Mythologizing the Bible

THE GOSPEL OF EMPIRE

What if the “Great Commission” wasn’t primarily about love or community but about conquest? I think it’s time we explore how Christianity’s most celebrated mandate became the ideological engine for colonialism, cultural erasure, and modern “savior” politics. And I also think it’s time for Christians to challenge themselves to imagine a form of community that’s built on solidarity instead of conversion! For centuries, Western civilization has wrapped its worst atrocities in the language of supreme benevolence. We are taught to look at the ‘Great Commission’ of Matthew 28, the command to go and make disciples of all nations, as a beautiful blueprint for global love, charity, and connection. But what if the most celebrated mandate in Christian history isn’t a message of community at all? What if it is actually the foundational operating system for global supremacy, cultural erasure, and cosmic colonialism? In this episode, I bust through the beautiful stained glass image of the Great Commission to expose how five verses in the Gospel of Matthew provided the psychological and legal permission to conquer the world, and why mainstream believers are still running that exact same operating system today. So, let’s talk about Cosmic Colonialism… in this episode of Afterthoughts! CODA Project is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to CODA Project at www.thecodaproject.com/subscribe [https://www.thecodaproject.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

STOP LOOKING AT THE SKY

What if the future we’re hoping for isn’t waiting somewhere beyond the clouds? This episode explores how real community is built through shared responsibility, practical action, and the courage to stop waiting for rescue. These ancient stories challenge us to look at each other, not upward, for the strength to create a more connected and compassionate world. Have you ever noticed how often people wait for someone else to fix the world? We wait for the right politician, the right movement, the right church, the right billionaire, or maybe even divine intervention from somewhere up in the clouds. Meanwhile, communities weaken, loneliness spreads, and the problems right in front of us keep getting worse because too many of us are standing still, staring upward, hoping somebody else will step in. Welcome to Mythologizing the Bible, where we’ll be taking a look at three readings from the Christian Bible through the lens of “sacred myth.” As we reflect on the readings for Ascension Sunday, we’ll explore what happens when people stop waiting for rescue and begin building communities that are rooted in shared responsibility, mutual support, and collective action. In this episode, we’re asking a challenging question: What if the future we keep hoping for isn’t going to descend from the sky someday? What if the real challenge of being human is learning to build the kind of communities we wish already existed, and realizing that nobody else is coming to do it for us? CODA Project is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to CODA Project at www.thecodaproject.com/subscribe [https://www.thecodaproject.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Why Winning Arguments Is Making Us Worse

What if the way we argue is actually making things worse? In a culture obsessed with winning debates, we should consider the possibility that gentleness, respect, and self-control aren’t weaknesses, they’re the most demanding and effective ethical practices we have! Let’s start with something most of us have seen or maybe even participated in. It’s the current culture that’s best defined as “debate me, bro.” The comment threads. The viral clips. The person sitting at the table on a college campus with a sign that says, “Change My Mind.” On the surface, it looks like a pursuit of truth. It feels like courage. Confidence. Intellectual strength. But if you watch closely, it’s not really about understanding… at all. It’s about performance. Because the goal in those moments isn’t connection. It’s victory. It’s about landing the clever line, getting the applause, maybe even going viral. And here’s the thing: when you “win” like that, your brain rewards you. You get a hit of dopamine. A rush of adrenaline. You feel sharp, validated, maybe even a little invincible. But the other person? They’re not persuaded. They’re humiliated. Or defensive. Or just gone. And that’s the trade we’ve made without realizing it. We’ve optimized for the feeling of “being right” instead of focusing on doing the work to be effective. Add in the meme culture—those quick, punchy, emotionally charged video clips and soundbites—and now we’re not even engaging with ideas anymore. We’re signaling identity. “I believe this. I’m part of this group. I’m on the right side.” It feels good, but it doesn’t move anything forward. It just hardens the lines that divide us. So, let’s dive into that… in this episode of Afterthoughts! CODA Project is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to CODA Project at www.thecodaproject.com/subscribe [https://www.thecodaproject.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

When Belief Isn’t Enough

What if the biggest problem in our lives isn’t what we believe but how often we fail to live it? This week’s readings challenge us to close the gap between words and actions, showing that real integrity and real change comes from consistent, compassionate behavior, not just well-formed opinions. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to say what you believe and how much harder it is to actually live it? We talk about truth, kindness, and doing the right thing… but when pressure hits, when it’s inconvenient, or when no one’s watching, that’s when the gap shows up. Welcome to Mythologizing the Bible, where we’ll be taking a look at three readings from the Christian Bible through the lens of “sacred myth.” As we reflect on the readings for the 6th Sunday of Easter, we’ll explore the difference between belief and behavior, and how real integrity is built through action, not just intention. In this episode, we’re asking an honest question: What would change if we measured our values not by what we claim to believe, but by what we consistently do? Because it turns out, that gap between words and actions might explain more about our lives (and our world) than we’re willing to admit. CODA Project is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to CODA Project at www.thecodaproject.com/subscribe [https://www.thecodaproject.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The New “Atheists”: Why Saying No to Power Still Matters

Did you know that in ancient Rome, refusing to worship the state made you an “atheist.” It’s an interesting historical bit of trivia… but it’s not exactly trivial… because today, something similar is happening again. I think it’s worth taking some time to explore how modern movements are blending religion and nationalism, and why defending pluralism may be the most important act of civic courage in our diverse society! Let’s start with a little historical irony, because it’s one of those details that should make you pause for a second. In the Roman Empire, the early Christians were called atheists. Not because they didn’t believe in anything supernatural, but because they refused to participate in the official religious system of the state. They wouldn’t burn incense to Caesar. They wouldn’t affirm that the emperor was divine. And in a society where religion and government were fused together, that wasn’t just seen as quirky… it was seen as dangerous. From the Roman perspective, this wasn’t about personal belief. This was about loyalty. Religion was the glue that held the empire together. It was a shared ritual, a public performance of unity. So when a group of people said, “No, we’re not doing that,” the Romans didn’t interpret that as “we have a different faith.” They heard, “We don’t recognize your authority.” And that made those earliest Christians, in the eyes of the state, a threat to national security. Now here’s where it gets interesting from a human perspective. The early Christians weren’t executed for being kind or generous or loving their neighbors. They were executed because they refused to worship power. They rejected the idea that the state (or any ruler) deserved ultimate loyalty. And in doing so, they exposed something that empires don’t like to admit: that their authority depends, at least in part, on people playing along. So, let’s dive into that… in this episode of Afterthoughts! CODA Project is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to CODA Project at www.thecodaproject.com/subscribe [https://www.thecodaproject.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]