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Paul was a central figure in the progress of early Christianity. Looking back at his writings with 21st century eyes and sensibilities, we often see an individual who was arrogant, gruff, misogynistic, and even racist. Prof. Brandon O’Brien puts Apostle Paul into context for us and discusses his book “Paul Behaving Badly” (co-authored with E. Randolph Richards). We learn about Paul’s history, his cultural context, how he could have written letters while imprisoned in Rome, and whether or not we should pay any heed to what he said back then for our lives today.

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During the week before Easter, we visit with Dr. Michael Licona (Houston Baptist University) to discuss the historiography of Jesus’s death and resurrection. Is the Resurrection merely a tale pulled from pagan rituals or an example of mass hysteria? Dr. Licona examines these questions and other counter-arguments to the story presented in the Christian Gospels, and explains why it is important for Christians not to accept the validity of the Resurrection on faith alone, but to think closely about the historical evidence with respect to all alternative explanations. This, he says, can help counter doubt and strengthen one’s own faith.

We have over 275 episodes in our archives. There is likely to be something of interest to everyone.

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In one of our most unique interviews, we talk with J Warner Wallace, a cold-case homicide detective, about his journey into Christianity and his use of criminology tools to determine whether or not the Gospels have any veracity to them. We talk murder mysteries, forensic methodology, and whether or not the birth narrative of Jesus could hold up against the weight of cold-case evidence. This is a conversation that you will want to tell your friends about!

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Rev. Robert Sirico of the Acton Institute discusses his new book, “Defending the Free Market: The Moral Case for a Free Economy.” Our discussion delves into Fr. Sirico’s personal history, the nature of greed and envy, the role of profits in an economy, volutarism & individual charity, and why capitalism is a morally superior system than socialism. Along the way, we talk about the communal organization of the early Church Fathers, the Pilgrims, and Rev. Sirico’s thoughts on Ayn Rand. We conclude our discussion with an examination of President Bush’s faith-based initiative and the recent controversy involving the US Catholic bishops and the Obama administration’s health care mandates.

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How does a small group of invididuals in a religiously-hostile environment build a sectarian movement of Judaism into the world’s largest faith tradition? Prof. Rodney Stark (Baylor) discusses the important sociological ingredients for Christianity’s success in the first three centuries of its existence. We examine the religious landscape at the time of Jesus’s birth (including both paganism and Judaism), as well as the sometimes surprising role of that mercy, persecution, wealthy individuals, and gender played in the growth of Christianity.

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Buckle your seatbelts. James Brettell — preacher, radio host and jack-of-all-trades — leads us through a critique of contemporary Christianity in the United States. Critical of what he calls the “traditional church,” Pastor Jim details a problematic stagnation in denominational Christianity and advocates for a more evangelical method of reinvigorating spiritual life in America and around the world. He takes us through his personal history, from being raised in a Presbyterian Church to being born-again while on military duty in the Caribbean to his experience as pastor at a number of churches around the country. Pastor Jim also discusses his latest venture, the Little Rock NetChurch (an internet-based ministry), and how that is bringing folks closer to the Word of God.

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