Sunday School for Heathens

This is the second half of our two-part series on the rosary. This week Bryan teaches us how to pray a rosary and tells us about all sorts of different kinds of rosaries and prayer beads. Our saint this week is Saint Romedio of Nonsberg, another saint who lived in a cave. Check out Bryan on Different Drummers at https://youtu.be/uYP43_FROKw Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpres...

This is the first part of a two-parter all about the rosary. This week we cover the history of the rosary and its prayers. Our saints are Saints Francisco and Jacinta (plus their cousin Lucia) whose visions made them serious and austere. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us at sundayschoolforheathens@gmail.com Follow us on Instagr...

This week were are talking about Stylites! It all starts with a guy named Simeon who wanted to get further from people and closer to god, until eventually he ended up living on a pillar for the rest of his life. Our saint is Saint Frances of Rome, who dedicated her life to service with a some help from her friends. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: D...

This week we are talking about the Sign of Peace. This part of the service has different names and shows up in different places but it’s your chance to connect with your fellow church-goers and say “peace be with you.” Our saint is Saint Gummarus, who had a wife so mean she broke a tree. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us at sun...

If you are afraid of snakes, this is NOT the episode for you because we are talking all about snake handling! Bryan tells us where in the Bible this idea comes from and highlights some of the key players in the history of this practice in America. Shannon meanwhile, brainstorms her dream pentecostal reality tv show. Our saint is Saint Phocus the Gardener, whose story takes a weird turn. Theme song...

This week we are talking all about the seven deadly sins. Bryan traces the history of lists of sins from before Christianity through Dante and beyond as we narrow down the list to these seven that we know so well. Our saint is Saint Dunston, who might have had an artistic streak. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us at sundayschoo...

Today we are talking about Maundy Thursday and the practice of foot washing. We trace this practice from Jesus all the way to churches today and help solve the mystery of why everyone sat at the same side of the table at the Last Supper. Our saint is Blessed Andrew of Segni, a tall man in a small cave. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin...

We are turning the tables this week and Bryan gets to be the heathen! Our good friend (and actual bible scholar) Megan comes on the show to give her notes on fruit, God’s attitude, guys named John, and more! Our saint is Saint Brigid, who loved cows almost as much as Bryan. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us at sundayschoolforhe...

This week, Bryan takes Shannon on a field trip to experience praying with a labyrinth. We go over the history and practice of labyrinths before chatting about the experience each of them had trying this out in person. Our saint is Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, our first flying saint! For more info on labyrinths in your area, check out https://labyrinthlocator.com/locate-a-labyrinth Theme song: Adam...

You know what makes a great podcast episode? Talking about physical gestures! This week, Bryan covers the Sign of the Cross while Shannon stares at her hands. Our saint is Saint Gertrude, who came from a whole family of saints. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us at sundayschoolforheathens@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @sunday...

We are back with the bible stories this week, talking about Lenten fasting. We hear about why the rule of three works great in bible stories, figure out how to count to 40, and try and guess what counts as fish. Our saint is Saint Dominic of Silos, who stayed at the bedside of Spanish queens long after he was dead. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: D...

It’s the second of our two “Spot the Differences” episodes on Communion. This time we look at mainline Protestants and Evangelicals. Our saint (who isn’t actually a saint) is Blessed Columba, who once got kidnapped because she was so cool. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us at sundayschoolforheathens@gmail.com Follow us on Insta...

It’s time for another “Spot the Differences” episode! This time it’s all about Communion. In this episode we cover the Communion practices of Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Eastern Catholics, and Mormons. Our saint is Saint Martin de Porres, a really great guy we’re glad exists. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us at sunda...

This week on Sunday School, we laugh through the stories of the Ark of the Covenant! In those stories we find flamethrowers, germ theory, and a really wild guy named Ron. Our saint is Saint Norbert who is probably missing some toes. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us at sundayschoolforheathens@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @s...

This week on Sunday School: Moses goes up and down a mountain over and over again, God plays interior designer, and the Israelites learn to be very afraid of clouds. Also Shannon counts a lot. Our saint is Saint Hildegard, a lady saint who did NOT die tragically young. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us at sundayschoolforheathen...

It's story time on Sunday School as Bryan recounts the Parable of The Good Samaritan. As always, Shannon wants more detail. Our saint is Saint Sebaldus, a weather-appropriate saint. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us at sundayschoolforheathens@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @sundayschoolforheathens!

This episode answers one of Shannon's biggest questions: how do people know what bible passages are being read in church? Does it line up with holidays? Do you read in order? Is it the same everywhere? Find out this week! Our saint was Saint Lucy of Syracuse who was even more stubborn than an ox. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email...

Relics are the subject of the week! Find out about different degrees of relics, how relics have been used to start new churches, and the workaround to selling pieces of dead saints! Our saint is Saint Catherine of Siena, who had a really weird wedding ring. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us at sundayschoolforheathens@gmail.com...

We are back with Part 2 of Creationism! This time we cover the different types of contemporary creationist beliefs. Our saint is Saint Dominic de Guzman, who was best buds with Saint Francis of Assisi. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us at sundayschoolforheathens@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @sundayschoolforheathens!

It's the first of another two parter. This time we are diving deep into creationism! In Part 1, we talk about the creation story (or rather stories, because there are two of them). Our saint is Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, who could be a real sass master if he thought you were too worldly. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us...

It's a new year and you could probably use a pep talk. So here is a biblical pep talk! The Letter to the Hebrews is full of brags about the Christian covenant but also mystery about its origin. Our saint is Saint Lawrence, who made a great BBQ dish (but not in the way you think). This episode was a listener request! If you have one, tweet at us @school4heathens or email us at sundayschoolforheathe...

It's a new year and the pledge drives are over. But that hasn't stopped us from talking about people asking for your money. This week we dive into the practice of Tithing, or giving 10%. Our saint is Saint Barbara, who had very strong opinions on window placement. Theme Song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo: David Griffin Editing: Shannon Desmond Email us at sundayschoolfo...

It's our 10th Episode and we are talking all about Saints! Wrap up 2018 with talk of martyrs, believers, and patrons of all kinds. Our saint is Saint Philomena, who everyone pretty much forgot about, but we love her anyway. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us at sundayschoolforheathens@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @sundayscho...

Are we going to do a Christmas episode? Of course we are going to do a Christmas episode! This week Bryan brings us the story of the Three Wise Men at Jesus' birth. Were there actually three of them? Where did they come from? What were their names? Listen in to find out! Our saint is Saint Helena of Constantinople, who found so many relics. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpres...

What do Mesmerism, Christian Science, and Donald Trump all have in common? They all come up in this week's episode of Sunday School for Heathens! Our saint is Saint Thomas More, who got a little too mixed up in the English reformation. Theme song: Adam Griffin https://alteringgravity.wordpress.com/ Logo and Editing: David Griffin Email us at sundayschoolforheathens@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram...