Ancient Jesus/Future Faith
Who is Jesus? What does the Bible actually say about…well, everything? Is there a future for faith beyond Evangelicalism? On this weekly podcast, pastor Don Schiewer, Sarah Mainardi, and Dr. Tana M. Schiewer consider these questions and ask many more. Each week, they use the tools of Biblical scholarship to deconstruct misinterpretations of Scripture, uncover the history and context of Jesus, and build a path forward for Christianity that creates safety and freedom for all. Note: we are currently on hiatus, so we will not be posting any new episodes for the foreseeable future.
Episodes
Did God create evil? What is evil? If God didn't create evil, where did it come from? Don and Tana explore the origins of evil, concepts of justice, and what it means for the world to have both light and darkness.
Previous podcast episodes referenced:
- Should We Focus on Sin? (Episode 113)
- Adam & Eve's Eviction: The True Story (Episode 108) - this is what we referred to as a "garden theology"
B...
What if God could retell your story? For today's episode, we are sharing a teaching of Don's from 2011 called The Great Reteller. This recording is from a guest speaking slot at Genesis Church in Toledo. It is a simple yet profound message about how the stories of the Bible demonstrate time and time again that God is interested in helping us reframe our stories.
A few notes:
--Don mentions Food for Thought -...
Why do Christians seem to hate social justice? Why does it feel like they'd dislike Jesus if they met him in real life? In this episode, Don and Tana explore the "warnings" against social justice language in churches, starting with Glenn Beck in 2010 and moving to today. Ultimately, they note how racism, economic issues, and the pursuit of power affect how today's evangelicals interpret churches that, to them, a...
Is the Great Commission about evangelism or discipleship? What does it truly mean to be a disciple? Don and Tana discuss the meaning of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) and explore the difference between evangelism and discipleship.
Come for the intellectual discussion, stay for a description of Bald Eagle Jesus.
Book recommendation: Paul Was Not a Christian by Pamela Eisenbaum
Did Judas really betray Jesus? Or was he trying to accomplish something else? Don, Sarah, and Tana discuss how the traditional explanation of Judas' betrayal doesn't quite make sense, uncover Judas' true motivations, and reconsider his place in biblical history. Hang around for a listen if you'd like to challenge your pre-conceived notions of who Judas was and why he did what he did.
Passages discussed:...
What is a "biblical marriage?" What do people mean by that NOW, and what did it mean THEN? Don, Sarah, and Tana discuss the economic system of marriage in the bible, Paul's desire for singleness, and how many of the directives of God about marriage are actually meant to protect women.
Bible Passages/Stories Mentioned:
Psalm 127: 3
Abraham and Sarah
Jacob and Leah and Rachel
Adam and Eve
What is the best way to keep the Sabbath? Are "Sabbath" and "The Lord's Day" the same thing? Don, Sarah, and Tana discuss the true definition of Sabbath and how it has been changed over the years. By exploring it in context and contemplating the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith, we hope to uncover what a "true Sabbath" is.
Bible Passages Discussed:
Exodus 20: 8-10
Isaiah 58
What does it mean to have faith the size of a mustard seed? What does it mean to be faithful? Don, Sarah, and Tana explore the idea of "faith" vs. "faithfulness," the missed potential of "faithful Christians," and the question that plagues many people who are deconstructing: do I maintain my faith, or do I abandon it and move on?
This bonus episode is the audio from our March 9th live stream with Matt Nightingale. We had a terrific time talking about what it's like being queer and Christian, how to respond to fundamentalists, embracing ambiguity in faith, and what is next for Christianity.
About Matt: Matt Nightingale is a pastor, musician, speaker, writer, and spiritual director living and working in San Francisco’s North Bay Area. He is fou...
Will the real Proverbs 31 woman please stand up?
We read the Proverbs 31 passage every Mother's Day, with the implication that the "virtuous wife" is not only a wife, but a mother too. But is that really what Proverbs 31 says? Over the years, this passage has been used to tell women that they are only "virtuous" if they play those domestic roles. But what about working women? What about childless w...
Chris is a truth orator, wizard-level field organizer, life preservationist, expert simulator analyst and gatherer of...
We continue our exploration of Jacob's story. Picking up after the stolen blessing, we discuss his fractured relationship with Esau, Jacob's Ladder, additional blessings from God, Rachel and Leah, and how Jacob's story is kind of like a...Hallmark Christmas movie?
Passages discussed: Genesis 28: 10-22; Genesis 32: 22-32; Genesis 35
We discuss an alternative understanding of the parable of the lost sheep. Is the sheep "lost" or is the shepherd irresponsible? What lessons can we draw from this (and the parables of the coin and son) and apply to how we treat those we consider "lost" today? What is our responsibility today as "irresponsible shepherds"?
Bible passage discussed: Luke 15: 1-7
Sarah shares a powerful teaching with us, starting with the details of the ark of the covenant and then relating them to the power of all of us living and studying in community. Together, we explore what it means to create salvation and safety for others.
Bible chapters mentioned: Exodus 25, Genesis 18
Buy us a coffee!
Website
YouTube
TikTok
Facebook
Instagram
In this episode, we continue our discussion of the family of Rebekah by exploring the life of Jacob. From Jacob wrestling in the womb with Esau to wrestling with God, we discuss Jacob's consistent struggles through life as well as his relationship with different members of his family. We also uncover all the things Esau has in common with Prince Harry!
This is a recording of our Faith Under De/Re-Construction live stream on January 16, 2023, in which we discuss racial justice and the Church - and question what is a good way to recognize (and not anesthetize) the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
What is Faith Under De/Re-Construction? On Monday nights (on our YouTube Channel), Don and Tana join Dave Capozzi of the dig new streams podcast to discuss issues facing the Chur...
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.
Shootings are not unusual in Belize. Shootings of cops are. When a wealthy woman – part of one of the most powerful families in Belize – is found on a pier late at night, next to a body, it becomes the country’s biggest news story in a generation. New episodes every Monday!
A straightforward look at the day's top news in 20 minutes. Powered by ABC News. Hosted by Brad Mielke.