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Most people assume Jesus must have made plans for who would take over the leadership of the church, or movement, he began with his preaching and healing ministry, after his death. But there is no reliable evidence that this is true. The gospel that has Jesus giving Peter the "keys to the kingdom" was written long after Jesus' death and after Paul had been preaching the gospel to the Gentiles and establishing churches in different parts of the world. It was up to these two visible leaders with very different personalities, backgrounds, and gifts to determine how the movement begun by Jesus would continue. Join Karen and E.J. as they compare and contrast the two leaders and explore how the church developed under their joint leadership.

The Apostles were recorded in the gospels to perform miracles, not only while Jesus was with them, but also after his resurrection and ascension. Peter was the established leader of the Apostles after Jesus' ascension, and in the gospel account, had been given the mantle of leadership from Jesus, although scholars believe this was inserted later to establish that legitimacy. But Peter was undoubtedly influential, and in leadership in many ways, including performing healing miracles himself. We will explore these miracles, and consider their implications and meanings, how they compare with Paul's miracles in the first part of the series, as well as what they can teach us about our own spiritual lives.

The Apostles were recorded in the gospels to perform miracles not only while Jesus was with them but also after his resurrection and ascension. Paul, who proclaimed himself an Apostle, is recorded to have performed miracles in the Acts of the Apostles and by his own accounts. We will explore these miracles and consider their implications and meanings as well as what they can teach us about our own spiritual lives.

In Mark 5, Jesus performs an unusual healing of a man possessed by many demons by directing the demons into a herd of pigs grazing nearby, that promptly stampede off the cliff, into the lake, and drown. This story has long confounded easy understanding as innocent animals are sacrificed by this healing act of Jesus. Join E.J. and Karen as they tackle this story from metaphysical, historical, social, and symbolic angles to derive understanding for our own lives today.

Of all the stories of Jesus' miracles and healing, there is one story where the one seeking healing went to great lengths to reach Jesus. The story is so dramatic that it catches Jesus' attention in his teaching, and he is moved by the faith of those who are bringing the paralyzed man as much as the man himself. Join E.J. and Karen as they explore this story of healing and faith through several lenses of interpretation, and gain insight for yourself!

As we take a look at the familiar story of the biblical hero, Samson, we will focus in on some of the details that most have forgotten or never heard. These details lend dramatic flavor, but also telling details about the nature of Samson and perhaps, heroes themselves. Join Karen and E.J. as they use different lenses of the Bible to examine the hero story of Samson and apply the lessons to our lives today.

Reading the Bible literally and in the sequence in which it appears is fraught with pitfalls, contradictions, and at times, uncertainty about who to root for! Using different lenses or levels of understanding through which to read the story or event reveals new dimensions of Truth that one can apply to one's life. Join E.J. and Karen as they explore some familiar stories and characters in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures through metaphysical, maieutic, and psychological lenses and hear the beauty and inspiration as conveyed through its poetic, storytelling, and historical lenses.

Reading the Bible literally and in the sequence in which it appears is fraught with pitfalls, contradictions, and at times, uncertainty about who to root for! Using different lenses or levels of understanding through which to read the story or event reveals new dimensions of Truth that one can apply to one's life. Join E.J. and Karen as they explore some familiar stories and characters in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures through metaphysical, maieutic, and psychological lenses and hear the beauty and inspiration as conveyed through its poetic, storytelling, and historical lenses.

Reading the Bible literally and in the sequence in which it appears is fraught with pitfalls, contradictions, and at times, uncertainty about who to root for! Using different lenses or levels of understanding through which to read the story or event reveals new dimensions of Truth that one can apply to one's life. Join E.J. and Karen as they explore some familiar stories and characters in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures through metaphysical, maieutic, and psychological lenses and hear the beauty and inspiration as conveyed through its poetic, storytelling, and historical lenses.

Reading the Bible literally, and in the sequence in which it appears, is fraught with pitfalls, contradictions, and at times, uncertainty about who to root for! Using different lenses, or levels, of understanding through which to read the story or event reveals new dimensions of Truth that one can apply to one's life. Join E.J. and Karen as they explore some familiar stories and characters in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures through metaphysical, maieutic, and psychological lenses, and hear the beauty and inspiration as conveyed through its poetic, storytelling, and historical lenses.

We introduced the idea of love through mysticism and the use of erotic and romantic imagery in the language of the Christian mystics in our last episode. Today we will explore the thread of mysticism that runs through every level of consciousness using references from Hebrew and Christian scriptures as well as that of other faith traditions. Join us!

As we have discussed in the previous series on the evolution of social justice in the Bible, this series will focus on the word love and its many forms that are described in the Bible. Translating from Hebrew and Greek, the word love and all of its attendant forms, describe different ways of relating to one another, to God, and to one's life. Join E.J. and Karen as they explore these various terms for love, their applications, and their spiritual meanings throughout time and throughout the Bible.

As we have discussed in the previous series on the evolution of social justice in the Bible, this series will focus on the word love and its many forms that are described in the Bible. Translating from Hebrew and Greek, the word love and all of its attendant forms, describe different ways of relating to one another, to God and to one's life. Join E.J. and Karen as they explore these various terms for love, their applications, and their spiritual meanings throughout time and throughout the Bible.

As we have discussed in the previous series on the evolution of social justice in the Bible, this series will focus on the word love and its many forms that are described in the Bible. Translating from Hebrew and Greek, the word love and all of its attendant forms, describe different ways of relating to one another, to God, and to one's life. Join E.J. and Karen as they explore these various terms for love, their applications, and their spiritual meanings throughout time and throughout the Bible.

We have examined the evolving consciousness of the authors and redactors of the Bible. This short series looks at the issues of social justice as they indicate an evolving morality and ethos concerning women, the poor, aliens and slaves, and attitudes toward those of different social strata. This segment will look at the changing social strata as the community developed from tribal to agricultural to city societies and from monarchy to occupation to exile to diaspora and some return to the homeland. The implications for our spiritual life remain potent as we examine the lives and stories of these human experiences.

We have examined the evolving consciousness of the authors and redactors of the Bible. This short series looks at the issues of social justice as they indicate an evolving morality and ethos concerning women, the poor, aliens and slaves, and attitudes toward those of different social strata. This segment will look at how aliens and slaves are treated and their role in the community. As the consciousness changes, more questions about who is alien and whether they can be included as part of the community arise. The implications of these questions have corollaries for our own modern world as well.

We have examined the evolving consciousness of the authors and redactors of the bible. This short series looks at the issues of social justice as they indicate an evolving morality and ethos concerning women, the poor, aliens and slaves, and attitudes toward those of different social strata. This  segment will look at how the poor are defined and treated by the community as a whole and the evolving social, ethical, and spiritual obligation to care for and help the poor inside and outside the community.

We have examined the evolving consciousness of the authors and redactors of the Bible. This short series looks at the issues of social justice as they indicate an evolving morality and ethos concerning women, the poor, aliens and slaves, and attitudes toward those of different social strata. This first segment will look at the place of women throughout the Bible, their relative power, and their impact on the spiritual message we can take away from their stories today.

After completing our look at how the Hebrew Bible was put together in our three-part series Evolution of the Bible, we turn our focus toward the consciousness of the writers through the centuries and their view of God as it evolved throughout the Hebrew Bible and into the Christian Bible. Recognizing that it is our own human perspective about the nature of life, God, and humanity that evolves gives us a context for understanding the scriptures in ways that deepen and support our spiritual lives in the 21st century. Join Karen and E.J. as they trace the evolving human consciousness that is evident in the stories, writings, and theology found in the evolution IN the Bible!

After completing our look at how the Hebrew Bible was put together in our three-part series Evolution of the Bible, we turn our focus toward the consciousness of the writers through the centuries and their view of God as it evolved throughout the Hebrew Bible and into the Christian Bible. Recognizing that it is our own human perspective about the nature of life, God, and humanity that evolves gives us a context for understanding the scriptures in ways that deepen and support our spiritual lives in the 21st century. Join Karen and E.J. as they trace the evolving human consciousness that is evident in the stories, writings, and theology found in the evolution IN the Bible!