To EL & Back

Families are complicated. Blended families even more so. Families with supernatural entities? That has to be extremely complicate. Have no fear, Bael and Riff are here to try and make some sense of the Christ family's dynamic. 

In starting our new series about Bible Conspiracy Theories, we thought it would be best to start with one that's not only modern, but pretty fun overall. Written by Russian scientist Kirill Yeskov , this book has it all. Suspense, drama, and wild accusations. It's everything we here at To El & Back love. 

The old testament is jammed full of strange characters and cryptic tales. One of the most mysterious is the Nephilim. There are variety of theories as to who or what these creatures are, but they all require so rather extreme mental gymnastics. Join Bael & Riff as they try and make sense of these shadowy figures. 

If you've spent anytime listening to sermons you've likely heard the idea that "Jesus was foretold many times in the Old Testament. His birth is the fulfillment of prophecy." Is it? As usual, the fellas are skeptical and decided to take a look. Join Bael and Riff as they do their own research. 

So last week we were kind of hard on Catholics and how they treated the Native peoples they encountered. Today, we're going to provide equal opportunity for the examination of how Protestants interacted with the Native people they encountered. ** SPOILER* * It doesn't go well. 

Colonialism is the gift that keeps on giving. Giving you feelings of ick and remorse anyway. Join the guys as the unwrap exactly where these seemingly well meaning people went so wrong.

When a movie titled "Heretic" comes out, there's a pretty good shot that Bael and Riff will want to watch it and discuss. Join the guys for a look at this interesting and kind of bizarre film. 

Now that we've established that the United States was not founded on Christianity, it's time to take a look at what a nation founded on those ideals would look like. Hint, it's a shit show that won't last long. 

America just had a birthday, so we thought we'd take a look at the religious views (or lack thereof) of the founding fathers. We also decided that it was time to have a guest, and Bael's brother Thomas was kind enough to share his knowledge with us. Join us as we ask the classic question, was the United States founded as a christian country? 

There are a ton of characters in the Bible. Some good, some evil, and most are complicated. Did you also know that there are queer coded characters in the Bible? From bros who are a little more than roomies to the original Themla and Louise, the Bible has some characters that are a little more colorful than Sunday School may have let on. 

The boys are back with another media study. This time it's a hilarious movie from 2004, Saved! With a fantastic cast and an even better message, Bael & Riff set out to give you all the reasons you need to watch this underseen classic. 

Bael and Riff take a look at a fascinating man who is ACTUALLY living the words of Christ. 

Finding the right religious group for yourself can be difficult, especially if you're not straight. Have no fear, Bael and Riff are here to help. They've got a handy guide to each group's thoughts and policies on our friends in the rainbow community. Let's take a trip together. 

When you think of Mormons, you probably think of either a hilarious musical by the creators of South Park or BYU. Did you ever wonder why BYU, and the heart of the Mormon Church, is in Utah? Join us to explore the various atrocities that led to Utah becoming a religious haven for Latter Day Saints. 

As we continue our 'Media May' exercise we decided that like exercise we should do something that sucks. Watching this movie sucks. It sucks more than Kirk Cameron's acting. Listen to us comiserate over this episode so you don't have to watch it. left behind

Time to look to heavens and shout "Oh Lord, he's a comin'" or something like that. The boys ask tackle the topic that has split up more churches than sexual misconduct, of course we're talking about the Rapture. Who gets picked, when do they get picked, what happens to everyone left behind? These questions and more will not be answered but discussed and joked about nonetheless. Fly away with us. 

Bael & Riff continue their media studies with Amazon Prime's House of David. The fellas discuss the historical and biblical accuracy of this new series, and ask a whole lot of questions along the way. Join us. 

The King James Version was the dominant translation of the Bible for over 3 centuries. It shaped how a multitiude of Christians view the scriptures. It also had a tremendous impact on the English language and how it is written. The real question is, why? Does it still have relevance today? Thee and Thous may have been replaced in the modern vernacular but is it still Sola Scriptura? Bael and Riff...

The Prosperity Gospel is about as far from Christ's teachings as one can get. However, Christians all over the world flock to preachers who espouse it. Bael and Riff dig into the back story of this false doctrine in service of their mantra, Sola Scriptura Baby!!!

Fundamentalists are not fun but they are a bit mental. Join Bael and Riff as they break down exactly who, what, why these extremely zealous believers have become the go to for Christian boogeymen. 

Passover is an incredibly important holiday for our Jewish friends. The story behind it plays a vital role in the both the Christian and Jewish religions. But how much do you actually know about it? Never fear, for Bael and Riff are here to shed some light on this fascinating and wholesome (in a morbid sort of way) holiday. Grab your matzah and buckle up! 

We're keeping our Easter season rolling along with Mel Gibson's ode to Antisemetism and violence. The guys try and make sense of exactly what Mel was trying to say and what the hell that weird baby was. Join them. 

Eggs, rabbits, and pastel colors means it must be Easter. But why? Join Bael and Riff as they hunt for clues about why we do what we do each spring!

While we already know that nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition, it's probably also fair to say that few people actually understand the Inquistions, Spanish or otherwise. Join Bael & Riff as they look at the who, what, where, when, and why of the Inquisition. They uncover some rather surprising details that color what they thought they knew about this long running and often depicted part of hist...

The Shroud of Turin. The Holy Grail. The Spear of Destiny. The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch. All of these are relics that many christians find bring them closer to God. What's the deal? From grave robbing, multiple foreskins, and more knock offs than a chinatown Louis Vuitton store, the world of relics is a very weird place. That makes it perfect for Bael and Riff to explore. Join them!