Lucas and Reichert continue their conversation about the relationship between faith and science, and how the Bible fits in the middle. Can someone believe in evolutionary science and still be a Christian? Are we reading modern questions into an ancient text? How do we reconcile the words of Scripture with what modern science tells us about the universe? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.
S4E6 - Christianity And/Or Evolution? (Part 1)
Faith and science have often been pitted against each other, as if one can only hold to one or the other. The Bible is right in the middle of this conversation. Can someone believe in evolutionary science and still be a Christian? Are we reading modern questions into an ancient text? How do we reconcile the words of Scripture with what modern science tells us about the universe? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.
S4E5 - The Bible & The Modern Age
The Bible is a religious book. That goes without saying. For thousands of years it’s been a source of hope and direction for billions of people. Even those who don’t hold any commitment to a singular faith acknowledge the Bible as a profound literary work, even if it’s only one of many sources of divine revelation. But it seems like those who don’t hold any faith commitments at all are often left out of the picture. The caricature of those people is that they are mockingly dismissive of or vehemently opposed to the Bible. But perhaps some just don’t care about it at all. What about them?
At the same time, the Bible is in many ways a very human collection of writings, a book grounded in the human experience. And the knowledge gained by humans at any point in time is inherently limited, whether by our five senses or our finite mental capacity to understand things beyond ourselves. Christians throughout the ages have had to wrestle with what it means for the Bible to have both human and divine authors.
In this fifth episode of our Bible series, we ask, how do we balance the belief in Scripture as divine revelation with the reality of its human authors and editors. Where does one author stop and the other begin? Can a “non-faith-committed” person glean anything from the Bible? Can someone believe in evolutionary science and still be a Christian? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.
S4E4 - Preparing to Read the Bible (Part 2)
In this episode Lucas and Reichert continue talking about the work that needs to be done to understand the Bible well. What are some unquestioned assumptions that we as readers take into our readings of Scripture? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.
S4E3 - Preparing to Read the Bible (Part 1)
Reading well is difficult. Interpretation even more so. When it comes to the Bible, there is no straight line from the text through interpretation to application. While each reader comes to the Bible with a set of assumptions about what the text is and what it is communicating, the Bible comes with its own set of cultural, linguistic, and historical baggage. But much of this baggage is never unpacked at the beginning of the interpretive journey, so the reader is often left confused about how to understand Scripture. While a “face value” approach to interpretation may seem most intuitive, perhaps there are other approaches that can more accurately reveal the Bible’s meaning.
We’re continuing our The Bible Tells Me So series. Last time, we talked about what the Bible is and helpful ways to approach it. Today we ask, if we don’t take the Bible at “face value”, what is it even about? What are unquestioned assumptions readers come to the Bible with? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.
S4E2 - How Should We Approach the Bible? (Part 2)
In this episode, Lucas and Reichert continue the conversation about how to approach the ancient theological text that we call “the Bible.” Make sure to listen to S4E1 before listening to this week’s edition of the podcast!
S4E1 - How Should We Approach the Bible? (Part 1)
The Bible has been called the best selling book in history. But for all the copies that have been produced and sold, it is also one of the most misunderstood texts of all time, both among the faithful and critics. While one side considers it a form of divine revelation, the other views it as a purely human product, complete with inconsistencies and outright errors. While one side believes it holds relevance in the twenty-first century, the other views it as an obsolete relic of the pre-modern era. But even these examples are extreme ends of a wide spectrum of views on one of the world’s most beloved and hotly debated texts.
In this episode as well as the next few episodes we tackle certain questions with the hope of pointing to the lens through which we discuss all of our topics as a podcast. Today we ask, what is the Bible? What does it mean to read it literally? Are there less than helpful ways of approaching the text? How do our answers to these questions affect the way we live out our lives? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.
The Bible Tells Me So (Re-release, Part 2)
With season 4 right around the corner, Lucas and Reichert finish talking about their thoughts on “The Bible Tells Me So” episode from season 0.
The Bible Tells Me So (Re-release, Part 1)
As the start of season 4 comes closer, Lucas and Reichert look back at an old discussion that they will be continuing in the first series of the new season of QFTP.
Season 4 Trailer
Season 4 of QFTP is right around the corner! Join Lucas and Reichert as they talk about what to expect this upcoming season.
S3E10 - A More Complicated Mix (The Mestizo Podcast Crossover)
On this final episode of season three, we’re doing something a little different. We’re releasing an episode from The Mestizo Podcast, a podcast in the same ministry network we’re a part of, World Outspoken. It’s moderated by Emanuel “Ricky” Padilla, the president of the organization and a guest we’ve had on our podcast before. We’re releasing this episode on our platform because we feel it touches on a topic that fits in with the kinds of conversations we have here. You’ll hear from individuals who are from “mixed” heritage. Their mestizaje, or mixedness, is not coming from the historical mix but a more recent inter-mixed family. The panel of modern mestizos speak about how they navigate this for themselves and what it is that they find along their journey as they live with people who may not understand their mixedness.
What are the unique experiences of being from a mixed background? How can a person think theologically about mixedness? What does it mean to be a part of the mixed people that is the universal Church? All that and more on this special edition of Questions From The Pew.
S3E9 - Evangelicalism Now with Dr. Russell Moore
There are few who would disagree with the statement that there was immense social and political tumult in the United States over the past year and a half. It seemed like every corner of American life was dominated by tribalism and animosity. Political discussions deteriorated into personal attacks from both aisles. State turned against state and many left their home state completely in an effort to escape what they viewed as an unhealthy trajectory and an inevitably disastrous end. Nuanced social concerns were reduced to black and white issues, driving a wedge between groups and individuals who would otherwise bring about needed reform. And so it continues. Caught in the middle of all this are Christians, particularly Evangelicals. With a tent as large as Evangelical Christianity, it is no surprise that Christians have found themselves on opposite, even opposing, sides. With the help of those who claim the identity of “Evangelical” or those who are associated with the movement, Evangelical Christianity garnered a particular reputation during the previous presidency, exposing or causing rifts in many pockets of movement. Public theologian Dr. Russell Moore joins us on this episode to help us think through Evangelicalism in this era.
What is the state of Evangelicalism and Evangelical witness in the United States? How fractured is American Evangelical Christianity along socio-political lines? On political and cultural issues, are Evangelical Christians dying on the wrong hills? Can we recover the kind of witness early evangelicals like William Wilberforce had in our own socio-political climate? How can Evangelical Christians, whichever side of the aisle they are on, move forward? All that and more on this edition of Questions From The Pew.
RESOURCES:
The Courage to Stand: Facing Your Fear Without Losing Your Soul
S3E8 - Anger in the USA
The temperature in the United States is high. People are angry. They aren’t particularly angry with someone they know personally, but rather there is growing frustration with the way the country is being run. It seems like every day a news story breaks that sparks outrage from one group and a heated defense from another. Phrases like Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, anti-vax, mask-mandate, Critical Race Theory, and Make America Great Again immediately elevate the emotional level of any conversation. Much of this has to do with our domestic politics, but the range of topics that Americans are angry about run the gamut from public health to foreign policy to education.
It’s time that we take a step back to reflect and decompress. What is happening in our nation? Why are Americans so hot? What factors have contributed to this atmosphere of anger that simmers beneath the surface of every public discourse? What does the Bible say about anger? Is it ever justified or is there a more appropriate response? All that and more on this edition of Questions from the Pew.
RESOURCES:
Americans turn pessimistic amid concerns over economy and coronavirus, CNN
S3E7 - Education
The school year is well under way, but it is far from normal. Indeed, the past two years have been anything but normal, especially in the world of education. Parents and teachers alike put forward different, and sometimes even opposing, views on what topics should be taught and how they should be taught. From elementary schools to college campuses, parents and students are at odds about how to pursue education. Beyond that, Christians have often disagreed on the best method to deliver a specifically Christian education. These varying methods often employ different strategies which are intended to shape students into becoming committed Christ followers. Depending on the values of individual Christian families, students may be homeschooled, attend a Christian private school or simply attend the local public school.
What does a holistic Christian education look like in the 21st century? What is the difference between indoctrination and education? Given our pluralistic cultural context, how should a Christian education interact with the surrounding culture? Is the formal aspect of education the most important in shaping the minds of students? All that and more on this edition of Questions From The Pew.
S3E6 - Bonus Episode: Pray Away
In early August, Netflix released Pray Away, a documentary that focuses on the ex-gay movement, the harm caused by conversion or reparative therapy, and the journeys of both survivors and leaders of the movement. We were approached with the chance to interview the film’s director, Kristine Stolakis. We were able to talk to her about her experience of filming the documentary and what she hopes the film will add to an ongoing conversation. While her responses to our questions do not necessarily reflect the views of Questions From The Pew or the World Outspoken network, we felt it was important to hear from the director herself as we discuss this heavy topic. After the interview, we, along with Ruth Nathaniel, discussed our own thoughts about the documentary and the subject it tackles. All that and more on this bonus episode of Questions From The Pew.
S3E5 - Misunderstanding Paul
The New Testament letters written by the Apostle Paul are often viewed as the core of Christian theology and faith. Given how often the Pauline epistles are preached, one might think that Paul is responsible for the majority of the biblical content. However, the thirteen Pauline letters which are included in the New Testament canon make up only 5-6% of the Bible, and are disproportionately represented in sermons from the pulpit. As a result of this, how a church interprets Paul is often a marker of its identity and therefore an untouchable aspect of its own tradition. Not only that, but with deconstruction among Christians becoming increasingly common, Paul is often the preferred target for those who are beginning to question the faith that has been handed down to them. A “face value” reading of Paul seems to include endorsements of horrific institutions such as slavery and the suppression of women. Indeed, throughout church history, Paul’s texts have often been used to justify many horrific acts and evil deeds.
With such wide ranging perceptions of Paul present in our modern context, how should the Christian, one who wants to be faithful to the biblical text but also relevant for his own time, engage with the Pauline letters of the New Testament? Should the writings of Paul be the center of how we understand the Christian faith? Are the epistles supposed to be viewed as theological textbooks or something else entirely? Who decides which sections of Paul’s letters apply to our lives today and which don’t? All that and more on this edition of Questions from the Pew!
RESOURCES:
Paul: A Biography, by N.T. Wright
“Everything you know about the Gospel of Paul is likely wrong,” David Bentley Hart
S3E4 - Violence in the Old Testament
The Old Testament is a hurdle for many modern readers of the Bible, not least of all Christians. Violent accounts are woven through the Hebrew Scriptures and seem to upset the image of Judaism and Christianity as religions of peace and the image of God as a loving deity. This has led some to conclude that the God of the Old Testament is different from the one found in the New Testament. Others have doubled down on the greater importance of the New Testament, furthering the divide between the two parts of Christian Scripture. While many people’s objections come from a place of antagonism toward the Bible, Judaism, and Christianity, many others raise objections and concerns that are fair and reasonable. The Bible does not avoid such seeming contradictions. Rather, it seems to welcome the discussion.
Why do these biblical accounts so disturb our modern sensibilities? What do these texts say about our faith? More importantly, what do they say about our God? Should these texts be sugar coated, nuanced, or avoided altogether? All that and more on this edition of Questions From The Pew.
S3E3 - Christian Persecution: Reality or Reality Check?
National and global politicians, activists, and thought leaders have cited growing religious persecution as one of the preeminent threats of our time. Authoritarian regimes have denied the political rights of those who do not hold the same religious beliefs of the majority faith or the state. The COVID pandemic has brought this even more into the spotlight as certain regimes refuse aid to religious minorities. In some countries, imprisonment and physical oppression of religious minorities is commonplace. Particularly in non-Western countries, Christians face real threats every day in one form or another. In many of these contexts, claiming to be a Christian is virtually a death sentence. For many legitimate reasons, all of this should be troubling.
There are those in America who claim that Christians are experiencing religious persecution in a country that upholds religious liberty. That if we aren’t already in the midst of persecution, we are experiencing the first ripples of what will eventually grow into a tidal wave of religious persecution we already see in other countries. The removal of the Ten Commandments from courthouse grounds, the “flagging” of social media posts, the prohibition against school prayer in public school settings, and others are cited by those troubled by the asserted persecution against Christians. The height of last year’s pandemic has exacerbated the issue as religious bodies were prohibited from holding congregational meetings and instead, for those who were able to, hold services virtually. Many Christians and churches claimed to be the target of government oversight and oppression, a claim that is still made by many even as restrictions begin to be lifted across the country. At the same time, there are those who deny that the American Church is under religious persecution. For them, much of the purported persecution is simply part of the growing pains as America has and continues to become more religiously diverse.
What should we think about these issues? Is the American Church making claims of persecution that are unfounded or is this something we should truly be worried about? Is the Christian church in America under religious persecution or is it in need of a reality check? All that and more on this edition of Questions From The Pew.
RESOURCES:
Religious Persecution and Political Order in the United States, David T. Smith
World Watch List, Open Doors USA
“The Evangelical Persecution Complex,” The Atlantic
“Why Do White Christians in America Think They Are Persecuted?” The Canopy Forum
“Is There Really Anti-Christian Discrimination in America?” The Gospel Coalition
S3E2 - Mental Health and Faith
The field of mental health counseling continues to grow. A trip to the therapist was once considered a taboo activity, reserved for people with only the most explicit mental health disorders. Nowadays, it’s considered a perfectly normal part of individual growth that many people not only participate in, but also openly discuss. Over the past few decades, individuals have become increasingly likely to seek out a therapist. And while severe mental illness will always be present, the issues for which most people see a therapist are often considered to be less extreme, such as life transitions, loss of loved ones, or anxiety. However, this growing popularity is not without its detractors. Some within the Church assert that the Bible is the only thing needed for our personal growth and well-being. Any other method for growth besides God’s Word is manufactured by humankind, and thus considered unnecessary at best, or dangerous at worst.
What relationship should Christians have with mental health counseling? Are there any aspects of Christianity that would push us towards embracing mental health practice or are the two diametrically opposed? How does spiritual formation interact with mental health? Do these ideas represent two approaches to the same goal or do they serve separate purposes? Is the Bible the only thing necessary for personal growth in Christians or should we embrace modern, scientifically-based methods? All that and more on this edition of Questions from the Pew.
RESOURCES:
All You Can Ever Know: A Memoir
The Collected Schizophrenias: Essays
S3E1 - Conspiracy and the Christian
The truth is out there. Or so they say. Conspiracy theories have clouded the search for truth. For some, they don’t possess a shred of evidence and aren’t worth the trouble. For others, conspiracies and those who believe them are laughable. But for a portion of the American populace, they are very real and are virtually the center of their lives. Conspiracy theories, for the most part, have resided on the fringes of society. But in the past two years they have migrated front and center, making headlines and, for some, raising grave concerns. The pandemic from which much of the world is still reeling, along with various other socio-political events, have only exacerbated what many see as a growing problem. Reactions from individuals or groups with firmly held beliefs in conspiracy theories have played out with sometimes disastrous consequences in American society. Alarmingly, Christians are caught up in all of this, many times not knowing exactly what to believe as truth.
Christians have always understood that there is a reality beyond the present physical one we inhabit on a daily basis, but what happens when this kind of thinking is taken to places it was never meant to go? In an age when virtually limitless information is available at one’s fingertips, is the truth being overwhelmed by competing voices? What exactly is a conspiracy theory? Should conspiracy theories be discounted wholesale, or should they be considered plausible at some level? Are Christians particularly susceptible to conspiracy theories? If so, why? All that and more on this edition of Questions From The Pew.
RESOURCES:
Half of U.S. Protestant Pastors Hear Conspiracy Theories in Their Churches - Lifeway Research
“Conspiracy Theories and the Paranoid Style(s) of Mass Opinion” - J. Eric Oliver and Thomas J. Wood
What do we know about conspiracy theories? - American Psychological Association