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Does the Book of James Attack the Teachings of Paul?
Episode 57
For over five centuries (going back to Martin Luther!) many readers of the New Testament have maintained that the letter of James flat-out contradic…
2 years, 10 months ago
He's a Very Naughty Boy: The Infancy Gospel of Thomas
Episode 56
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is one of the most intriguing and peculiar non-canonical accounts of Jesus' life from outside the New Testament. The Ne…
2 years, 10 months ago
Could Jesus Read and Write?
Episode 55
Nearly everyone today assumes that Jesus could read and write. But is that historically plausible? There is only one story in the New Testament wher…
2 years, 11 months ago
The Omnipresent Fear of Death
Episode 54
As far back as we have literary reports -- beginning with the Epic of Gilgamesh, our earliest surviving narrative, written centuries before the olde…
2 years, 11 months ago
Christianity One Year After Jesus
Episode 53
What was actually happening in those years? Were thousands of people converting? Was the religion taking over the world? Was it declared illegal by …
2 years, 11 months ago
Our One-Year Anniversary! A Live Q&A with Bart
Episode 52
For our 52nd episode -- our one-year anniversary! -- we will be having a live Q&A with Bart. Questioners have submitted questions, some out of the ma…
2 years, 11 months ago
Why Isn't Christianity a Doomsday Cult?
Episode 51
If Jesus was an apocalyptic prophet, then why isn't mainstream, modern Christianity an apocalyptic religion? Was the move away from apocalypticism d…
3 years ago
What Does It Mean to Write a Popular Book?
Episode 50
Most scholars write books and articles for other scholars, using jargon and presupposing knowledge available only to experts trained in their discip…
3 years ago
Stories about Jesus Before the Gospels: Oral Traditions in the Early Church.
Episode 49
3 years ago
A Giant Jesus and a Walking-Talking Cross: The Fascinating Gospel of Peter
Episode 48
One of the most intriguing non-canonical Gospels to be discovered in modern times is the Gospel of Peter. Unlike the New Testament Gospels, which we…
3 years ago