What’s new in the world of Christianity? Lent is coming up! Well, this isn’t new and it is a very old tradition for many Christians, but it’s that time of year again. If you know about Ash Wednesday and Lent, let us know what we missed out on talking about! If you don’t know much about Ash Wednesday and Lent, listen along and learn about what this season means for so many Christians!

Works Referenced and Recommended Readings:

Stephen Hampton, ‘Welcome Dear Feast of Lent’: Rival Understandings of The Forty-Day Fast in Early Stuart England, The Journal of Theological Studies, Volume 63, Issue 2, October 2012, Pages 608–648, https://doi-org.proxy.lib.duke.edu/10.1093/jts/fls111

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Judges is such an underappreciated book of the Bible, but has some of the most classic stories that most people know, like the stories of Deborah, Gideon, and Samson. Jodie and Matthew talk about none of that, though. Instead, they discuss a brief background on the book of Judges and then focus on the story of Ehud - a story of political assassination and potty humor.

Works Referenced and Recommended Readings:

Magness, J. (2023). Toilets and Toilet Humor in the Story of Eglon's Murder by Ehud (Judges 3:15-26). Journal of Biblical Literature, 142(1), 65+. http://dx.doi.org.proxy.lib.duke.edu/10.15699/jbl.1421.2023.4

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Song of Songs is perhaps the most steamy book in the Bible and the perfect reading material for this Valentine’s day! Jodie and Matthew discuss this most unique book of the Bible to try to give it the appreciation that it deserves by delving into the history of the book and dissecting a few passages throughout the song.

Works Referenced and Recommended Readings:

Chapter 16: Job and Song of Songs inOpening Israel’s Scripturesby Ellen Davis

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Uh oh! We’re dipping our toes into politics, or at least trying to. Recently, President Trump has announced that he is creating a task force to “Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias” and he is instituting a White House Faith Office headed by Paula White. Jodie and Matthew discuss what this may mean from a religious perspective and then we flesh out a few misunderstandings some people may have, especially about Paula White’s brand of Charismatic Christianity and Prosperity Gospel. We know we are no political scientists, so don’t take this too seriously, but as always, let us know what you think! Happy Super Bowl!

Works Referenced and Recommended Readings:

Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias – The White House

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We’ve all heard of Jonestown. But do we all know what actually happened? Do we know the story behind the massacre? And perhaps more importantly, do we know the story about after the massacre? Jodie and Matthew discuss the history behind Jonestown and the events leading up to its infamous last moments, followed by a conversation on how Jonestown has been framed by the media and others, and pontificate on potential ways it may be useful to look at Jonestown and “cults” in general.

Works Referenced and Recommended Readings:

Moore, R. (2018). Jonestown, Forty Years On. Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions, 22(2), 3–14. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26537917

TV Show: “Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown” directed by Marian Mohamed, 2024

Movie: “Jonestown: The Women Behind the Massacre” directed by Nicole Rittenmeyer, 2018

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In their first expedition into the world of Hebrew poetry, Jodie and Matthew discuss the Psalms and answer the burning questions regarding this wide collection of poetry. Using Psalm 137 as an example we examine its context, structure, and interpretations. Who wrote the Psalms? When? How are these Psalms organized? Structured? Performed? Stick around until the end to hear a tiny bit about how Psalm 137 and Rastafarianism overlap!

Works Referenced and Recommended Readings:

“Rivers of Babylon” by The Melodians, (Song, 1970)

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We’re back in the New Testament again! Jodie and Matthew explore Jesus’s parable of The Good Samaritan and attempt to rid ourselves of the common misconceptions we may have when it comes to this passage, and it may be even more shocking than originally believed!

Works Referenced and Recommended Readings:

Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi by Amy Jill Levine

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WARNING. This episode discusses sensitive topics including suicide. Conversations about suicide can be troublesome or difficult for some. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, please call or text 988 to connect to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or reach out to any local resources you may have.

After the First Jewish Revolt and the Destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70 CE, the fortress at Masada was the last Jewish holdout from the war. Jodie and Matthew discuss the siege of Masada, what ancient historians have to say about it, and how that relates to modern archaeological findings, as well as the legacy that Masada leaves

Works Referenced and Recommended Readings:

Masada: From Jewish Revolt to Modern Myth by Jodi Magness

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