023•1 hr 14 min
So many of our listeners have asked "which translation of the Bible is the best?" Well this week, the Dans do a deep dive into the Bible's journey from ancient Hebrew and Greek into English. We're tackling the twists and turns and socio-political machinations that led to the words we read in today's versions of the text. If you want to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at www.patreon.com/DataOverDogma Also, follow us on the various social media places: facebook.com/Data...
Jun 19, 2023•1 hr 21 min
Happy Pride month, everybody! This week, Dr. McClellan takes a deep dive into gayness. Wait. That doesn't sound right... He takes a deep dive into the Bible's view on gayness. Yeah, that sounds better. What does the Bible actually say? What DOESN'T it say? And how much of what it says actually applies in a modern context? Homosexuality is one of the great dividing issues of our time, and much of that division is driven by Christian leaders using the Bible to condemn members of the LGBTQIA+ commu...
Jun 12, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 10
This week, Dan B looks to the book of Revelation to explain why UPC bar codes and covid vaccines are bad. But Dan M steps in with his decoder ring, and with just a little sleuthing, they finally solve the mystery of the mark of the beast (hint: it was old man Caruthers, the spooky mansion's caretaker, and he would've gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for those meddling kids!) Then, Dan M digs into his dissertation grab-bag and pulls out Prototype Theory. And somehow in the process, he m...
Jun 05, 2023•1 hr 5 min
This week, the Dans are joined by scholar and fellow biblical TikToker Aaron Higashi. In this interview Dr. Higashi talks about theological context, and the fact that every believer is coming from a particular perspective. He also discusses the perils and rewards of turning biblical scholarship out toward the public. Find Dr. Higashi's work at: https://www.tiktok.com/@abhbible https://www.instagram.com/abhbible/ https://www.youtube.com/@abhbible If you want to support our work, please consider b...
May 29, 2023•1 hr 7 min
This week we dive into the deep end of biblical polytheism. First, we go "chapter and verse" discussing 2 Kings, chapter 3. It's a war campaign with a VERY surprising ending. Next it's a fascinating look at what's happening in Psalm 82 and the cultural and historical context of the divine council. If you want to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at www.patreon.com/DataOverDogma Also, follow us on the various social media places: facebook.com/DataOverDogmaPod twitter.com...
May 22, 2023•1 hr 8 min
Is all scripture written (or breathed) by God? This week we use big words like "univocal" to explore the implications of the Bible having only one author. Is every verse divinely inspired? And if not, what are the implications of a fallible text? If you want to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at patreon.com/DataOverDogma Also, follow us on the various social media places: facebook.com/DataOverDogmaPod twitter.com/data_over_dogma Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
May 15, 2023•1 hr 6 min
This week it's misconceptions all the way down! First, the Dans go out to the backyard and hunt for brightly colored misconceptions about the origins of Easter. Then, risking life and limb from melanin-challenged monks sent by Opus Dei (or maybe Doubleday publishing), Dr. McClellan directly challenges his holiness, Dan Brown about the purpose and accomplishments of the Council of Nicaea. If you enjoy the Data Over Dogma podcast, and feel like helping out, please consider becoming a patron at: ht...
May 08, 2023•54 min
On this week's show, the Dans talk apocalypse with Bart Ehrman. Ehrman's new book Armageddon: What the Bible Really Says About the End is a deep-dive into one of the Bible's most confounding books, Revelation. We talk about the rapture (and all the missed predictions of it), predictions of doom, and whether Revelation was meant to be talking about the future at all. You can subscribe to Dr Ehrman's blog at: https://ehrmanblog.org/ To take one of his online courses, check out https://www.bartehrm...
May 01, 2023•53 min
This week the Dans dive back into Chapter and Verse with the story of Lot, the angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah. Then, they dive in to the problem of provenance. How do we know when an artifact is legit, and if we're not sure... what do we do about it? If you want to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at patreon.com/DataOverDogma Also, follow us on the various social media places: facebook.com/DataOverDogmaPod twitter.com/data_over_dogma Learn more about your ad choices. V...
Apr 24, 2023•1 hr 1 min
This week we interview the inimitable Francesca Stavrakopoulou. Author, scholar, and BBC documentary presenter, Dr. Stavrakopoulou discusses some big questions about the God of the Bible. Did He have a body? Did He have a wife? Did He demand child sacrifice? It's all big questions and some potentially surprising answers on this week's Data Over Dogma! Find Dr. Stavrakopoulou on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/ProfFrancesca If you want to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly pat...
Apr 17, 2023•55 min
It's the beginning of the podcast, and we couldn't be more excited! In our inaugural episode, the Dans go "Chapter and Verse" with the creation story--sorry, stories--in Genesis 1, 2, and 3. Then, in "What does that Mean?" we discuss the tetragrammaton, and what the Bible says about God's name. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 08, 2023•1 hr 10 min
