The Bible For Normal People

In this week’s episode of The Bible for Normal People, Jared continues his tour through the history of modern biblical scholarship, exploring five (or six) more “aha moments” that transformed how scholars understand the Bible. From Rudolf Bultmann’s challenge to interpret ancient texts in a modern world and the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, to new insights about editorial shaping, literary criticism, and the role of readers themselves, he traces how scholarship increasingly revealed the Bible as a dynamic, evolving tradition. Along the way, Jared highlights the rise of feminist, liberationist, and postmodern approaches, as well as the New Perspective on Paul, showing how fresh historical evidence and diverse voices have reshaped long-held assumptions about scripture, interpretation, and faith. Together, these developments invite listeners to approach the Bible with greater historical awareness, intellectual humility, and curiosity about the communities that produced, preserved, and continue to interpret these sacred texts. Show Notes → www.thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episodes/bible-episode-331-jared-byas-10-aha-moments-in-biblical-scholarship-part-two Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/9ON3DH-eGxk ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by Garrett Theological Seminary. Whether you feel called to care and counsel, public service, prophetic arts, or non-profit management, there’s a program at Garrett Seminary that’s right for you. Apply by July 15th to begin a Master’s degree this fall. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠garrett.edu/normalpeople⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with theologian and ethicist Jared Stacy about the rise of conspiracy thinking, especially within American evangelicalism. Drawing on his research, Jared Stacy explains how conspiracy theories tap into fears of cultural decline, offer a sense of control, and become spiritually charged narratives about good and evil. He also explores opportunities for people to recognize these patterns and consider more grounded, truth-seeking ways of engaging faith and public life. Show Notes →https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-71-jared-stacy-the-evangelical-to-conspiracy-theory-pipeline/ Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/Lu3-F8Zu21A ********** This episode is sponsored by Factor. Head to factormeals.com/normalpeople50off and use code normalpeople50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. Eat like a pro this month with Factor. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which knows sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why they offer mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. ********** This episode is sponsored by ButcherBox, which delivers over 100 premium protein options straight to your door, including 100% grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, crate-free pork, and wild-caught seafood. New listeners can get their choice between organic ground beef, chicken breast or ground turkey in every box for a year, PLUS $20 off when you go to ButcherBox.com/NORMALPEOPLE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season's greetings from Team B4NP! Podcast producer Brittany and audio engineer Joel have joined forces to bring you the third annual installment of our holiday roast, otherwise known as bloopers from this past season of the podcasts. Enjoy some silly behind-the-scenes content from your favorite episodes of Season 9 of The Bible for Normal People and Season 3 of Faith for Normal People. From all of us here at The Bible for Normal People, we wish you happy holidays and a wonderful new year. See you in 2026! Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-70-a-holiday-roast/ Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/FbmS7ukzoDI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared sit down with Diana Butler Bass to talk about the Christian calendar. Diana walks through the history of how the Christian calendar came to be, what levels of importance different traditions give it, and how the Christian calendar can serve as a symbol of resistance against other timelines that might be dominated by capitalism and imperialism. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-69-diana-butler-bass-resisting-christmas-and-why-the-christian-calendar-still-matters/ Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/NhfpmBjSpG0 ********** This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Greenlight is a debit card and money app made for families: parents can send money to their kids and keep an eye on kids’ spending and saving, while kids and teens build money confidence and lifelong financial literacy skills. Sign up for Greenlight today at greenlight.com/normalpeople. ********** This episode is sponsored by Aura Frames. For a limited time, visit AuraFrames.com and get $45 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames, named #1 by Wirecutter, by using promo code NORMALPEOPLE at checkout. This exclusive Black Friday Cyber Monday deal is their best of the year, so order now before it ends! Support the show by mentioning us at checkout! Terms and conditions apply. ********** This episode is brought to you by Brooklyn Bedding, which offers mattresses for every body, every sleep style – even in hard-to-find sizes. Take the Brooklyn Bedding Sleep Quiz and find your perfect match in under 2 minutes. Go to brooklynbedding.com and use our promo code BIBLE at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Faith For Normal People, Pete and Jared revisit a conversation with Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of the bestselling book Jesus and John Wayne. The conversation explores the history of “toxic” masculinity in both the church and American pop culture, and how Christians in 2025 can be part of the resistance efforts against harmful cultural structures. This is a reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 170 from June 2021. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-68-kristin-kobes-du-mez-a-church-history-of-toxic-masculinity-reissue/ Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/OAjNnqgLkeA ********** This episode is sponsored by Aura Frames. For a limited time, visit AuraFrames.com and get $45 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames, named #1 by Wirecutter, by using promo code NORMALPEOPLE at checkout. This exclusive Black Friday Cyber Monday deal is their best of the year, so order now before it ends! Support the show by mentioning us at checkout! Terms and conditions apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the final Pete Ruins episode of 2025, Pete Enns speaks to everyone who has ever read Song of Songs and wondered “why the heck is this in the Bible?” Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-313-pete-ruins-song-of-songs/ Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/FmFfQL2ahqc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices