Mythologizing the Bible

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is one of my favorite parts of these weekly presentations because it gives us a chance to dig a little deeper, connect the dots, and really challenge ourselves to think critically about what we’ve been discussing. In this bonus episode, I’m going to explore the history behind how the...

When someone claims to have authority, what makes us believe them? Is it their confidence? Their charisma? Or is it because they say exactly what we want to hear? History is full of people who gained followers not by proving their credibility, but by making big, unverifiable claims—whether it was divine visions, miraculous signs, or promises of power and salvation. As we reflect on the readings fo...

When someone claims to have authority, what makes us believe them? Is it their confidence? Their charisma? Or is it because they say exactly what we want to hear? History is full of people who gained followers not by proving their credibility, but by making big, unverifiable claims—whether it was divine visions, miraculous signs, or promises of power and salvation. Welcome to ‘Mythologizing the Bi...

We are in an extraordinarily difficult moment. The federal government is rapidly dismantling safeguards, targeting marginalized communities, and consolidating power in ways that point toward autocracy. Many of us feel trapped between wanting to fight back and needing to protect ourselves and our families. In this special episode of the MTB podcast, we’re exploring what courage actually looks like...

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call “Afterthoughts.” This is one of my favorite parts of these weekly presentations because it gives us a chance to dig a little deeper, connect the dots, and really challenge ourselves to think critically about what we’ve been discussing. In this bonus episode, we’ll explore the contradictions in the Gospe...

What does it really mean to prepare ourselves for something greater? And why do so many religious traditions emphasize refining, purifying, or proving ourselves—often for some future reward? It begs the question: What if self-improvement isn’t about preparing for the next life, but about making the most of this one? As we reflect on the readings for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Cycle...

What does it really mean to prepare ourselves for something greater? And why do so many religious traditions emphasize refining, purifying, or proving ourselves—often for some future reward? It begs the question: What if self-improvement isn’t about preparing for the next life, but about making the most of this one? Welcome to ‘Mythologizing the Bible,’ where we’ll be taking a look at three readin...

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is one of my favorite parts of these weekly presentations because it gives us a chance to dig a little deeper, connect the dots, and really challenge ourselves to think critically about what we’ve been discussing. So, let’s recap the central message from this week’s episode, where we...

What does it mean to truly understand the rules and laws that shape our lives? How do we ensure that every member of our community is valued and included? And most importantly, how do we guard against the temptation to twist those rules for personal gain or power? The readings I review in this episode call us to reflect on how communities are built—and how they can be broken. As we reflect on the...

What does it mean to truly understand the rules and laws that shape our lives? How do we ensure that every member of our community is valued and included? And most importantly, how do we guard against the temptation to twist those rules for personal gain or power? The readings we’ll review tonight call us to reflect on how communities are built—and how they can be broken. Welcome to ‘Mythologizing...

Welcome to Afterthoughts! This is a special bonus podcast where I’ll dive a little deeper into the themes and lessons we explored during the Mythologizing the Bible episode for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C) . If the main presentation was about uncovering the wisdom in these readings, “Afterthoughts” is about pulling some of those threads a little more—sometimes with a little critique,...

Have you ever wondered how your talents could have a bigger impact? Have you thought about how to find the balance between what you’re good at and what you love? Well, in this episode we’ll be setting aside supernatural claims and focusing on what it means to live authentically and intentionally, using our talents to build better communities and better lives. Welcome to 'Mythologizing the Bible' -...

Welcome to Afterthoughts—a bonus episode of the Mythologizing the Bible podcast! This is where we go beyond the main presentation and take a deeper dive into some of the more complex and thought-provoking ideas from that episode’s discussion. In Episode 7 of the MTB podcast , we focused on leadership, accountability, and other lessons that I found in the readings from the Baptism of the Lord (Cycl...

Have you ever wondered how your talents could have a bigger impact? Have you thought about how to find the balance between what you’re good at and what you love? Well, in this episode we’ll be setting aside supernatural claims and focusing on what it means to live authentically and intentionally, using our talents to build better communities and better lives. In this episode, we’ll explore Isaiah’...

What does it mean to be a true leader? How do we, as a community, choose leaders with admirable qualities and ensure they serve everyone fairly? And perhaps most importantly, how do we hold those leaders to the higher standard they should meet—not out of punishment, but as a reflection of the trust we place in them? In this episode, we’ll explore a moment traditionally celebrated as the start of J...

What does it mean to be a true leader? How do we, as a community, choose leaders with admirable qualities and ensure they serve everyone fairly? And perhaps most importantly, how do we hold those leaders to the higher standard they should meet—not out of punishment, but as a reflection of the trust we place in them? Welcome to 'Mythologizing the Bible' - where we’ll be taking a look at three readi...

For Christians, the Feast of the Epiphany is a celebration of discovery and revelation. But instead of focusing on stars and supernatural claims, I’ll be asking you one simple question: What’s your guiding light? Whether your guiding light is kindness, fairness, or the pursuit of truth, this episode will challenge you to find it, follow it, and share it in ways that inspire others. So, if you’ve e...

For Christians, the Feast of the Epiphany is a celebration of discovery and revelation. But instead of focusing on stars and supernatural claims, I’ll be asking you one simple question: What’s your guiding light? Whether your guiding light is kindness, fairness, or the pursuit of truth, this episode will challenge you to find it, follow it, and share it in ways that inspire others. So, if you’ve e...

Family is often described as the foundation of our lives, but what really holds that foundation together? It’s not obligation or tradition—it’s the values we live by every day. What does it mean to truly care for our loved ones? How can we teach and live by values that unite rather than divide? And why does humility have the power to keep us grounded even in the most challenging relationships? Wel...

Family is often described as the foundation of our lives, but what really holds that foundation together? It’s not obligation or tradition—it’s the values we live by every day. What does it mean to truly care for our loved ones? How can we teach and live by values that unite rather than divide? And why does humility have the power to keep us grounded even in the most challenging relationships? In...

The readings this week invite us to reflect on what true leadership looks like—and it’s not always what we expect. As we’ll see, the readings highlight shepherds and servants, women who defy the norms of their time, and leaders who focus on lasting solutions rather than quick fixes. They challenge us to think about how we empower those unique voices and those creative problem-solvers who genuinely...

The readings this week invite us to reflect on what true leadership looks like—and it’s not always what we expect. As we’ll see, the readings highlight shepherds and servants, women who defy the norms of their time, and leaders who focus on lasting solutions rather than quick fixes. They challenge us to think about how we empower those unique voices and those creative problem-solvers who genuinely...

What do our actions say about us? This week’s readings challenge us to take a hard look at what’s in our hearts—because whether we’re leading or following, our actions tell the real story. Are we building trust and compassion through strong relationships, or are we standing by while poor values take the lead? Welcome to the Mythologizing the Bible podcast, where we’ll be taking a look at three rea...

What do our actions say about us? This week’s readings challenge us to take a hard look at what’s in our hearts—because whether we’re leading or following, our actions tell the real story. Are we building trust and compassion through strong relationships, or are we standing by while poor values take the lead? In this episode, we’ll explore the power of accountability, the importance of relationshi...

This week’s readings remind us that the holiday season is a time to reconnect with what matters most: love, forgiveness, and the goodness around us. It starts with looking for the light in the darkness, especially when life feels overwhelming. By focusing on love and being accountable for our mistakes, we can build bridges and strengthen relationships. These simple acts—seeking the good, holding l...