To EL & Back

By now we're pretty sure that we all understand that portions of the Old Testament function as a legal framework for Hebrew Society. Inside that framework are some fun puzzles that we can work to see the logic behind the law. 

The Bible has contributed an incredible amount to our culture. Some of that is even good, or at least, not bad. This week the guys take a look at turns of phrase that have biblical origins. 

Yep, the guys are still on this nonsense. 

The guys investigate whether The Addams Family and the Book of Daniel exist in the same universe. For franchise sake...

Bael & Riff are back to poke the bear and revisit a classic Bible tale from a different lens. 

The guys take a look at a pretty familiar tale with some giant narrative issues. Let's pull at that thread together. 

Kids. We're talking about kids. 

Our last episode put a spotlight on someone who is getting the Christianity thing all wrong. Today, we profile someone who is getting it right. 

Seriously. The title says it all. No need for us to get clever or wax intellectual about this. That dude sucks. We call him on it. That's the episode. 

We follow up last episodes sordid implications with a secondary investigation. We've established that Chemosh loves human sacrifice, especially children. Surely, that's not something Yahweh is into. I SAID SURELY THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YAHWEH IS INTO, RIGHT?!?!?!? RIGHT!?!?!?!?

We all know that history is written by the winners. So it seems awfully odd that in a book dedicated to telling us how God (Yahweh, Israel's version) is omnipotent, contains a story where he takes a beating that even a Brown's fan would call embarrassing. Unfamiliar with that story? Don't worry, Bael & Riff can't wait to give you the blow by blow. 

Despite the absolute desperation of right wingers to convince you Jesus is on their side, it's obvious to anyone reading the text that Jesus was a radical socialist. One of the best examples is this story. Listen and decide for yourselves. 

As we continue through the "minor" prophets, we get to the strange case of Haggai. His story, much like the pronunciation of his name is open to debate. Join Bael and Riff as they dig into this often overlooked but in truth quite interesting book of the Bible. 

As we continue through the "minor" prophets we get to one with a lot to say, and even more authorship concerns. Micah was both unique and yet cut from the same cloth as his contemporaries. He says mostly the same things as the others, but boy does he do it with style. Join Bael & Riff as they take a look at that style. 

Join Bael & Riff as they revisit a topic from the early days of the show. It's time to examine Jonah again and see if this fish story adds up any better now. 

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament. A scant handful of pages that are greater than the sum of their parts. Join Bael and Riff for a look inside this interesting little book. 

The book of Joel is one of those books that almost everyone who attends church has heard a sermon from, but can't really tell you what it was about. Have no fear, Bael and Riff are on the case. Join them and take a look at one of the only 'Minor Prophets' that we're certain we're pronouncing correctly. 

The book of Habakkuk is one of the few "Minor Prophets" that gets a bit of play from the traditional Christian set. They love his end of the world prophecy of doom. Don't get us wrong, we love impending doom as much as anyone, but there's a lot more going on here than most people realize. Join Bael and Riff as they look for the non doom related portions of this ancient text. 

We take a pause in our exploration of the minor prophets to talk about one of the more obscure and bizarre OT Bible stories. This story reads like classic western. Saddle up with Riff and Bael. 

The book of Hosea, like the rest of the minor prophets, isn't read enough. The insights are incredible, and then of course there's the slut shaming on supernatural SA. Yeah, you read that right. 

This week Riff takes us to a very uncomfortable place. Usually, translation station is a fun stop, but it'll be a little darker this week. Help Bael cope with the bad news by joining him in hearing this insanity. 

Our 2nd minor prophet is Zechariah, another guy that you may have heard of, but probably know nothing about. He's a little more upbeat than Amos, not that it would be hard. 

The book of Amos is tiny little book smack dab in the middle of your Bible. You've likely never paid it much attention. Today, Bael & Riff will show you why that's a mistake. Join us as Amos makes everyone who sucks uncomfortable! 

If the title of today's episode is a word you haven't encountered before, don't feel bad. It's a classical Christian concept that was begging to be discussed. If ever there was an argument that was both fundamentally important yet incredibly pointless it's this one. Bael and Riff must pick the ism for them. 

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 investigate. 

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 history. 

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! 

*SPOILERS* In keeping with the new format the boys take on their first media study. The 2024 film, Conclave, is the study for this week. A film that got a lot of Oscar buzz and actually picked up a win in the Best Adapted Screenplay category. Join Bael and Riff as they dig into this film and give the blow by blow on this big screen battle without bullets.