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Love matters more… than what? How about EVERYTHING? Even being right? Yup. We had the privilege of speaking with Jared Byas (the author of “Love Matters More” and co-host of “The Bible for Normal People”) about his fantastic book. We discuss how to move from a faith focused on knowledge to one focused on love. Book: “Love Matters More” by Jared Byas Podcast: “The Bible For Normal People” Book: “Genesis For Normal People” by Jared Byas & Pete Enns Book: “Faith After Doubt” by Brian McLaren Book: “Misreading Scripture Through Western Eyes” “The truth shall set you free” - John 8:31-32 “I have come to set the captives free” - Luke 4:18-19 Burning Man Scholar: Jon D. Levenson “I have plans for you…” - Jeremiah 29:11 Book: “What Would Jesus Deconstruct?” - John D. Caputo Special Guest: Jared Byas. Support Following the Fire

What is Truth? : Turns out that facts aren't important as the truth Pilate asked Jesus a question that never got answered: "What is truth?" In this episode, Steve & Nathan discuss the kinds of truth, if it's relative, if it's meaningful, and how all of this fits in to our faith. Don't worry -- ALL of your questions will most definitely be answered in this episode. WARNING: This one is pretty heavy on philosophy, so you might not want to listen while you're driving. Hannah got a leopard gecko Kristi hates snakes (not Garden-of-Eden-related) Next episode is our book club reading “Love Matters More” by Jared Byas “What is truth?” - John 18:28-38 Book: “Faith After Doubt” by Brian McLaren Knowledge vs. confidence curve Book: “Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul” by John Philip Newell TikTok video by user @fatalprosellc Bhagavad Gita Book: “Do I Stay Christian?” By Brian McLaren “The truth shall set you free.” - John 8:32 Tone indicators “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” commercials John Hodgman Book: “The Areas of My Expertise” by John Hodgman Film: “Twelve Years A Slave” Nathan needs bees! He also has no honey Get a Daniel Wheat T-shirt! Listen to Daniel Wheat’s new album, “The In Between” on Spotify Support Following the Fire

This episode is an introduction to an ongoing series on the Lord's Prayer. This episode will take a very high-level view of the prayer and invites experience over information! Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13 Jazz Standards and Improvisation over a simple tune: "Salt Peanuts" and "Blue Train" Video: The universe is amazing This mini-series is a chance for listeners to connect and contribute! Please submit your thoughts and ideas HERE. The next mini-series episode will feature the prayer in context, differences between the two prayers, and then a dive into the first line! By the way! Daniel's album featuring our theme song has officially been released! Check it out HERE! Support Following the Fire

Cursed?: What to do with the curses in Genesis 3 When Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the Garden of Eden, God laid down several curses. For the serpent, the woman, and the man. But what do we DO with these curses? Are we supposed to perpetuate the ideas behind them, or move away from them? What’s this story teaching us, anyway? We also discuss the sad state of gun violence in the USA. We wish we had the answers. Gun Violence in America Article: “America's gun culture - in seven charts” FBI Crime Statistics Book: “When Thoughts and Prayers Are Not Enough” by Taylor Schumann Podcast: The Holy Post The Curses of Genesis 3 Genesis 3 Nathan’s permaculture method: Hügelkultur Celtic Christianity Book: “Sacred Earth Sacred Soul” by John Philip Newell Star Wars character: Darth Plagueis 4th-5th c. Monk: Pelagius Original sin Gnosticism Book: “The Divine Conspiracy” by Dallas Willard Pyramid Texts Book: “Do I Stay Christian?” By Brian McLaren Terry Pratchett Books Show: “The Handmaid’s Tale” Book: “The Handmaid’s Tale” Show: “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” Show: “Our Flag Means Death” Next book club book: “Love Matters More” by Jared Byas Support Following the Fire

We had a fantastic time hanging out with Brian McLaren to talk about his new book, "Do I Stay Christian?" – the follow-up to his book "Faith After Doubt". The book first answers with "No" then "Yes" and then discusses "How" we should live, regardless of the way we answer that question. It's a brave, humbling, and important book. READ IT! Book: “Do I Stay Christian?” by Brian McLaren Website: www.brianmclaren.net Book: “Faith After Doubt” by Brian McLaren “By their fruits you shall know them…” - Matthew 7:15-20 The Reformation Council of Trent John Philip Newell Video: Presentation Steve attended by John Philip Newell Richard Rohr Center for Action and Contemplation Black-Owned Book Stores in the United States Special Guest: Brian McLaren. Support Following the Fire

Generation Z may just be the people who save us all (but only if they want to). Steve & Nathan talk to Steve's kids, Hannah and Noah, to discuss their views of faith and how their parents' deconstruction has changed things for them. Includes a bonus Gen Z slang lesson you won't want to miss! What's in the show is in the show England doesn't exist Nobody lives in New Mexico TikTok: @chrispaulrainbows Ladybird Fancypants Beat Saber Minecraft Massivecraft Destiny Apex Legends Terraria MIT Scratch Visual Programming Generation Z Generation X Boomers Millenials September 11 Attacks Challenger Explosion COVID-19 Pandemic Wicca Comic: “Someone is wrong on the internet” Discord Parasocial Relationships YouTuber - Dream Good Mythical Morning YouTuber - Jack Septic Eye Gen Z Slang Special Guests: Hannah Martin and Noah Martin. Support Following the Fire

During the last five years of his life, best-selling spiritual writer Henri Nouwen became close to a traveling circus trapeze troupe, The Flying Rodleighs. He passed away before he could write the book about the spiritual lessons of his time with them, so his friend, Carolyn Whitney-Brown, picked up the pieces and completed “Flying, Falling, Catching”. In this episode we got to spend time with Carolyn talking about Henri, the book, and lessons we can all learn about the spiritual journey from an unlikely source: trapeze artists. Book: “Flying, Falling, Catching” Henry Nouwen Carolyn Whitney-Brown YouTube channel for the book United Church of Canada Intervarsity Christian Fellowship L’arche USA Video: The Flying Rodleighs performing Special Guest: Carolyn Whitney-Brown. Support Following the Fire

Confusing informational trust with relational trust can lead to all kinds of trouble. Steve and Nathan talk about how seeing the cracks and seams in the bible can deal a blow to our faith, or how it can change it for the better. Is there more to the Bible than Biblical Scholarship and data? Is there more to the stars than atoms and molecules? Rocks have been tumbled, results were underwhelming. Steve is TikTok Famous Nathan would not deal well with fame Welcome @Maklelan fans! Nathan doesn't understand Geopolitics Steve thinking about money, recruiters gives Nathan an idea It's not personal, it's business: Looking for ultimate values in faith groups is revealing. Nathan continues contra-certainty crusade IdolatryAn idol is usually a good thing that we make ultimate. We say, "Unless I have that, I am nothing." — Timothy Keller (@timkellernyc) February 16, 2014 Book: The Sin of Certainty by Peter Enns Trust vs. Certainty Hebrews 11:1 Data over Dogma Buddhism Discovery of disease spread though water What stars are made of Materialism Catholic Bible different from Protestant Bible All scripture is useful for… If I know all things but have not love…. Jesus rebukes biblical scholars for getting priorities wrong: Matthew 23:23-24 Canonization Common Book of Prayer Book: Faith After Doubt by Brian McLaren Greatest Command: Matthew 3:36-40 Possible geographic errors in Mark? Genitive vs. Dative Morocco mosque Phil 2:6-11 Video: Raiders of the Lost ark Support Following the Fire

Blogger, speaker, and podcaster Kate Boyd joins us to discuss the process of deconstruction, how to approach it, and the importance of not doing it alone. Find all of Kate's info here: KateBoyd.co Wesleyan Quadrilateral Film: "Shadowlands" Special Guest: Kate Boyd. Support Following the Fire

This is a rebroadcast for Transgender Day of Visibility. We got to talk with Natalie Drew – a devout Christian, pacifist, and kind of a theology nerd who also happens to be a trans woman. She shares her story with us of struggling with life before beginning her transition after having a wife and 2 kids, how her marriage weathered the storm, and she gives some great advice to other LGBTQ people in the church, as well as for the rest of the church. I do want to let you know that suicide does come up a few times in this episode. Natalie Drew: Twitter - @natdrew79 Book: “Jesus the Gentle Parent” Raw Tools “Deadnaming” Gender Dysphoria Gender Identity Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” 2 Corinthians 12:6-9 Naked Pastor cartoons “The Most Sincere Prayer” Open Theism Greg Boyd Book:“Crucifixion of the Warrior God” by Greg Boyd Merism Natalie’s Blog Hebrews 1:3 1 Samuel 8 Sacrificial love of Christ - Philippians 2:5-11 Heather’s Twitter (Natalie’s wife): @heatherdrew Cisgender Documentary: “Disclosure” Bridget Eileen Rivera Austen Heartke Biblical love: 1 Corinthians 13 Special Guest: Natalie Drew. Support Following the Fire

Episode 50 will be "Flying, Falling, Catching: An Unlikely Story of Finding Freedom" by Henri Nouwen & Carolyn Whitney-Brown - (buy it here) Support Following the Fire

Bible nerds unite! Nathan & Steve got to have a wonderful conversation with TikTok-famous Bible scholar Dan McClellan. Topics include the cognitive science of religion, the problem with univocality, the development of inerrancy, and… does God look like a cow? Dan’s TikTok account Dan’s dissertation: “The Cognitive Science of Religion and the Conceptualization of Deity in the Hebrew Bible” Identity Politics Data > Dogma Merch What is dogma? Book: “People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn The Documentary Hypothesis “Univocality” Marcion Psalm 137 The Reformation The Enlightenment Logical Positivism Pete Enns Book: “The Bible Tells Me So” by Pete Enns Book: “How the Bible Works” by Pete Enns Book: “The Bible With Sources Revealed” by Richard Friedman Earliest written parts of the Bible: Deuteronomy 32 Deuteronomy 33 Judges 5 Psalm 68 Exodus 15 Genesis 49 Links to all of Dan’s stuff Special Guest: Dan McClellan. Support Following the Fire