S1.39 - Did the Church Erase Jesus' Jewishness? (The Truth About His Identity)

S1.39 - Did the Church Erase Jesus' Jewishness? (The Truth About His Identity)

Author: Laura Farhy March 1, 2026 Duration: 9:41
Jesus was Jewish. This isn't symbolic or metaphorical—Jesus was fully, authentically Jewish. So why have we separated Christ from his cultural and religious roots? In this episode, we tackle why Jesus's Jewishness matters for understanding the Bible. From Judd Apatow's confusion about seeing Jesus in a spiritual vision ("I'm Jewish—why would I see Jesus?") to our cultural habit of depicting Jesus as European, we've lost sight of essential context. Jesus lived in the Middle East. He would have looked more like an Indian or Arab person than the pale, blue-eyed depictions in churches. But beyond physical appearance, his entire worldview, teaching methods, and mission were rooted in Jewish tradition. He was a Rabbi. He taught in synagogues. He observed Jewish festivals. He fulfilled Jewish messianic prophecies. We explore why Christianity didn't create Jesus—Judaism did. Jesus existed because of the covenant with Abraham and the promises made to the Jewish people. Understanding this transforms how we read Scripture, interpret parables, and grasp Jesus's confrontations with religious leaders. If you want to read the Bible more accurately and understand Christ more fully, you need to reclaim the Jewishness of Jesus. Message me here Catch up on YouTube here #progressivechristianity #deconstructingchristianity #christianpodcast #christianfaith #christianfaith #christianityexplained #deconstructingfaith #deconstructedchristian #exvangelical #leavingchurch#reconstructingfaith #christianityexplored #faithcrisis #faithhabits #faithquestions #christianyoutube #christianyoutuber 

In a landscape where many feel spiritually uprooted, Spiritually Homesteading | How to Lose Your Religion & Keep Your Jesus offers a different path. Hosted by Laura Farhy, this podcast moves beyond the familiar terrain of deconstruction to focus on the practical, often messy work of rebuilding a personal faith. It’s built on the metaphor of homesteading-the idea that a deep, sustainable spiritual life requires getting your hands dirty, planting seeds of curiosity, and tending to your own beliefs with intention. This space is specifically for those who feel disillusioned or wounded by institutional religion yet still feel a pull toward the essence of Jesus. Each episode is a conversation for the spiritually curious and hopeful, exploring how to separate cultural dogma from core spiritual truth. When you listen to this podcast, you’ll find honest discussions about navigating doubt, reclaiming personal agency in faith, and discovering what it means to cultivate a belief system that is genuinely your own. It’s about empowerment and ownership, creating a spiritual home from the ground up.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 54

Spiritually Homesteading | How to Lose Your Religion & Keep Your Jesus
Podcast Episodes
S1.52 - After Deconstruction, Only 3 Things Remained [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:56
After years of deconstructing my faith, I stopped asking what I should add and started asking what I could let go of. What I was left with was simple: Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible as a tool — not a rulebook, not…
S1.51 - Why You Should Write Your Own Bible (No, Really!) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:27
Your Story With God Deserves to Be Written Down... so let's record it and make it count. We often forget that God exists outside the Bible and inside your life. LET's talk about that.
S1.50 - How to Reconstruct Your Faith After Deconstruction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:46
After a decade of a deconstruction, I finally rebuilt my faith and this is what I did to do it. The best part is... my faith is more secure than it was before. I want to do the same for you.
S1.49 - Should You Quit the Bible? Here's Why I Changed My Mind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:17
There maybe a season in your journey where you aren't sure if you can trust the Bible anymore...or if you should ever read it again. I have been in this place and it is both frustrating and scary. Frustrating because eve…
S1.44 - Why Are Christians So Hypocritical? (The Honest Truth) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:50
Let's address the elephant in the room: Christians have a reputation for hypocrisy. The accusation isn't new, and honestly, it's often deserved. But before we pile on religious folks exclusively, we need to recognize som…