PODCAST · religion
Biblical Conversations
by Joel Allen
This podcast is an honest conversation about difficult aspects of the Bible to seek understanding that leads to enhanced faith and deepened discipleship. Cover art photo provided by JFL on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@wallsbyjfl
Episodes
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BC 2.16 Interview with Rabbi Pesach Wolicki: God and the Coronavirus
In this interview, Pesach and I discuss some of the unhelpful ways that certain people of faith have responded to the pandemic gripping our world. How does God want us to respond? Can we know what God is saying to us through these difficult times? Pesach critiques some of the interpretations…
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BC 2.15 The Bible and the Coronavirus (or "How a few folks at DWU are living out their faith")
This episode seeks to engage in the terrible virus sweeping our country asking, “What biblical themes should we be thinking about? Where is God speaking to us? What lessons can we learn?" I talked with Todd Mueller, an (associate professor of business administration), Eric and Denise Van Meter...
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BC 2.14 A Conversation with Betty Oldenkamp on the Bible, Refugees and the Refugee Resettlement
Betty Oldenkamp is the Executive Director of Lutheran Social Services in Sioux Falls and Director of their "Center for New Americans" which helps refugees resettle into South Dakota. In this episode, Betty and I discussed the striking way in which the Bible in both testaments expresses tremendous...
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REL 141 Belief in God and Pascal’s Wager
This episode is for students in my REL 141 course which is going online until Mar 30. I discuss Pascal’s Wager for those struggling to believe in God.
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BC 2.13 The story of Thomas Madut: From Lost Boy of Sudan to Marathon Runner Extraordinaire
This is my second episode on the Bible and Immigration and is an interview with my friend and colleague Thomas Madut. Thomas was one of the "Lost Boys of Sudan" who fled from the Janjaweed fighters who wrecked devastation throughout south Sudan in the mid-1990's. Thomas is an extraordinary…
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BC 2.12 The Curious Case of SD HB 1212: Where the 1st Amendment and the Welfare of Children Collide
This podcast examines a recent experience I had advocating for South Dakota HB 1212 which would have added clergy to the list of mandatory reporters of suspected cases of child neglect and abuse. 45 states already mandate that clergy report suspected cases. Reporting suspected abuse does not mean...
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BC 2.11 The Bible and Our Environment: A Biblical Conversation with David Hollis
We now know that January 2020 was the hottest January since temperatures have been tracked. Let’s talk climate. What does the Bible say about our environment? How should we think biblically about the multiple human impacts on the created world? Besides a warming environment, insect populations…
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BC 2.10 The Bible and Immigration: Part Two A conversation with Vicky Vetter and Karl Kroger
This is the second half of the conversation I had recently with Vicky Vetter and Karl Kroger. Vicky is the Director of Student Ministries at Legacy United Methodist Church in Bismarck ND. She's very involved in helping resettle and educate immigrants in the Bismarck area. Karl is the Senior…
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BC 2.9 The Bible and the Immigrant: Conversation with Vicky Vetter and Karl Kroger
What attitude should we take toward people who have entered this nation illegally? Should mercy and benevolence triumph over justice and the law? What about those who immigrate here lawfully or those who seek asylum? Vicky, Karl and I waded into this vast and complex topic using the Wesleyan...
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BC 2.8 Abortion: A New Way Forward? A discussion with Alisha Vincent and Jeff Pospisil
This is the first episode in Biblical Conversations on a “social issues” topic. We’re going to jump in deep. Let's talk about abortion. We can say with some confidence that this is the issue that got Trump elected - evangelicals loved his promise to select judges for SCOTUS that would be strongly...
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BC 2.7 The Josiah Enigma and the Art of Changing your Mind
This episode explores the biblical story of King Josiah (2 Kings 22-23). There are two powerful puzzles related to this story. 1) Why was the prophetess Huldah so negative and depressingly unhopeful? Jeremiah was prophesying great hope and salvation predicated on obedience at this same time! (Jer...
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BC 2.6 Three Christmas Surprises
This episode is a sermon I put together for the Christmas Season this year. Of course, the Christmas Season actually begins on Christmas and continues on for the 12 days of Christmas to January 6 when this episode should appear. I’ll discuss three things about the Christmas story that you may not...
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BC 2.5 Messiah Prophecies in Isaiah 11 and 60
In this episode, Drs. Belanger and Redder, colleagues of mine here at Dakota Wesleyan University, discuss the prophecies of Isaiah 11 and 60. Also, Jeff Pospicil and I discussed Isaiah 60 - the second part of a previous conversation.
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BC 2.4 Advent Study: Prophecies of the Messiah
In this episode, I'll have two discussions with Eric Van Meter, Jeff Pospisil. Eric and I discuss the messianic prophecy of Isaiah 7:10-17, and Jeff and I will discuss Isaiah 9:1-7. We discuss the fact that all these "prophetic" passages had very specific meanings in their own political context....
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BC 2.3 Advent Study: Yahweh’s Kingship in the Psalms
This episode explores the meaning of the book of Psalms as it relates to kingship. Turns out, the very structure of the book (divided into five sub-books with Royal Psalms at the seams) tells the story of the shifting understanding of Yahweh’s relation to Kings of Israel. We also see evidence of…
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BC 2.2 An Advent Study: Yahweh and the King: From Gideon to Golgotha Episode 2 in the series
In this episode, we examine various attitudes about kingship in ancient Israel starting with the book of Judges (the theme mentioned four times toward the end that “In those days, there was no king in Israel” - clearly indicating that Israel needed a King to straighten out the mess of the Judges...
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BC 2.1 An Advent Study: Yahweh and the King: From Gideon to Golgotha
This episode analyzes the developing understanding of kingship in ancient Israel - from Gideon’s rejection of kingship altogether (Yahweh is our King! We don’t need another!) to Christ our Messianic King, we survey biblical kingship and the competing understandings. We examine Gen 35 which...
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BC Bonus: Ecclesiastes and Edgy Spirituality
I read an introduction to Ecclesiastes the other day that described Ecclesiastes as purveying an “edgy spirituality” that was challenging in the moment but in the end served to encourage faith and discipleship. That got me thinking about BC as a similar “edgy spirituality” that asks difficult...
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BC1: Biblical Conversations: The New Deal
I’ve made some alterations to my first episode and I’m republishing it in this downtime before Season 2 begins (Dec. 4). I’ve added a new opening segment which I recently recorded to say again what I want in this podcast. Let me know what you think! I'm excited about Season Two and I already have...
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BC 19 The Rabbi and the Bible (on Godliness and the Good life)
Rabbi Wolicki - our guest on Biblical Conversations! In this episode, Rabbi Wolicki and I discuss rabbinic understandings of the relationship between godliness and the good life, whether the retribution system functioned at the individual level, the corporate level, or both. (See BC 10, BC 11 and...
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BC 22 “As the Deer” or “Exercise for Soul Strength”
We are living in a day an age of skyrocketing mental health challenges. Anxiety and depression seem to be at all-time highs. This episode explores Psalm 42 (the famous “As the Deer” Psalm) for lessons and exhortation as to how we can do the work of soul-strengthening so we can avoid being...
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BC 21: The Question of Wisdom: Interview with Brandon Vetter
Brandon and I discussed the issues surrounding the reception of wisdom traditions in the ancient and modern worlds. Brandon referred to a book exploring how the NT understands Jesus to be the embodiment of wisdom. Its by Ben Witherington III. The full title is “Jesus the Sage: The Pilgrimage of...
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BC 20 The Rabbi and the Bible: Part 2
Rabbi Wolicki describes a rabbinic biblical legend of a conversation between Moses and God during a key episode in scripture. Moses asks about the question we’ve been discussing: Why is there a righteous man suffering and a righteous man prospering? And why is there a wicked man suffering and a...
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BC 18: Odds and Ends (for those willing to brave the deeps)
This episode is called “Odds and Ends” because I go a little deeper on two topics. First, I discuss the divine name more thoroughly and examine the possibility of its being based on a causative verb (hiphil in Hebrew) rather than the regular verb (Qal in Hebrew). So Yahweh would mean, “He who...
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BC 17 David Hollis on Satan and Scripture
David and I discuss the notion of Satan and demons and how important it is to believe in these as real entities of existence. We also discussed how we understand biblical inspiration to work and how the scriptures function as God’s authoritative word.
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BC 16: Is America a Christian Nation? Remarks prepared for Constitution Day 2019 at Dakota Wesleyan
This study examines the question through the lens: Did Jesus intend to leave behind a specific political/national entity? I argue that he does not. The primary passage which suggests Christian support for a particular government is Rom 15:1-6. I argue that this should be read in a very limited…
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BC 15c The First Four Words
This episode covers commandments 3 and 4 found in Exod 20:7-8. “You should not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” and “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” Study Questions: How can we honor the name of God? How might our own personal integrity bring dishonor to the name of God? In...
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BC 15b Have no other God’s but God
In this devotional episode, we’ll look at commandments 1 and 2 which are Exod 20:3-3. Hope you enjoy!
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BC 15a The Four Commandments
This is a shorter version, more devotional in nature. In this episode, I’ll look what Jewish folk understand to be the first commandment, “I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Exod 20:1-2.) Study Guide Questions: How can I deepen my...
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BC 14 The Devil and the Bible: What is Biblical Authority and How does it work?
This podcast examines the challenge of understanding biblical inspiration. How does it work? Three parts. 1) We examine II Sam 24 and I Chron 21 to see the shocking shift: God incites David in II Samuel and in Chronicles retelling of the same story he says Satan incited David to take the evil...
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BC 13: Godliness and the Good Life D: Interview with Andrew DeVaney
Andrew and I discussed the three-sided triangulation between God (the Covenant Maker), Israel (the Covenant people) and the Land of Israel (the covenant blessed). “the economic sphere is like a thermometer that reveals both the temperature of the theological relationship between God and Israel...
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BC 12: Godliness and the Good Life C (Jesus, Paul and the Paradigm Shift)
Does God promise blessings for the faithful? Does daily life bear this out? We see the primary position in the OT that God blesses the faithful. But the NT seems to change positions and claim that there is no guarantee of this. We look at Rom 8: 35-end, Luke 13:1-5, John 9:1-5 and Matt. 5:43-48....
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BC 11: Godliness and the Good Life B (The Wisdom Literature)
Here we discuss the books of Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes on the question - does God secure the good life for those who live in accordance with God’s wisdom? Each book has a very unique perspective. Study Questions: 1) Read Job 38:1-11 Who is “darkening my counsel with words without knowledge?”...
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BC 10: Godliness and the Good Life A
In this episode, we will consider the tensions in scripture on the topic, “Does God bless and prosper those who keep God’s laws?” Some places say yes (Lev 26, Deut 28), some aren’t sure (Ps 44) and others no (Ecclesiastes, Job). Study Questions: 1) Is there a distinction to be made between God’s...
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BC 9: Does God Change God’s Mind D: God and Time: an Interview with Jeff Pospisil
Jeff and I had a wonderful conversation about God’s knowledge of the future, human free will and the A and B theories of time.
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BC 8: “Does God Change God’s Mind?” C: Interview w/Rebecca Trefz
Rebecca and I discuss the podcasts on “Does God change God’s mind?” looking for pastoral perspective and insight.
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BC 7: Does God change God’s Mind? (B)
The second half of the episode exploring the differing opinions in scripture on whether God changes God’s mind? Either a contradiction is in view or this could be a paradox.
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BC6: Does God change God’s mind? (A)
This episode-first of several-examines the biblical texts for and against the idea that God can, like humans, change God’s own mind.
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BC 5: Divine Punishment: Paradigm Shift and the Pastoral Implications: Interview with Karl Kroger
In this episode, Karl and I reflect on the biblical shifts of perspective on the notion of intergenerational punishment and pastoral implications.
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BC4: The Question on Wisdom and the Art of Biblical Compromise
This episode explores the debate and compromise in ancient Israel as to the appropriateness of reading and incorporating humanistic non-Israelite wisdom literature.
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BC3: 3 Versions of the Ten Commandments
Learn about the three different versions of the 10 Commandments. Then Adam, Karl and I discussed how we can appreciate the differences between them without minimizing the fact that we do indeed have versions that stand in considerable tension with each other.
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BC2: God and Intergenerational Punishment
This episode looks at the tension in the Old Testament between the belief that God carries over punishment from one generation to another and those who believe everyone is judged for their own sins.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This podcast is an honest conversation about difficult aspects of the Bible to seek understanding that leads to enhanced faith and deepened discipleship. Cover art photo provided by JFL on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@wallsbyjfl
HOSTED BY
Joel Allen
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Biblical Conversations have?
Biblical Conversations currently has 42 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Biblical Conversations about?
This podcast is an honest conversation about difficult aspects of the Bible to seek understanding that leads to enhanced faith and deepened discipleship. Cover art photo provided by JFL on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@wallsbyjfl
How often does Biblical Conversations release new episodes?
Biblical Conversations has 42 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Biblical Conversations?
You can listen to Biblical Conversations on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Biblical Conversations?
Biblical Conversations is created and hosted by Joel Allen.
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