The Better Questions Podcast

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We believe questions are an important part of every faith journey. So often in church we either ignore questions or allow our answers to those questions to become divisive lines in the sand, distinguishing the chosen from the heretics. We want to help yo

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    • Aug 12, 2019 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 54m AVG DURATION
    • 28 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Better Questions Podcast

    The Boy Who Cried Lone Wolf - First Chapter

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2019 27:24


    Here is the first chapter (and some change) of Andrew's book, 'The Boy Who Cried Lone Wolf'. You can buy the book here: https://amzn.to/2Nn9l73

    Brian Zahnd: Should Christians Be Patriotic?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2019 65:20


    At what point does love for one's country supersede one's devotion to God? Where is the line between nationalism and idolatry? Can America be seen as its own religion? And how can we work together to make our communities better, more inclusive, and safer places to live? To address these questions as more, the guys sit down with Pastor and Author, Brian Zahnd.

    Racism & The Church w/ Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim: A Better Conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2019 64:22


    Do we honestly think that Racism is a thing of the past? Or that Racism doesn't exist inside our churches? To discuss this important conversation, the guys sit down with Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim.

    Do Christians Need The Old Testament? W/ Joe Mueller

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2019 64:00


    If Jesus fulfilled the law and the Old Testament, do Christians need to read it? Does the Old Testament have anything to say about salvation? Do we have to live by the laws? Should Christians "un-hitch" from it? How do we interpret something so old? To discuss these questions and more, the guys sit down with professor and pastor, Joe Mueller.

    Emily J Hooks on Forgiveness: A Better Conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2019 75:42


    What does it mean to forgive someone? What does that practically look like? How do you know if you've truly forgiven them and what does it mean if negative feelings come back years later? Can you forgive someone without ever seeing them again? Is there such a thing as not being ready to forgive? And if so, how does that square with scripture? To discuss these questions and more, the guys sit down with author, speaker, and forgiveness expert, Emily J Hooks.

    Aundi Kolber - Mental Health and The Church: A Better Conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2019 70:43


    Does the church do a good enough job addressing mental health and trauma? Can mental health conditions, or traumatic experiences be simply "prayed away" without seeking help from mental health professionals? Are they indicative of a lack of faith? Are there mental health practices everyone can benefit from? What is trauma and is it possible that traumatic experiences are more common than we think? Is it possible for the church to cause trauma and if so, how should we address that? To discuss these questions and more, the guys sit down with licensed therapist, author, and speaker, Aundi Kolber.

    Dani Fankhauser - Sex, Shame, & Purity Culture: A Better Conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2019 50:08


    Does the church do a good enough job with sex education, or are students feeling more shamed than informed? Is the Bible as black and white in regards to sexual sin as we think it is? Or are we missing something in the translation of the original language? How do we help people have a healthy understanding of sex? To discuss these questions and more, the guys (and gals!) sit down with author and speaker, Dani Fankhauser.

    Season 2 Update - Six Episodes Left!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2019 1:57


    The Better Questions Podcast will return on May 13th. Only six episodes left. Listen to find out who will be joining us.

    Dr. Chris Keith: Are The Gospels Historically Accurate? Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2019 42:28


    What is Social Memory Theory? What assumptions do we have about history? Did people in the first century think about recording history in the same way that we do? Did the events in the Gospels happen exactly as described? How can we know with 100% certainty? Does it matter? Should that be our primary concern? To discuss these questions and more, the guys sit down with Dr. Chris Keith.

    Dr. Chris Keith: Are The Gospels Historically Accurate? Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2019 40:13


    What is Social Memory Theory? What assumptions do we have about history? Did people in the first century think about recording history in the same way that we do? Did the events in the Gospels happen exactly as described? How can we know with 100% certainty? Does it matter? Should that be our primary concern? To discuss these questions and more, the guys sit down with Dr. Chris Keith.

    Dr. Larry Hurtado: Is Jesus God?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2019 56:43


    Is it too simple, or flippant to say that Jesus is God? What about the Trinity? Does the New Testament teach a distinction or a union between the Son and the Father? Does it teach both? How did the early church view the divinity of Christ? Can Christians stay unified despite different beliefs and interpretations? How did the early church pursue unity? To discuss these questions and more, the guys sit down with Dr. Larry Hurtado.

    Women In Ministry w/ Carolyn Custis James: A Better Conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2019 65:11


    What does the Bible have to say about women in ministry roles? What can we learn from the book of Ruth, and the creation of humanity as image bearers of God? How are both genders meant to work together in the Kingdom of God? To discuss these questions and more, the guys sit down with Carolyn Custis James.

    Jonah w/ Dr. Robert Alter: A Better Conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2019 65:25


    Should the events in the book of Jonah be taken as history? Did they really happen, or is it a parable? And are those even the right questions to be asking? How do we approach translating and interpreting Jonah, or any Old Testament book? To discuss these questions and more, the guys sit down with Dr. Robert Alter.

    Dr. Andrew Root: Can You Reconcile Faith and Science?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2019 60:55


    How do you reconcile faith and science? Is that even a beneficial question? Should you look to the Bible for scientific information? Can you look to science to answer the big questions of life? To discuss these questions and more, the guys sit down with Dr. Andrew Root.

    Rethinking Hell w/ Chris Date: A Better Conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2019 84:14


    Is the traditional view of Hell biblically sound? Is eternal bodily torment what Jesus meant by Hell? And if not, what does the Bible really say about the fate of the lost? To get a better grasp of these questions, the guys sit down with Chris Date of the Rethinking Hell podcast to have a Better Conversation on Hell.

    Can You Lose Your Salvation?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2019 47:09


    Once you're saved, are you always saved? No matter your behavior or beliefs afterward? Or does God take your salvation away if you don't continue to live a certain way? Or, if you "backslide" and renounce faith in Christ, were you never truly saved in the first place? In the second episode of season 2, the guys attempt to find a better, more helpful, and less controversial question than "Can you lose your salvation"?

    Should Revelation Be Taken Literally? w/ Dr. Shane Wood: A Better Conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2019 67:52


    Should we take Revelation literally or figuratively? Is Revelation about the future? What does 666 mean? In our Season 2 debut, the guys sit down with Dr. Shane Wood to have a Better Conversation on the book of Revelation and address some of these questions. Are these helpful questions, or do we still need something better? Join our mailing list. https://bit.ly/2tV9p1q

    Episode 9: Am I Broken?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2018 57:22


    As humans, are we inherently evil, wrong or sinful, or is there goodness, compassion, and mercy at our core? Should we focus on being made in God's image and on God calling us "very good" in Genesis 1, or focus on the sin and fall of man in Genesis 3? Join Dan, Chris, and Andrew as they strive to find a better question than "Am I Broken?"

    Episode 8: Is God Male? - w/ Barby Martinez

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2018 62:42


    What do you picture when you think of God? An old man in the sky with a giant white beard? A Father looking down at His children? The person of Jesus? Where did these primarily male views of God come from and are they biblical? Join Chris, Andrew, Dan and special guest Barby Martinez, as they try to find a better question than Is God Male? Special Guests: .

    Episode 7: When Will Jesus Return?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2018 56:30


    Does the thought of being "Left Behind" cause you to curl into the fetal position in extreme anxiety? Are you just trying to passively endure this life so that you can be in your real home in Heaven? Join Andrew, Dan and Chris as they discuss why "When Will Jesus Return" may not be a helpful question, and if theres a better question we should be asking instead.

    BONUS - How Do We Disagree Well?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2018 18:48


    We don't normally take time to ANSWER any of our Better Questions, but when the conversation goes there, and is this important, you make an exception. Special Guest: Titus Benton.

    Episode 6: Can Christians Disagree? - w/ Titus Benton

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2018 58:50


    Join Andrew, Chris and Dan as they interview guest Titus Benton to try to find a better question than "Can Christian Disagree?" Special Guest: Titus Benton.

    Episode 5: A + Q: The Bible

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2018 28:34


    Join Dan and Andrew as they take common answers about The Bible and ask questions in response in the first "A & Q" style episode.

    Episode 4: Does God Answer Prayer?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2018 56:34


    If God doesn't answer your prayer, does that mean you didn't have enough faith? Dan, Chris and Andrew discuss a more helpful question than "Does God Answer Prayer?"

    Episode 3: Can Christians Consume R-Rated Content?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2018 58:16


    Chris, Dan and Andrew sit down to discuss a better question than "Can Christians Consume R-Rated Content"?

    Episode 2: Why Do Bad Things Happen Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2018 58:52


    Andrew, Chris and Dan try to find a better question that "Why Do Bad Things Happen?" This episode features an interview with Andrew's friends Caylee and Joey.

    Episode 1: Why Do Bad Things Happen Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2018 43:22


    Andrew, Chris and Dan try to find a better question than "Why Do Bad Things Happen?" This episode features an interview with Andrew's friends Caylee and Joey.

    Episode 0 - How Old Is The Earth?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2018 66:33


    Dan, Andrew and Chris try to find a better, more helpful question than How Old Is The Earth, in this introductory "Pilot" episode.

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