The Bible and the English Major

Oct 01 2024 30 ep. 19 mins 6

The Bible and the English Major Podcast artwork

The beauty in the Bible can be challenging to appreciate, and that's where I, an enthusiastic English Major, come in. Together, we explore the dang good drama, bizarre ancient context, and creative artistry in the Bible. Taking a different angle every two weeks, we approach a Bible story through a series of fun and accessible 20-minute episodes. Then, because the best part of any good story is getting to talk about it with friends, I invite a guest to come and chat about it. If you're looking for a fresh take on familiar stories or are curious about how Biblical authors used irony, symbolism, and humor to make a point, listen and follow The Bible and the English Major today!

Support

Please support The Bible and the English Major:

https://www.patreon.com/marenjoschneider

About us!

If you want to learn more about me (Maren), invite me to speak, or read the article versions of The Bible and the English Major, visit https://marenjo.com.

Find us on social

https://www.instagram.com/maren.jo.schneider

https://www.facebook.com/maren.jo.schneider

Religion & Spirituality Arts

Copy RSS

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

The Road to Rebekah, Part 1: Permission Granted

Feb 03 2024 4 mins

Amidst global heartache, I turn to exploring of the struggles and triumphs of book writing. It's about embracing imperfection and finding the courage to 'suck' at something new. Let's navigate these challenges together on the Road to Rebekah.

I'm Baaaaaaaack!

Dec 23 2023 5 mins

Good news, Bible and the English Major fans! The podcast is back with new episodes starting in January. Find out what's coming by giving a quick listen here!

The Woman Caught in Adultery, Part 4: Conversations With a Friend: Jennifer Garcia Bashaw

Jul 11 2023 50 mins

We conclude this series on John 8 with a conversation with Dr. Jennifer Garcia Bashaw about her book, "Scapegoats, the Gospel through the Eyes of Victims." She helps us understand better ways to read the Bible and why English majors are the best. Those are her words, I promise!

The Woman Caught in Adultery, Part 3: Stoop, Stand, Speak, Repeat

Jun 27 2023 19 mins

Have you noticed Jesus' moves yet? He shows them off with the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law first. Then he repeats them for the accused woman. Individual results vary, but Jesus makes his point, and it's all about justice.

The Woman Caught in Adultery, Part 2: Such a (Greek) Tragedy

Jun 06 2023 19 mins

Noticing the Greek tragedy structure of this story shines a dramatic spotlight on its central theme. All the tragic goodness, including the crisis, climax, and fatal flaw, lies with the Pharisees and not with the woman, leaving the theme that usually distracts us backstage.

The Woman Caught in Adultery, Part 1: What a Terrible Title

May 23 2023 19 mins

Historical interpretation has made the woman in this story the infamous star of the show. But when we do a little grammatical analysis, we see she functions far more like a prop for the Pharisees than a leading lady. How then, has she become the title character?

The Gospels are Raining Men, Part 3: So What?

Feb 28 2023 20 mins

Of the privileged men in the Gospels, Jairus is one we can learn from. We're circling back to Mark's sandwich story of Jairus and the hemorrhaging woman because the theological meat in this story is not only faith but privilege. Who knew the Bible talked about such scandalous stuff?

The Gospels are Raining Men, Part 2: But Why?

Feb 14 2023 15 mins

Jairus, Nicodemus, and an unnamed lawyer all take their places in the Gospels to show us how blinding privilege can be. Wanna see Jesus? Look where he's looking: at the pain of the marginalized ones. For their own reasons, Mark, Luke, and John use the men to help us focus on the fringes.

The Gospels are Raining Men, Part 1: But One is Missing

Jan 31 2023 18 mins

The Samaritan Woman at the Well reports that her privileged male counterpart has gone missing. Could it be the Pharisee, Nicodemus? Investigate John's use of juxtaposition through characterization, plot, and mood to find her foil.

Martha's Story, Part 6: Conversations With a Friend: Inés Velásquez-McBryde

Jan 17 2023 44 mins

We conclude our Martha’s Story series with a conversation with Inés Velásquez-McBryde from The Church We Hope For. She talks about the ethics of who gets centered both by the words of the storytellers and by the actions of Jesus. In God’s upside-down kingdom, the margins become the middle.