Episode 137: James Kugel - Challenging Our Assumptions About the Bible

Episode 137: James Kugel - Challenging Our Assumptions About the Bible

Author: Peter Enns and Jared Byas September 7, 2020 Duration: 57:08
Ancient interpreters made all sort of assumptions about the Bible much like we do today. What do their assumptions tell us about how to interpret the Bible today? James Kugel breaks down the function of the Bible throughout history and how it has changed from antiquity to today.  Show Notes → Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’ve probably heard the Bible quoted, preached, and argued about, but how often do you get to explore it with curiosity instead of certainty? That’s the space The Bible For Normal People creates each week. Hosts Peter Enns and Jared Byas-scholars who understand both the academic weight and the everyday weight of scripture-guide conversations that are genuinely engaging and refreshingly human. They aren’t here to provide simple answers. Instead, they sit down with a diverse range of thinkers, from theologians and historians to artists and activists, to ask the complicated questions regular people actually have. In this podcast, you’ll hear discussions that acknowledge the ancient, messy, and profound nature of these texts, all while dismantling the idea that you need a special degree or piety to engage with them. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt on the outside of traditional religious dialogue but remains intrigued by the Bible’s stories, poetry, and enduring influence on culture and personal faith. The tone is conversational and often lighthearted, even when tackling heavy subjects, making deep scholarship accessible and relevant. If you’re looking for a place where doubt is welcome, history matters, and the sacred book is examined with both respect and honest inquiry, you’ve found it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Bible For Normal People
Podcast Episodes
Episode 142: Jared Byas - Rediscovering Jonah - Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Episode 139: Pete Enns - You Have Questions, Pete Has Answers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Episode 138: Pete & Jared - How Love Changes the Meaning of the Bible [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Episode 136: Ariel Sabar - Telling the Truth About Jesus' Wife [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:13
Just because someone claims to hold the truth doesn't mean they actually do. On this episode, investigative journalist Ariel Sabar tells us the fascinating story of how a Harvard professor was duped into believing she ma…
Episode 135: Gary Anderson - How the Bible Talks About Sin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:29
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Episode 134: Ilia Delio - Grounding God in Evolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:22
On this episode, Pete and Jared discuss the intersection of faith and science with scientist and theologian Ilia Delio. They get into why these two subjects have historically been at odds and why it holds us back to cont…