Bible is Lit

This is the final episode in our Jesus + Torah unit. This episode traces the connections between the narrative of the life of Jesus and Israel under Moses’ leadership. Topics Covered: ​5 major movements = five worlds = five soul layers ​Connections to Egypt ​The two Joseph’s and their dreams ​Wandering and wilderness ​Temptations and tests ​Crucifixion and healing ​Ascension ​5 loaves, 2 fishes =...

In this episodes we look at the connections between the Sermon on the Mount and Moses receiving the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai. Topics Covered: ​Mountains/high places and their symbolism ​The archetype of the sage/wise man ​10 commandments, 10 blessings, 10 divine characteristics ​Hebrew mysticism—The Sefirot and connection to “the fruits of The Spirit” ​How the blessings in the Beatitudes cor...

The Torah is an essential text to world culture. Regardless of religious affiliation, it has influenced the formation of law and community life across a variety of peoples since it's conception. The Torah is also a masterwork of literature. In this episode, we unpack the 10 Commandments as an essential piece in the plot of The Bible as a work of literature. Topics Covered: Mountains as Archety...

In this unit we explore the connections to The Torah and Jesus. Topics Covered: -Historical Origins -The TaNaK, The Christian Bible -Torah specifically and as a general term for teachings -Oral traditions -Influence on major religions and interpretations of major religions. -Chiasmus, Chiasm, Chiastic structure -The Gospels as Torah reinterpreted -Why Jesus is controversial -Who is Messiah

In this episode we look at some juicy questions submitted by listeners and students. Topics Covered: ​-What is Heaven? ​-Western Folk Religion ​-Ancient cosmology ​-Merging of Heaven and earth ​-Motifs of Heaven and earth ​-Apocalyptic literature connections to dystopian literature ​-John of Patmos, not the same as the Apostle. ​-Literal but not literal but also archetypal ​-Blind obedience v. Rel...

In Q and A episode, we delve into some heavy hitters like: -Is Heaven real? If so, what's it like? -Why does Jacob wrestle with God. -Hell, Sheol, Hades, and everlasting punishment. -Why does God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah? -Why is the woman with an issue of blood such a prominent story?

This Q and A episode was developed from listener and student-generated questions regarding a previous episode on Destruction and Rebirth of Israel in Egyptian captivity. You can listen to that ⁠episode here⁠ if you need to get caught up. Just click the link or scroll. Topics Covered: Why did Pharoah treat the Israelites so poorly. A brief history of how Israel ended up in Egypt. How long was Israe...

The final section of our Tragic Heroes unit examines the life of Solomon. As with most tragic heroes, Solomon proves to be a controversial character. The semi-bastard son of King David, Solomon is both the son of magnificent promise, but also is one who subverts the traditional order in the world of the narrative. Topics Covered: How Solomon subverts the order of tradition. Birthright motifs. Meta...

As we delve deeper into Tragic Hero narratives in The Bible, this episode we take a look at Samson. As you could probably guess, this story is much deeper, and much more nuanced than the typical Sunday-school treatment it gets. In fact, it could be said, that his story is a miniature history and foretelling of the fates and fortunes of Israel. Topics Covered: Samson's family history Divine/mir...

Continuing our study on Tragic Hero narratives in The Bible, this episode breaks down the story of Jonah. Listen to our background episode and that of King Saul here. Jonah, as a story in the greater context of The Bible, almost defies classification. As such, the narrative becomes a type of satire and a mirror in which the reader has to wrestle with some tough questions about the nature of God. T...

King Saul is one of the most intriguing figures in the Bible Story. While showing much potential, the first political king of Israel just can't seem to get it right. In this episode we dive into the structure of a Tragic Hero narrative and pull out details from the story which have been forcing readers for generations to consider the following question: Was King Saul doomed to failure from the...

This episodes traces similarities between the award-winning film WALL-E stories from The Biblical canon. Topics Explored: The themes of destruction and rebirth Symbolism of Names WALL-E as a Noah type figure The Axiom as a type of Egyptian captivity "To till and to Tend" Different manifestations of AI AI's "Otto" as Pharoah Law versus life The law of life Does humanity real...

The Book of Job may prove to be the most interestingly complex works in the collections of The Bible. Part frame tale, part poetic masterpiece, part critique of neighboring Ancient Near-Eastern philosophies, this book has been inviting readers for over 1000 years to wrestle with some of life's toughest questions. We also have a strange moment where God and The Devil have a conversation. Topics...

In this episode we look at the motif of creation, decreation, destruction, and rebirth and how it applies to a nation. As we have seen, this Bible story flips the attempt to commit evil upon an entire nation on its head, and uses the circumstance to give birth to a new culture entirely. Topics Covered: Tie ins--the end of Genesis as a frame for beginning of Exodus Why is genocide a theme throughou...

Continuing in a study of destruction and rebirth, this episode examines the pattern and motif and how it plays out in the story of Noah and The Flood. Source text Genesis 6:1-9:4. Topics Covered: Divine beings having offspring with human women Conspiracy theories Ancient aliens Connections between divine beings and The Serpent Adam and Eve episode recommendation. The flood as a re-creation of firs...

As a whole, The Bible operates in movements of Creation and Destruction, Destruction and Rebirth, ultimately leading us the the stunning conclusion than Heaven and Earth are always desiring to meet and become one spectacular place. In the midst of all of this, a character named "YHWH" or "God" is always trying to bring order to the chaos the created world brings into paradise....

We delve into some heavy-hitting student and listener questions on this fun, quick, Q and A episode. Topics Covered: Literary perspectives on creation and evolution The Bible Canon Most referenced book of the Bible Archetypes Who wrote The Bible? Preservation of Culture The TaNaK Old Testament and New Testament Listen to the background episode to get caught up .

This episode completes our study of The Monomyth or Hero's Journey as termed by Joseph Campbell. We take a detailed look at the life of Jesus of Nazareth, and the similarities and differences between his narrative and the stories of Abraham, Moses and David. Topics Covered: Jesus' birth and it's nods to Moses The motif of the miraculous birth Representations of the rural and the urban...

In this episode we look at David's narrative arc and how it lines up with The Monomyth or Hero's Journey. Topics Covered: The farm boy beginnings motif Connections to Luke Skywalker Samuel the Prophet and "Right seeing" David as a political figure David as a vulnerable human David's tests David's fall David as a man of war Connections to Moses, and Abraham.

This episode takes a look at archetypal connections between Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and narrative arcs in The Bible with a specific focus on Campbell's " Monomyth " aka The Hero's Journey. Topics Covered: Star Wars Background Why Star Wars and The Bible connect Hero's Journey Recap Hero's Journey in The Bible Parallels: Luke Skywalker and King David Parallels: Go...

In this episode, we examine the narrative arc of Moses. Is this a true hero's journey, or is there more to it? Moses, in one sense could be the first epic hero in history. But what if he is something entirely different? Topics Covered: The Torah as a literary "chiasm" Mirror stories Similarities between Moses' story and Jesus' story Moses as Cain reinterpreted Moses as an exi...

This episode looks at The Hero's Journey in The Abraham Story from Genesis. Topics Covered: The Call to adventure Failure to launch syndrome is not new Patterns of sacrifice Why does Abram fight? Why does Abram not fight? When is the proper time to fight? Who is Melchizedek? The tests of Abraham Name changes Numerology and maturation Human sacrifice Can you mess up God's promise?

The Hero's Journey is a pattern of storytelling, identified by scholar, Joseph Campbell , and popularized in film and culture in works such as Star Wars , Lord of the Rings , and Harry Potter. Although The Bible predates the identification of this pattern and technique, there remain several versions of "The Hero's Journey" in The Bible Story. This episode examines the background...

Concluding our unit of Twin Stories and Sibling Rivalries, this episode covers one of the most famous stories of all time--"The Prodigal Son". Topics Covered: The importance of ordering and sequencing in Ancient Narratives Jesus' reinterpretation of familiar stories How repetition works in wisdom literature Connections to Cain and Abel Connections to Isaac and Ishmael Connections to...

Continuing our study of sibling rivalries and "Twin Stories", this episode takes a look at the narrative arc of Jacob and Esau, their feud, and reconciliation. Topics Covered: -Framework/impact of a narrative frame -Prophecy and patterns of prophecy -The motif of the barren woman -The inverted birthright -"Dwelling in tents" v. "Roaming the wilderness" -Jacob as &quot...