It Means What It Means

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.

Episode 64: Mothers, Children, and the Body Politic with Nadya Williams

Nadya Williams discusses her book Mothers, Children, and the Body Politic: Ancient Christianity and the Recovery of Human Dignity. She emphasizes the importance of unconditional love, the priceless nature of every individual, and the need for community support in times of suffering. The dialogue explores the economic implications of caregiving, the value of the elderly, and how Christianity provides a counter-narrative to modern societal values that often devalue life. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the significance of neighborly love and community in fostering hope and support. Nadya’s recommendations include Wendell Berry, Hannah’s Children, and Muppets in Moscow.
 
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 63: Our Cloud of Witnesses with Yii-Jan Lin

Yii-Jan Lin discusses her article “Our Cloud of Witnesses: A Writing of Hebrews 11:1-12:2 in Memory of the Asian and Asian American Women Killed 16 March 2021.” She reflects on the impact of immigration, the concept of citizenship, and the importance of honoring Asian American activism. Lin challenges dominant interpretations of scripture and emphasizes the need for new methodologies in biblical studies, advocating for a more inclusive and contextual approach to understanding biblical texts. The discussion also touches on the need for community support against misinformation targeting Asian Americans and the broader implications of citizenship in scholarship. Recommendations in this conversation include Stop AAPI Hate, Erika Lee, and Mae Ngai.
 
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 62: The Archetypal Witness with Amber Dillon

Amber Dillon discusses her doctoral dissertation The Archetypal Witness: John the Baptist and Composite Intertextuality in the Fourth Gospel. Dillon explores the significance of John the Baptist in the prologue of the fourth gospel, the evangelist's intentions, and the complex relationship between the Gospel and Jewish identity. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the Gospel of John within its Jewish context and the implications of its anti-Jewish rhetoric. Recommendations in this episode include, The Gospel of John and the Future of Israel, Christmaker, How to Study the Bible’s Use of the Bible, Invitation to the Septuagint, Introducing the Pseudepigrapha of Second Temple Judaism, The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism, Communities in Dispute: Current Scholarship on the Jahannine Epistles.
 
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 61: The Mount Ebal Altar Episode with Kyle Rouse

In this conversation, Kyle Rouse, a PhD candidate at Baylor University, discusses his article “Conquests Need Monuments and Monuments Need Inscriptions: The Textual Location of the Mount Ebal Altar Episode in Joshua.” He explores the significance of the Masoretic text, authorship debates, and the cultural conventions surrounding military conquests in ancient texts. Rouse emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical context and narrative coherence of biblical literature, as well as engaging with scholarly conversations on textual traditions. Kyle’s recommendations include Tracking the Master Scribe, “Monumental Inscription and the Ritual Representation of War,” Assyria: The Imperial Mission, Text and Ritual in the Pentateuch A Systematic and Comparative Approach, Harry Potter, Red Rising, Dune.
 
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.