In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared again sit down with Richard Rohr, who returns to discuss the biblical prophets—not as predictors of Jesus or future events, but as truth-tellers who confronted the moral failures of their time. Drawing from The Tears of Things, Rohr highlights how prophets spoke to collective injustice—systems of power, wealth, and religion gone wrong—not just individual sin. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-296-richard-rohr-s...
Apr 14, 2025•53 min
In the last episode of All the Buried Women, co-hosts Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke explore the story behind a confidential letter in the SBC’S archives that leads to a pastor’s wife named Maria. They also look at the Southern Baptist Convention's decision to expel churches that ordain women, critiquing the rhetoric of unity and biblical authority used to justify the exclusion of women from leadership roles Last, the episode draws on the lost portrait of Saint Fabiola as a symbol of women...
Apr 10, 2025•59 min
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete takes a closer look at the Book of Esther, tracing its twists and turns while reflecting on its unique place in the biblical canon. He explores how the story functions, what makes it stand out, and what it might have meant to its original audience. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/bible-episode-295-pete-enns-pete-ruins-esther/ Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/jIMZf1fLgJ8 ********** Whether you're deconstructing ...
Apr 07, 2025•54 min
In Episode 4 of All the Buried Women, co-hosts Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke share the story of Christa Brown, a sexual abuse survivor and advocate. Her experience reflects the broader issue of clergy abuse, where victims are often silenced and blamed, while abusers are protected and transferred to new congregations. The episode also highlights Pooler’s research on the harmful psychological impacts of clergy sexual abuse, including PTSD rates higher than those of combat veterans, and the ...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr
In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Matthew Paul Turner, co-author of the new kids’ book “What Is the Bible?” alongside the late Rachel Held Evans. Matthew opens up about how parenting has shaped him, from questioning his own beliefs to embracing a more open, loving approach. He talks about learning from his kids, unlearning old mindsets, and creating a space where curiosity and kindness lead the way. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-5...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 2 min
In Episode 3 of All the Buried Women, co-hosts Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke explore the "loopholes" that allowed women to serve in ministry within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), despite the formal prohibition against female ordination. These loopholes included roles like professors, missionaries, and pastor’s wives, which allowed women to take on leadership and preaching roles in practice, even though they were not officially recognized as ordained ministers. We reached out to th...
Mar 27, 2025•45 min
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared and co-host Aaron Higashi talk with Roberto de la Noval about the doctrine of universalism, the belief that all people will ultimately be reconciled with God. Rob addresses common misconceptions and its roots in the early Church, explaining how theology develops from biblical interpretation, and examining the evolution of doctrine and the role of historical context in shaping belief. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-29...
Mar 24, 2025•55 min
In Episode 2 of All the Buried Women, co-hosts Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke uncover the turbulent and hidden history of women in the Southern Baptist Convention. The story begins in the 1970s, an era of progress and pushback, and follows the journey of Kathy Hoppe, an ordained woman whose call to ministry intersected with a calculated takeover of the SBC. What happens when conviction collides with politics, and how do women respond when their calling is questioned? This episode reveals t...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr 4 min
In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with Erin Hicks Moon about growing up Southern Baptist and how she started rethinking parts of her faith, moving away from certainty and learning to embrace mystery. She shares her experience with deconstruction, the Bible, and how faith can still be meaningful even without having everything figured out. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-54-erin-hicks-moon-disentangling-faith/ Watch this episode on YouTube → h...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 5 min
In the debut episode of All the Buried Women, co-hosts Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke aim to uncover women’s stories hidden in the Southern Baptist Convention’s archives. The story begins in an unexpected place for a podcast about Southern Baptists: 4th-century Rome with Saint Fabiola. Because Fabiola challenged religious and societal norms, her story has become a safe harbor for women with similar experiences… even women in the SBC. Fast forward to 1984, where a pivotal moment in Kansas C...
Mar 13, 2025•57 min
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk to Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke, the creators of our brand new mini-series All the Buried Women, about their journey uncovering the hidden history of women in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) through archival research for Beth’s new book Becoming the Pastor’s Wife. Together they offer a picture of hope for change through truth-telling and historical accountability. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/ep...
Mar 10, 2025•59 min
Savannah Locke introduces All the Buried Women, a compelling new miniseries that uncovers the hidden stories of women within the archives of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). What started as a small passion project grew into a year-and-a-half journey into the history of America’s largest Protestant denomination. Together, historian Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke are bringing to light the experiences of women silenced by their own denomination and the systemic forces that enabled their...
Mar 06, 2025•7 min
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete concludes a lengthy expedition through the book of Genesis with the story of Joseph—emphasizing its role as a bridge between the patriarchal narratives and Israel’s national history, and breaking down how Joseph’s story reflects themes of sibling rivalry, deception, and redemption while also foreshadowing Israel’s future struggles and triumphs. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-292-pete-enns-pete-ruins-genesis-part-5/ Wa...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 1 min
In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with NPR Politics reporter Sarah McCammon about the political influence of evangelicals and their support for Donald Trump. They explore how fear, cultural identity, and political strategy shape evangelical politics; the Republican Party’s relationship with religious voters; and the shifting demographics of Trump’s base. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-53-sarah-mccammon-the-politics-of-evangelicalism/ Watch ...
Feb 24, 2025•58 min
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared and Pete talk with John Dominic Crossan about Paul's identity as a Pharisee and his theological evolution from a persecutor to a messianic Pharisee. Dom further explains Paul's belief in cosmic justice, the significance of Jesus's execution as a revelation of societal violence, and the role of resurrection in promoting a vision for a peaceful, non-violent civilization. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-291-john-dominic-...
Feb 17, 2025•53 min
What does it really mean to stand in solidarity with the marginalized? Pete Enns and Angela Parker are joined by scholar and activist Dr. Larycia Hawkins in this episode of Faith for Normal People to explore the risks and challenges of embodied solidarity, the radical model set by Jesus, and how everyday activism intertwines with a life of faith. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-52-larycia-hawkins-embodied-solidarity/ Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/jWe8_...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 2 min
We’re back for Season 9 of The Bible for Normal People and we’re still asking ourselves, “What is the Bible, and what do we do with it?” In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete Enns and Jared Byas examine how biblical criticism raises questions about traditional understandings of Scripture. They explore the historical evolution of biblical interpretation, from the medieval period to the Enlightenment and then modernism, highlighting the influence of major intellectual and religious ...
Feb 03, 2025•52 min•Season 9Ep. 290
Happy holidays! Podcast producer Brittany and audio engineer/editor Stephen have joined forces to bring you a new tradition—our yearly blooper episode! All of these behind-the-scenes clips were collected throughout Season 8 of The Bible for Normal People and Season 2 of Faith for Normal People. From all of us at B4NP, we wish you a joyful, hopeful end to 2024. See you next year! Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 23, 2024•20 min
In this festive finale of The Bible for Normal People Season 8, Pete and Jared unwrap a big question: does the Old Testament really predict Jesus’s birth? They dive into Matthew’s creative storytelling, explore what prophecy and fulfillment actually mean, and break down some common assumptions about the Christmas story. Show Notes → ********** This episode is brought to you by Pretty Litter. Pretty Litter sounds amazing, and we’re excited to give it a try. If you’d like to try it too, go to pret...
Dec 16, 2024•54 min
How do experiences of pain, identity, and reconciliation shape one’s understanding of God and faith? In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared are joined by Esau McCaulley to talk about how his faith has been formed in the midst of family trauma, anti-Black racism, and the search for identity in America. Together they ponder forgiveness as a transformative process, the hard parts of cultivating a desire for others' flourishing, and the ways suffering can deepen faith. Show Notes...
Dec 09, 2024•55 min
What if the Song of Songs isn’t just ancient love poetry but a key to unlocking deeper biblical conversations about a better world? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Havilah Dharamraj explores how intertextual readings connect Song of Songs with the prophets, revealing themes of deity-devotee connection, sacred marriage, divine hope, and a return to Eden. Show Notes → ********** This episode is brought to you by Litter Robot! Litter-Robot by Whisker is the solution to all your litt...
Dec 02, 2024•44 min
In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Jared Byas talks with therapist and author Hillary McBride along with theologian and psychological scientist Preston McDaniel Hill about the psychological impacts of navigating faith transitions. They explore how faith intersects with mental health and discuss the importance of community, self-trust, and relational support during the process. Hillary and Preston work together on the Spiritual First Responders Project (https://www.sfrproject.org). The S...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 4 min
How does Judaism approach the topic of disability? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Julia Watts Belser joins Pete and Cynthia to examine how the Hebrew Bible portrays disability and how Jewish tradition engages these texts in both ancient and modern contexts. She explains what a “blemish” means in Leviticus, the rabbinic tradition of sacred interpretation, and how disability wisdom can make a better world for everybody. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...
Nov 18, 2024•48 min
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete dives into the chaotic sibling soap opera of Jacob and Esau and all its trickery, questionable family dynamics, and divine wrestling matches. Pete explains how and why this ancient family drama was likely written and edited much later to make sense of Israel’s political squabbles. Show Notes → ********** This episode is brought to you by Pretty Litter. Pretty Litter sounds amazing, and we’re excited to give it a try. If you’d like to try it to...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 7 min
Does the Hebrew Bible matter for Christians? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete is joined by Nerds-in-Residence Anna Sieges-Beal, Aaron Higashi, and Cynthia Shafer-Elliott to answer your questions about the Hebrew Bible (aka Old Testament) including the role it plays for Christians, the historical basis for events like the exodus, and the structure of biblical texts. They explore the origins of familiar stories, differing interpretations, and what these ancient writings mean fo...
Nov 04, 2024•53 min
What parts of our faith are worth holding onto? In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry joins Pete and Jared to discuss ways to think differently about scripture and the importance of keeping love at the center of your being. This is a reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 192 from February 2022. Show Notes → ********** This episode is brought to you by Litter Robot! Litter-Robot by Whisker is the solution to all your litter box problems, with self-cle...
Oct 28, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Should Christians use the Bible as a template for a healthy marriage? In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Dr. Jennifer Bird joins Jared and Angela Parker to bust the myth of “biblical” marriage. She dives into the ways scripture has been used to enforce traditional gender roles, the cultural assumptions embedded in biblical texts about marriage, sex, and property rights, and how these interpretations have influenced Christian thought. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...
Oct 21, 2024•56 min
In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Lee Camp joins Pete and Jared to discuss the relationship between Christianity and politics, challenging the idea that Christianity is apolitical by arguing that Christian faith is inherently political in addressing fundamental human concerns like reconciliation, justice, and community. He also addresses the problematic notion of America as a "Christian nation" and calls for a more thoughtful, less partisan Christian engagement in politics. Show Notes ...
Oct 14, 2024•57 min
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete dives into the story of Abraham in Genesis. Pete explores Abraham’s importance as a pivotal figure in the Bible, detailing his journey, covenants with God, and major themes found in the stories about him. Through a "flyover" of Abraham's life, Pete highlights connections to other parts of the Bible and explores theological tensions for Christians today. Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 07, 2024•1 hr 21 min
In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Elizabeth Orr joins Pete and Jared to discuss the Enneagram and its role in fostering self-compassion and personal growth. Together they highlight how understanding your Enneagram type can lead to greater self-awareness and healthier relationships, and how self-discovery tools like the Enneagram give us a chance to love ourselves—and therefore our neighbors—better. Show Notes → ********** This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Greenlight is a debit c...
Sep 30, 2024•56 min
