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Are you ready to rethink the Bible and challenge easy answers? Join guests like Neil deGrasse Tyson, Marianne Williamson, Tim Mackie (BibleProject), Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Rainn Wilson (The Office), and Rob Bell as we dive into complex conversations about faith, moving beyond conservative and liberal camps. If you don’t fit neatly into either space, you’ll fit in just fine here. Hosted by Nate Hanson (former Crazy Love pastor) and Shelby Hanson (MA Biblical Studies & Dead Sea Scrolls), Al ...
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Can you feel loss for something you've never known? An environmental thriller starring Pearl Mackie, Tanya Moodie and Pippa Haywood. With theme music by Bonobo. Written by Timothy X Atack and directed by Becky Ripley. Each episode comes with its own talk and soundscape. Plus, take part in The Forest 404 Experiment to see how you respond to sounds of nature.
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#151 – Marianne Williamson: Choosing Love Over Political Division (Pt 2)
42:10
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Listen to the after show Marianne Williamson opens up about her experiences running for president in 2020 and 2024, including how the DNC and media outlets like CNN silenced alternative voices, blocking fair competition for candidates like herself and RFK Jr. We also explore her perspective on choosing love over division in an era of political pola…
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Listen to the after show for our conversation with Liz Charlotte Grant as we explore deep questions around faith, gender, and scripture. Liz challenges traditional views, examining God beyond a masculine lens and delving into the complexities of divine inspiration. Together, we discuss the struggles of women in ministry, the tension between traditi…
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#150 – Marianne Williamson: Jesus as Our Guide (Pt 1)
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Listen to the after show: Is Jesus Just One Way? Part 1 of 2: Marianne Williamson joins us to discuss her journey with A Course in Miracles and why its teachings are so relevant today. We dive into her reimagined view of Jesus, the meaning of salvation, and the role of love in shifting our mindsets. Marianne also challenges traditional views on hea…
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#149 – The Election (Against Neo-Fundamentalism)
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In light of the 2024 presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, we delve into the idea of “neo-fundamentalism”—the tendency to replace one rigid ideology with another after deconstruction. Join us as we explore how to hold space for complex, evolving beliefs and embrace wisdom and open dialogue over dogma. Thoughts, questions, st…
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#148 – Is God male? (Liz Charlotte Grant, Pt 2)
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Listen to the aftershow Part 2 of 2: Liz Charlotte Grant returns to delve even deeper into faith and scripture, questioning the Bible’s patriarchal interpretations and exploring whether divine inspiration is real. Join us as we discuss how gender influences our view of God, the tension between tradition and spiritual independence, and what it truly…
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#147 – God as a Mother (Liz Charlotte Grant, Pt 1)
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39:09
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Listen to the aftershow Part 1 of 2: Liz Charlotte Grant joins us to challenge traditional views of faith, gender, and scripture. Together, we explore how God is portrayed beyond the masculine lens and dive into the transformative power of therapy, the struggles of women in ministry, and reimagining spiritual autonomy. Visit her work at lizcharlott…
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#146 – Dana Hicks: Trading Conservative Dogma for Liberal Dogma
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Listen to the aftershow where we talk about kids, iPads, and spirituality Dana Hicks discusses the journey from conservative pastor to deconstructing faith and redefining spirituality. We delve into how deconstruction can lead to trading conservative dogma for liberal dogma, the role of psychedelics in spiritual experiences, and the importance of a…
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#145 – Garrick Allen: Revelation Isn’t What You Think
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Listen to our after show where we talk about Garrick's thoughts on Pastors, Revelation and Hell Dr. Garrick Allen uncovers truths about how the Book of Revelation has been misunderstood for centuries, reshaping our view of Scripture. Discover how ancient manuscripts and hidden texts challenge modern beliefs in unexpected ways. Thoughts, questions, …
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#144 – Jon Foreman: Leaving the Christian Label
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Listen to the Jon Foreman aftershow here. Jon Foreman of Switchfoot (link) discusses the journey of faith, doubt, and the rejection of labels. We delve into the topics of deconstruction, being hurt by people claiming Christianity, and the complexities of using “Christian” as an adjective. We also explore the idea of embracing community over tribali…
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#143 – Candida Moss (Part 2): Uncovering Biblical Authorship Mysteries
43:11
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Listen to the After Show Candida Moss, a leading theology professor, returns for part two of our conversation, diving into her groundbreaking research on the manuscript traditions and writing processes of the New Testament. Discover how dictation, collaboration, and the roles of enslaved individuals shaped the creation of early Christian texts. Lea…
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#142 – Candida Moss (Part 1): Enslaved Authors of Christianity
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Listen to the After Show Candida Moss is a leading theology professor, about her groundbreaking research on the enslaved Christians who helped create the New Testament. Discover how this reshapes our understanding of biblical inspiration, ancient authorship, and Christianity’s historical complicity in slavery. Get Candida's book God's Ghostwriters.…
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To become a supporter of Almost Heretical and get more bonus episodes like this, click here: http://almostheretical.com/subscribe In this bonus episode of Almost Heretical, Nate Hanson and Shelby dive into the story of the Tower of Babel from Genesis 11. They discuss its significance, the cultural context, and various interpretations, including its…
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#140 – Frank Kenny: Unveiling the God of War
57:41
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Listen to the Frank Kenny after show! How has our understanding of God evolved over time? Nate & Shelby talk with Frank Kenny about his book, The God of War: How an Ancient God Shaped a Modern World (link), exploring the historical contexts and conflicts that have shaped modern Christianity. Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email almostheretica…
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#139 – Brian McLaren: Christianity Beyond Belief
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59:13
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Listen to the after show for the Brian episode where we talk about why the Church tries to control beliefs What if being a Christian wasn't about what you believed? Nate & Shelby talk with Brian McLaren about his influential works, including Do I Stay Christian? and his latest, Life After Doom. Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email almostheret…
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#138 – Olivia Jackson: Why Christians Deconstruct
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Listen to the after show where we talk about favorite books, women missionaries, and being anti-academia Olivia Jackson interviewed hundreds of Christians about their deconstruction experience. We talk about why people changed their faith. Is it different in America compared to the UK, Australia, etc? Olivia's book. Thoughts, questions, stories? Pl…
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#137 – Tim Alberta: Reject Trump, Embrace Jesus
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Listen to the after show where Nate & Shelby talk about Tim's more traditional beliefs... Why did they have Tim on? Tim Alberta reflects on how his Christian upbringing shapes his approach to politics, emphasizing critical thought over tribalism. He advocates for a church response that mirrors Christ's love and grace, facing societal challenges wit…
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#136 – Tiffany Yecke Brooks: Spiritual Anxiety & Religious Trauma
1:06:46
1:06:46
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Listen to the after show where Nate & Shelby debrief and shore more thoughts about this conversation with Tiffany Tiffany Yecke Brooks discusses her evolution from fundamentalist roots, questioning long-held doctrines, and identifying spiritual anxiety as a trauma response. She advocates for reinterpreting biblical stories and emphasizes the import…
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#135 – Thomas Jay Oord: Open Relational Theology
1:12:41
1:12:41
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Listen to the Utterly Heretical after show episode that Nate & Shelby recorded debriefing this conversation with Thomas Jay Oord Dr. Thomas Jay Oord delves into open relational theology, highlighting a non-controlling, relational God and rethinking traditional omnipotence. Check out his book God After Deconstruction with Tripp Fuller. We addresses …
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#134 – Dr. Laura Anderson: Sex, Dating, Courtship and Trauma
1:06:25
1:06:25
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Listen to the 20-minute Utterly Heretical after show episode that Nate & Shelby recorded debriefing this conversation with Dr. Laura Anderson Dr. Laura Anderson tackles religious trauma, explaining it as our physiological response to religious experiences, distinct from the events themselves. She critiques purity culture for its detrimental effects…
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#133 – David Fitch: Is God's Love Coercive?
1:03:23
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Listen to the extra 20-minute Utterly Heretical episode that Nate & Shelby recorded debriefing this conversation with David. Does Hell or even annihilationism mean that God's love is coercive? David Fitch (author of Reckoning With Power) debates with Nate and Shelby about whether we can call God's love "non-coercive". Thoughts, questions, stories? …
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#132 – Elaine Pagels: Trump and Doubting Thomas
1:08:53
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Elaine Pagels presents the compelling theory that the Gospel of John might have intentionally silenced the Gospel of Thomas. This interview not only explores the hidden gospels but also challenges us to rethink the foundational narratives of Christianity through the insights of Elaine Pagels. Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email almostheretic…
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#131 – Peter Rollins: The Philosophy of Deconstruction
1:24:09
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We sit down with philosopher and theologian Peter Rollins to explore the intricate landscape of faith, doubt, and the philosophy of deconstruction. Rollins discusses the importance of embracing our uncertainties and the transformative power of questioning traditional religious narratives. Through a deep dive into philosophical theology, we uncover …
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#130 – Anna Gazmarian: Religious OCD and Mental Illness
48:16
48:16
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Listen to the full, unedited episode with extra 15 minutes Anna Gazmarian shares her profound journey of doubting faith, getting fired from a church, sexual assault, and confronting her mental health diagnosis within the church. How does faith intersect with the challenges of Religious OCD, scrupulosity and mental health? Discover her path to under…
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If the Bible isn't about being true or false, then what is the point of stories like Noah's Ark? Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email almostheretical@gmail.com Become a member and get: 1. Bonus episodes of Utterly Heretical (our private podcast) every month 2. All full-length episodes 3. Access to our private community of 350+ listeners Becom…
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#128 – Nephilim and Gender Dynamics (Genesis 6:1-4)
53:00
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Curious about the Nephilim and the "sons of God" mentioned in Genesis 6:1-4? Join Nate and Shelby as they delve into ancient texts like the Book of Enoch, exploring the implications these stories have on gender dynamics and biblical narratives. Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email almostheretical@gmail.com Become a member and get: 1. Bonus ep…
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