Questions From The Pew - WOS

The unknown is a scary place to be in. Whether that’s in the context of finances, personal relationships, professional goals, or any other area of life, not knowing for sure can be nerve racking - even paralyzing. Humans attempt to plan for the unpredictable from the cradle to the grave, creating college savings accounts for their newborns and paying for life insurance policies that will provide f...

Films have done much to shape how we view war, for good or ill. It was through the medium of film that much of the military propaganda of the 20th century was spread. Even today, we remember past and present wars with films. And there has been a marked shift between depicting the glories of war to depicting its horrors. The individuals portrayed in those films have gone through a shift as well, fr...

Religious wars seem out of place in a modern society. As moderns, we view events like the Crusades or the religious wars of the Protestant Reformations as both strange and sad. Religion is sometimes seen as a useless relic of a bygone era. Given the modern age we live in, we no longer need religion to help explain reality, direct our lives, or give us purpose. Or so the argument goes. The fact tha...

Violence and warfare are not problems for one culture or for one time. Even though mankind has progressed in multiple arenas, we still can’t quite figure out how to get along. Countless solutions to violence in society have been proposed, but they only provide surface level treatments or short lived remedies. None provide a long-lasting or permanent solution. And somehow, in the middle of the mess...

War has been a part of human existence since the dawn of time. No civilization has risen to power and influence without the brutality of war. From the ancient Egyptians to Alexander the Great’s expansive empire; from the Crusades of the Middle Ages to today’s religious wars in the Middle East. We fought a war to end all wars but ended up fighting another world war not even a generation later. War...

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Doni and Robert, hosts of Mixed Take. Join us as we continue talking about the importance of narrative and retelling old stories in a new way. We also ask: What is more important, being faithful to the story or reinterpreting it for a contemporary audience? Or is that even a dichotomy that should exist? All that and more on this edition of the pod...

Stories are not meant to stay in the past. In many ways, they take on a life of their own, captivating the hearts and minds of generations, even after the original audience or even the author have long passed. They are told and retold, adapted and reimagined by each successive generation. This doesn’t always happen without bumps along the way, but that is what a good story can do. The Lord of the...

Great literature stands the test of time. But it’s not just because of its literary qualities. Of course, things like a well thought out plot and mastery of the language have a role in the longevity of a work of literature, but it also speaks to the audience it was written for. Not only that, but it continues to speak beyond its own time. The Lord of the Rings does that. For some reason, the epic...

It’s been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. That is to say, even the seemingly purest motives can result in disaster and even evil. But if humans are inherently good, then why is that the case? Throughout history there have been multiple examples of movements that started out as a way to address ills of society, but ended up harming it instead. The common link? Humans. J.R....

Film and literature are rarely, if ever, neutral. They are saturated with ideas of their creators and they invite the viewer or reader to think with them. What’s great about that interaction is that it is not bound by time. Stories that are decades removed from their original authors can be read by modern audiences and have a meaningful impact on their world. The author of The Lord of the Rings ,...

As timeless as some works of art may be, they are still created within a particular time period, so they show signs of that period. That’s why adaptations of books into film are rarely, if ever, 100% faithful to the original work. The new presentation is modified for its contemporary audience. Some critics of The Lord of the Rings claim that the literary work implies outdated ideas about ethnic or...

The media we consume - whether it’s books, film, or music - have a way of shaping who we are. Not only that, but we shape those media based on how we view the world. It’s an interesting interconnectedness that defines how cultures function. Christians, of course, aren’t separated from their culture. Rather, they are ingrained in it and have a part in being shaped by it as well as shaping it. The L...

There are probably some books or films that have fundamentally shaped who you are as a person. Maybe it was a novel you read in elementary school. Maybe it was a film you watched as a young adult. Whatever it was, it shaped the way you viewed yourself and the world. Many consider J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings to be one such work. Both the books and the films have captured the hearts and i...

In this episode, Lucas and Reichert talk about a few questions listeners submitted after listening to the Bible series. Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Anything worthwhile takes work. That’s a common sentiment. High school teachers use it to encourage their students when they struggle to see the point in what they’re studying. Coaches use it to  inspire athletes to push past their limits. Those words can reframe an otherwise dreaded or seemingly impossible task. But we never think about it in connection with reading the Bible. It’s almost un...

Lucas and Reichert continue their conversation about the relationship between faith and science, and how the Bible fits in the middle. Can someone believe in evolutionary science and still be a Christian? Are we reading modern questions into an ancient text? How do we reconcile the words of Scripture with what modern science tells us about the universe? All that and more on this edition of the pod...

Faith and science have often been pitted against each other, as if one can only hold to one or the other. The Bible is right in the middle of this conversation. Can someone believe in evolutionary science and still be a Christian? Are we reading modern questions into an ancient text? How do we reconcile the words of Scripture with what modern science tells us about the universe? All that and more...

The Bible is a religious book. That goes without saying. For thousands of years it’s been a source of hope and direction for billions of people. Even those who don’t hold any commitment to a singular faith acknowledge the Bible as a profound literary work, even if it’s only one of many sources of divine revelation. But it seems like those who don’t hold any faith commitments at all are often left...

In this episode Lucas and Reichert continue talking about the work that needs to be done to understand the Bible well. What are some unquestioned assumptions that we as readers take into our readings of Scripture? All that and more on this edition of the podcast. Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Reading well is difficult. Interpretation even more so. When it comes to the Bible, there is no straight line from the text through interpretation to application. While each reader comes to the Bible with a set of assumptions about what the text is and what it is communicating, the Bible comes with its own set of cultural, linguistic, and historical baggage. But much of this baggage is never unpac...

In this episode, Lucas and Reichert continue the conversation about how to approach the ancient theological text that we call “the Bible.” Make sure to listen to S4E1 before listening to this week’s edition of the podcast! Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

The Bible has been called the best selling book in history. But for all the copies that have been produced and sold, it is also one of the most misunderstood texts of all time, both among the faithful and critics. While one side considers it a form of divine revelation, the other views it as a purely human product, complete with inconsistencies and outright errors. While one side believes it holds...

With season 4 right around the corner, Lucas and Reichert finish talking about their thoughts on “The Bible Tells Me So” episode from season 0. Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

As the start of season 4 comes closer, Lucas and Reichert look back at an old discussion that they will be continuing in the first series of the new season of QFTP. Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Season 4 of QFTP is right around the corner! Join Lucas and Reichert as they talk about what to expect for this upcoming season. Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew