It Means What It Means

Episode 73: The Bible: A Global History with Bruce Gordon

Bruce Gordon discusses his book The Bible: A Global History. He emphasizes the Bible's evolution, the significance of its materiality, and the ongoing discussions surrounding the canon, particularly in relation to the Council of Nicaea. This conversation explores the complexities of biblical texts, their translations, and interpretations across different cultures and historical contexts. Books mentioned and recommended in this episode include those by Lamin Sanneh, Philip Jenkins, Leo Tolstoy, and Fyodor Dostoevsky.
 
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Episode 72: A Syriac Gospel Fragmentary Manuscript with Catalin-Stefan Popa

Catalin-Stefan Popa, a research professor at the Romanian Academy, discusses his article “An Early Ḥarklean Version in a Syriac Gospel Fragmentary Manuscript (MS Or. 403)” and about his research on Syriac manuscripts. They also discuss the significance of Syriac as a language, the historical context of the manuscripts, the role of marginalia, and the importance of manuscript preservation and digitization. Resources mentioned or recommended in this episode include Urho, The Way; The Digital Orientalist; Middle Eastern Manuscript Traditions; The Syriac Annals of the Romanian Academy; The Making of Syriac Jerusalem: Representations of the Holy City in Syriac Literature of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages; and Soul and Boy Diseases: Remedies and Healing in Middle Eastern Religious Cultures and Traditions.
 
Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at itmeanswhatitmeans@gmail.com. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Epsiode 71.2: Male Friendship, Homosociality, and Women in the Hebrew Bible with Barbara Thiede

Jared and Barbara Thiede discusses her book Male Friendship, Homosociality, and Women in the Hebrew Bible: Malignant Fraternities, exploring the concept of homosociality in biblical narratives, particularly among male characters. She reflects on the implications of these relationships in the context of contemporary issues surrounding toxic masculinity and gender dynamics. Thiede also examines the relationships of key biblical figures such as Judah, Hira, and David, and how these narratives can inform our understanding of masculinity today. Websites, books, and authors mentioned or recommended in this episode include The Shiloh Project, Ursula Vernon, Alix Harrow, Chronicles of Amber, Adrian Tchaikovsky, and Ursula K Le Guin.
 
Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at itmeanswhatitmeans@gmail.com. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Episode 71.1: Male Friendship, Homosociality, and Women in the Hebrew Bible

Jared and Barbara Thiede discusses her book Male Friendship, Homosociality, and Women in the Hebrew Bible: Malignant Fraternities, exploring the concept of homosociality in biblical narratives, particularly among male characters. She reflects on the implications of these relationships in the context of contemporary issues surrounding toxic masculinity and gender dynamics. Thiede also examines the relationships of key biblical figures such as Judah, Hira, and David, and how these narratives can inform our understanding of masculinity today. Websites, books, and authors mentioned or recommended in this episode include The Shiloh Project, Ursula Vernon, Alix Harrow, Chronicles of Amber, Adrian Tchaikovsky, and Ursula K Le Guin.
 
Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at itmeanswhatitmeans@gmail.com. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Episode 70: Fan Fiction and Early Christian Writings with Tom de Bruin

In this conversation, Jared and Tom de Bruin discuss Tom’s book Fan Fiction and Early Christian Writings: Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha and Canon. They consider the intersections of fan fiction and biblical texts, exploring how fan fiction can provide insights into the understanding of religious narratives. Tom delves into the concept of canon, the historical context of early Christian writings, and the complexities of textual ownership. Through contemporary examples, such as Anne Rice's Christ the Lord Series, de Bruin illustrates the ongoing dialogue between fiction and faith, emphasizing the fluidity of canonical texts and the emotional connections that drive fan engagement. Other works mentioned or recommended in this episode include Judeophobia and the New Testament: Texts and Contexts, The Grace of Kings, Unwind, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, and The Tyrant Philosophers.
 
Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at itmeanswhatitmeans@gmail.com. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Episode 69: What Is African American Religion with Anthony Pinn

Anthony Pinn discusses his book What Is African American Religion?, emphasizing that religion is fundamentally about the quest for meaning and complex subjectivity rather than adherence to specific doctrines or institutions. He argues that this quest is a shared human impulse that transcends racial and cultural boundaries, shaped by social contexts and experiences. The discussion also touches on the rise of individuals identifying as “nones” and how community engagement is evolving in the 21st century, highlighting the importance of understanding religion as a broader human experience. Recommendations in this episode include Terror and Triumph; The Interplay of Things; Slave Road; and Moses, Man of the Mountain.
 
Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at itmeanswhatitmeans@gmail.com. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Episode 68: Paul's Divine Christology with Chris Tilling

Don’t panic! It’s Jared’s forty-second birthday and he invited his friend Chris Tilling back to discuss Tilling’s book Paul's Divine Christology, the nature of unconditional love in Paul's writings, and the complexities of intertextual continuity and discontinuity in Paul's theology. They also examine the importance of understanding the “weirdness” of Paul and the need to approach his writings with a fresh perspective, resisting the temptation to domesticate his message. Recommendations in this episode include Larry Hurtado, Matthew Novenson, Ruben Bühner, William Horbury, Crispin Fletcher-Louis, Jared Neusch, John Goldingay, Walter Brueggemann, Beyond Justification, Apocalypse Here, “Paul the Trinitarian,” Chris’ blog Chrisendom, and his chess podcast Chess Nut Bookcase.
 
Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at itmeanswhatitmeans@gmail.com. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Episode 67: Jesus v Evangelicals with Constantine Campbell

Constantine Campbell discusses his book, Jesus v. Evangelicals: A Bilical Critique of a Wayward Movement with Jared. They delve into the quadrilateral of evangelicalism, focusing on the significance of activism, the role of institutions, and the challenges posed by celebrity culture within the church. Campbell critiques the political expression of activism and emphasizes the need for a holistic understanding of the gospel that includes the resurrection and social action. Recommendations in this episode include Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation and The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting Up a Generation for Failure.
 
Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at itmeanswhatitmeans@gmail.com. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Episode 66: The Judas Project with John Dunne

John Dunne is back to discuss the 1993 film The Judas Project with Jared. Their conversation explores narrative, character motivations, and the cultural and theological implications of its portrayal of Jesus, Peter, and Judas. They analyze the film's unique take on the story of Jesus in a contemporary setting, the motivations behind Judas' betrayal, and the film's overall quality and impact. The discussion also touches on the nostalgia associated with early 90s cinema and the film's earnest yet flawed execution. Recommendations in this episode include Assassin 33AD, The Next Quest for the Historical Jesus, and Jesus and the Forces of Death.
Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at itmeanswhatitmeans@gmail.com. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.

Episode 65: Finding Phoebe with Susan Hylen

In this conversation, Susan Hylen discusses book Finding Phoebe: What New Testament Women Were Really Like and her research on the roles and perceptions of women in the time when the New Testament was written. She highlights the historical context of women's property ownership, their social influence through patronage, and the virtues ascribed to them in ancient society. The discussion also delves into the complexities of speech and silence in relation to social hierarchies, emphasizing that women's roles were more nuanced than traditionally understood. Hylen emphasizes the importance of interpreting biblical texts with an awareness of their cultural background, encouraging readers to engage with scripture in a way that recognizes the complexities of women's voices and agency. Recommendations in this episode include, Richard P Saller, Nijay Gupta, Niall Williams, and Rebecca Makkai.
 
Please reach out with guest suggestions and/or feedback at itmeanswhatitmeans@gmail.com. If you would like to support the podcast financially, you can hear episodes a week early for $5 a month on Patreon.