The Biblical Mind

Latest Episodes:

Theology in the Mother Tongue: Oral Bible Translation and Embodied Faith (Fausto Liriano) Ep. #216 Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

What if the Bible isn’t something you read—but something you hear, memorize, and perform?

In this groundbreaking episode, Dr. Fausto Liriano shares his work translating the Bible into indigenous languages without writing it down. Through oral Bible translation projects in Guatemala, Mexico, and the Philippines, Dr. Liriano helps communities internalize Scripture in their own languages—through performance, storytelling, and memorization.

He explains how this work challenges not only Western assumptions about literacy and theology, but also confronts colonial patterns in missionary work, translation philosophy, and even what counts as “canonical” Scripture. The episode explores how indigenous languages often mirror Hebrew’s poetic ambiguity more than Spanish or English do, why repetition and redundancy are theological tools, and how people with no formal education are memorizing and performing hours of biblical material with precision and reverence.

Dr. Liriano also reflects on the need for contextual theology in Latin America—one that isn’t imported from the North, but developed by the people, for the people. He calls for a theology of corruption, of wholeness, and of embodied participation in God’s word.

For more on Fausto's work:
https://translation.bible/staff-profile/fausto-liriano/

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Latin American Theology
01:59 Misunderstandings of Latin American Theology
04:47 The Need for Contextual Theology
07:41 Corruption and Its Impact on Theology
10:43 The Role of Indigenous Voices in Theology
13:52 Oral Bible Translation in Guatemala
16:47 The Value of Orality in Cultural Contexts
25:08 Translating for Indigenous Cultures
27:57 Exploring Orality in Biblical Texts
30:13 The Process of Oral Bible Translation
34:57 Community Engagement and Performance
37:41 The Importance of Oral Tradition
42:14 Navigating Colonialism and Canonization
44:29 The Heart of Translation: Language and Connection

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The Illusion of Intelligence: Why AI Can’t Replace Embodied Life (Noreen Herzfeld) Ep. #215 Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

Is AI intelligent—or just artificial? In this provocative episode, Dr. Noreen Herzfeld, a rare scholar of both computer science and theology, joins Dru Johnson to expose what most people overlook about artificial intelligence. Drawing from her recent book The Artifice of Intelligence, she challenges the mythology of AGI (artificial general intelligence) and critiques the environmental, social, and theological costs of current AI use.

Herzfeld argues that large language models are plateauing and that the real danger isn’t a superintelligence—it’s our uncritical, energy-intensive use of biased software masquerading as neutral tools. She warns of AI’s water and fossil fuel demands, its disembodied affirmation loops, and the illusion that chatbots are viable substitutes for therapists, pastors, or friends.

Rooting her critique in Christian theology, Herzfeld defends the value of embodiment, human uniqueness, and community. She sees modern AI and transhumanist dreams as a return to ancient Gnostic heresies—disembodied, elitist, and ultimately dehumanizing.

This episode is essential for anyone navigating the ethical, spiritual, and ecological implications of AI. You’ll come away more equipped to use AI critically—and to resist the false promises of digital utopia.

For Noreen's Book "The Artifice of Intelligence":
https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506486901/The-Artifice-of-Intelligence

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Chapters:
00:00 The Current State of AI Technology
02:21 Environmental Impact of AI
07:55 Understanding AI and AGI
16:36 The Dangers of Chatbots
19:42 Embodiment and AI
30:47 Future of AI and Its Societal Role

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Becoming God’s Family: Against Church Hurt, Isolation, and Autonomy (Carmen Imes) Ep. #214 Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Can you be a Christian without the church? In this timely episode, Dr. Carmen Imes argues forcefully—and pastorally—that Christianity without community is a contradiction. Drawing from her new book Becoming God’s Family, she and Dru Johnson explore why so many people are walking away from church and what it would take to draw them back.

From church hurt to spiritual abuse to toxic celebrity culture, Carmen doesn’t shy away from the reasons people leave. But she also offers theological and pastoral wisdom on why we can’t give up on the church. They explore biblical stories of failed community, why Hagar’s story matters, and what healthy faithfulness looks like in a flawed body.

They also discuss when it’s time to leave a church, how American and global cultures can distort biblical community, and why true belonging means discomfort, difference, and even lament. Drawing on stories from her life and ministry, Carmen makes the case that church isn’t about getting what we want—it’s about becoming who we’re meant to be.

For Carmen Imes' substack:
https://substack.com/@carmenjoyimes

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For more resources:
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Chapters:

00:00 The Importance of Community in Faith
01:37 Addressing Church Disconnection Post-Pandemic
04:22 The Role of Scripture in Community Dynamics
07:17 Navigating Church Hurt and Abuse
10:36 Finding Hope in Faithful Communities
13:46 The Broader Picture of Church Life
16:38 Understanding God's Family Beyond the Church
18:39 The Power of Community and Discipleship
20:03 Cultural Blind Spots and Family Loyalty
21:42 The Radical Nature of Church Family
25:24 The Ananias and Sapphira Lesson
27:59 The Role of Green Rooms in Church
31:10 Lamenting Together as a Family
32:45 The Messiness of Community
35:34 The Quest for Like-Mindedness
37:32 Diversity in Church and Community
41:58 Creative Solutions for Multicultural Worship

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Literature and Idealism: Or, How The Bible Is A "Thick" Story (Karen Swallow Prior) Ep. #213 Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

What do Tolkien, vocation, and gritty literature have in common? In this conversation, Dru Johnson talks with literary scholar Dr. Karen Swallow Prior about why Christians often gravitate toward fantasy and romantic ideals—and why that can be a problem. Karen critiques the elevation of genre fiction like The Lord of the Rings as literary canon and urges Christians to engage “thick texts” that challenge us and train us to read Scripture more deeply.

They discuss how modern reading habits—dominated by email, social media, and skimmable articles—undermine our ability to understand both literature and biblical texts. Karen argues that literature forms our posture toward the world, and that our spiritual and moral imagination needs the grounding realism found in great novels and gritty stories.

The conversation pivots to Karen’s new book on vocation, exploring how distorted expectations around passion, work, and calling are leaving young people disillusioned. Instead, she calls for a deeper, more historically grounded view of labor, meaning, and responsibility.

This episode is a must-listen for those interested in education, theology, literature, and the subtle ways imagination shapes our lives of faith.

For more of Karen's literature:
https://karenswallowprior.com/

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For more articles:
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Chapters:

00:00 Exploring Literature and Vocation
02:37 The Role of Literary Criticism in Cultural Contexts
05:44 Tolkien, Lewis, and the Literary Canon
08:46 Understanding Thick Texts: Literature and the Bible
12:04 The Importance of Reading Skills in Biblical Studies
14:55 Interpreting the Bible: Layers of Meaning in Texts
19:49 The Importance of Humility in Understanding Literature
24:00 Navigating Vocation and Career Expectations
29:54 The Reality of Menial Jobs and Their Value
33:37 Balancing Idealism and Grit in Literature
38:47 Finding Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful

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Tribes, States, & Empires: Scripture’s Vision for a Virtuous Political Order (Yoram Hazony) Ep. #212 Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

In this second conversation with political philosopher Yoram Hazony, we dive deeper into the biblical concept of nationhood, wrestling with listener-submitted questions on nationalism, empire, and political virtue. Hazony responds to critiques and clarifies his position: biblical nationalism is not about racial purity or imperialism, but about the virtue of limited, self-governing peoples—unified not by ethnicity but by shared laws, traditions, and faith.

Hazony distinguishes biblical terms like am and goy, explores the status of converts like Ruth, and dismantles the modern racialized understanding of nationhood. He emphasizes that scripture assumes nations will be internally diverse, but not infinitely so—there must be a dominant center that holds people together.

The conversation also explores why biblical literature, not Greco-Roman thought, shaped the American constitutional order, and why the prophets critique empire while affirming the need for some form of the state. As Hazony puts it, “Purity is not the goal. Faithful unity is.”

For the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy article Yoram mentioned in the interview, access the PDF here:
https://journals.law.harvard.edu/jlpp/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2025/06/Hammer-FINAL_TC-JH-YRH-edits.pdf

For more of Yoram's literature:
https://www.yoramhazony.org/
https://x.com/yhazony

We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:
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For more articles:
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Chapters:

00:00 The Virtue of Nationalism
05:19 Understanding Nation in Biblical Context
10:42 The Role of Genetics and Kinship in Nations
15:25 Diversity and Unity in National Identity
20:09 Power Dynamics in Heterogeneous Nations
25:23 Biblical Foundations of Western Political Thought
38:14 The Christian Heritage of the West
41:15 Separation of Powers and the Mosaic Constitution
44:37 Separation of Church and State
48:29 The Concept of Empire
59:00 The Role of Kings and the State
01:00:17 Eschatology and the Future of Nations

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Just War, Christianity, and The Call to Serve: The Ethics of Military Service (Darren Duke) Ep #211 Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

Should Christians serve in the military? In this sobering and nuanced episode, Dru Johnson sits down with retired Colonel Darren Duke—Marine Corps Special Operations commander and intelligence officer—to unpack this deeply personal and morally complex question. Drawing from over 30 years of military experience, Duke shares his evolving view of military service, from Cold War patriotism to the hard-earned disillusionment of post-9/11 combat.

He offers insight into how symbols like the Punisher, Spartan helmets, and Valhalla became coping mechanisms for troops struggling with the trauma and moral ambiguity of prolonged warfare. Duke also warns young Christians to prepare not only for the battlefield but for the morally challenging culture within the military itself.

This conversation does not prescribe easy answers but outlines how one might think Christianly about enlistment, national service, and the weight of violence in a fallen world. Listeners will walk away better equipped to consider military service with sober realism, moral clarity, and theological depth.

We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:
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For more articles:
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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Military Service and Personal Background
09:54 Reflections on Military Service and Christian Identity
17:52 The Complexity of War and Its Justifications
20:13 The Weight of War: Moral Trauma and Reflection
22:12 Existential Questions in Military Service
24:26 Navigating Morality in Combat
28:12 The Christian Perspective on Military Service
32:27 Defending the Defenseless: A Moral Duty
35:32 The Role of Leadership in Military Ethics

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Building a Movement: Why the Church Needs Hebraic Thought—and What We’re Doing About It Ep. #210 Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

In this update episode, Dru Johnson and Mike Tolliver pull back the curtain on the work happening at the Center for Hebraic Thought. From filing 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and building a stellar advisory board, to launching a redesigned website and reviving in-person workshops, the CHT has been quietly preparing for long-term growth and broader influence.

They discuss the newly relaunched Hebraic Thought Community (HTC) on Facebook—already hundreds strong—and the four activities that bring the community together: highlighting member-created resources, sharing weekend reading, gathering weekly for public listening of Scripture, and hosting scholar Q&As. This digital community is sparking cross-disciplinary conversations, surfacing unexpected gems from laypeople, and reimagining how Christians listen to the Bible together.

Dru and Mike also explain why listening (not just reading) Scripture in community is a powerful and ancient discipline—and why it’s missing from most churches today. They reflect on the joy of watching Scripture come alive in unexpected ways through these communal practices.

They close with a call to support: whether through recurring giving, hosting a workshop, or sharing the word, CHT is building something bigger than any one person—something rooted in Scripture and flourishing in community.

We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:
https://hebraicthought.org/give

For more articles:
https://thebiblicalmind.org/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction
00:03 Updates on The Center for Hebraic Thought
03:03 Community Engagement and Workshops
06:03 Hebraic Thought Community Initiatives
09:04 Public Listening of Scripture
11:55 The Importance of Listening to Scripture
15:10 Website Updates and Future Plans
17:53 Funding and Support for the Center
20:58 Workshops and Community Involvement

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Jesus Under Every Rock? Rethinking Christ-Centered Reading & Preaching (Chris Wright) Ep #209 Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

Should Christians look for Jesus in every verse of the Old Testament—or are we missing the point when we do?

In this wide-ranging and practical conversation, Dr. Christopher J. H. Wright, Langham Partnership’s Global Ambassador and one of the world’s leading Old Testament scholars, joins Dru Johnson to explore the difference between Christocentric and Christotelic readings of Scripture. Wright reflects on common instincts Christians have—either skipping the Old Testament or trying to make every text about Jesus—and explains what we lose when we fail to respect the voice and context of the original authors.

Wright argues for a more faithful reading that respects the historical drama of God’s covenantal journey with Israel, leading to but not eclipsed by Christ. He explains how Luke 24 affirms that the Scriptures point to Jesus, but that doesn’t mean every verse must be “about” him. Instead, Scripture forms a unified story with Jesus as its destination, not its hiding place.

The conversation ends with a powerful case for why the global church, especially in the majority world, has crucial theological insights to offer—and why Western Christians should be ready to learn.

For more from Chris Wright:

https://christopherjhwright.com/

For more about Langham Partnership:

https://us.langham.org/

We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:
https://hebraicthought.org/give

For more articles:
https://thebiblicalmind.org/

Chapters:

00:00 Understanding the Old Testament's Relevance
02:01 Challenges in Interpreting the Old Testament
05:26 The Importance of Context in Biblical Interpretation
08:09 The Role of Jesus in Old Testament Texts
11:00 Exegetical Approaches to the Old Testament
14:08 The Historical Unfolding of God's Promises
21:06 The Transition from Law to Grace
22:32 The Journey of Scripture Towards Christ
24:57 Understanding the Role of the Gospels and Acts
27:00 The Nature of Biblical Narrative
29:01 Langham Partnership: Resourcing Global Churches
32:37 The Importance of Preaching in the Majority World
36:00 Listening to Global Voices in Theology

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The NAR, Power, and Prophecy: Inside America’s Forgotten Christian Movement (Matthew Taylor) Ep. #208 Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

What if the most politically influential Christian leaders in America aren’t the ones you’ve heard of?

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Matthew D. Taylor joins Dru Johnson to explain how the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and related charismatic networks reshaped modern evangelicalism—and helped deliver the presidency to Donald Trump. Taylor, a scholar of religion and politics, traces how televangelists, prophets, and apostolic leaders operating outside denominational structures built a new Christian populist movement with real spiritual and political power.

Far from being fringe actors, these leaders—like Paula White and Lance Wallnau—hold enormous sway through media networks and prophetic authority. Taylor explores how modern prophecy, celebrity culture, and populist theology have created a system resistant to critique, driven by revival language and unregulated influence. He explains why evangelical elites misjudged the NAR’s reach and how their dismissal of these leaders as “hucksters” only deepened the divide.

We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:
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For more articles:
https://thebiblicalmind.org/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the New Apostolic Reformation Movement
02:50 Understanding Pushback and Misconceptions
05:46 Defining the New Apostolic Reformation
09:21 The Role of Charismatic Leaders in Politics
12:10 Trump and the Evangelical Connection
15:09 The Seven Mountain Mandate and Its Implications
18:05 Cyrus Prophecy and Its Significance
21:14 The Divide Between Evangelical Elites and Grassroots
26:19 Theological Divides in Modern Evangelicalism
27:40 Historical Context of Evangelicalism
29:06 Populism and the Rise of Trump
31:29 Scriptural Interpretation and Prophecy
35:19 The Role of Modern Prophecy
38:33 Leadership Dynamics in Non-Denominational Spaces
43:41 Christian Nationalism vs. Christian Supremacy
46:35 The Early Church's Ethos vs. Modern Power
50:58 Path Forward for Evangelicals

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Hollywood, Scripture, and Politics: Joan Didion and the Power of Story (Alissa Wilkinson) Ep. #207 Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

What do Hollywood, Joan Didion, and the Bible have in common?

More than you’d expect. In this episode, New York Times film critic and author Alissa Wilkinson joins Dru Johnson to discuss the life, work, and worldview of Joan Didion, one of the most influential American writers of the 20th century. Wilkinson’s new book, We Tell Ourselves Stories, explores how Didion made sense of chaos through narrative—and what her work reveals about faith, trauma, politics, and cultural memory.

Together, Alissa and Dru explore Didion’s insight that stories are not just entertainment; they are survival mechanisms, tools we use to impose order on a chaotic world. But is that all Scripture is—just another human-made narrative? Wilkinson offers a careful reflection on the limits and power of storytelling, showing how Didion’s work can challenge both Christian belief and secular mythmaking.

They also dive into conspiracy theories, the fusion of politics and Hollywood, and the rise of nostalgia as a cultural sickness. From John Wayne to 9/11 to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this episode traces the invisible threads between the stories we inherit and the truths we cling to.

We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:
https://hebraicthought.org/give

For more articles:
https://thebiblicalmind.org/

Chapters:

00:00 Exploring Joan Didion's Influence
02:10 The Chaos of Life and Storytelling
05:08 The Impact of California on Didion's Work
08:15 Didion's Perspective on Conspiracy Theories
11:24 Hollywood's Political Landscape and Didion's Critique
14:26 The Intersection of Politics and Entertainment
17:29 Didion's Views on Feminism and Fixed Ideas
20:26 The Role of Nostalgia in Storytelling
23:24 The Modern Political Narrative
26:17 Conspiracies and Their Impact on Society
29:27 The Nature of Truth in Storytelling
32:10 Didion's Legacy in Film and Media
35:20 The Future of Storytelling in Politics

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