Sunday School Dropouts

112 Episodes

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Heaven and Hell

2020-02-1601:22:212

It’s the season 3 finale! Niko and Lauren discuss a variety of underworlds, Dante’s Inferno, The Good Place, and why everything you thought you knew about heaven and hell is wrong. Plus: medieval hellmouths, and ancient Coltons Burpo! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hanukkah

2019-12-2901:04:23

Lauren, Niko, and special guest Sarah Michael (Niko's mom) discuss the Maccabees, dreidel disasters, all nine candles including the shamash, and everything else in the story of Hanukkah. Plus: growing up Jewish in 1960s Flint, Michigan, and Niko doesn't like sour cream on his latkes please! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Masada

2019-10-2001:04:22

Niko and Lauren discuss the Zealots, the Sicarii, Flavius Josephus and the destruction of the second temple, and everything else in the story of the siege of Masada. Plus: 20th century Israeli poetry, and Niko wants a taste of those ancient dates! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Life of Flavius Josephus

2019-09-2201:09:02

Lauren and Niko discuss the siege of Jotapata, the destruction of the second temple at Jerusalem, Essene internships, and everything else in The Life of Flavius Josephus. Plus: John and Jesus! But not that John and Jesus! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dead Sea Scrolls

2019-08-1801:04:193

Niko and Lauren discuss Bedouin goatherds, John the Baptist, a mysterious sect of Judaism called the Essenes, and everything else about the Dead Sea Scrolls. Plus: life in an ancient commune, and why archaeologists shouldn’t use Scotch tape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3 Baruch

2019-07-2149:06

Lauren and Niko discuss the phoenix, the angel Phamael, a heavenly ascent, and everything else in the apocryphal book of 3 Baruch. Plus: the thickness of doors is discussed, and what's the poop situation? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Beasts of the Bible

2019-07-0756:051

Lauren and Niko discuss the leviathan, behemoth, ziz, and other mythological beasts of the Bible. Plus: pagan sports, and r u being served at the messianic banquet? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Noah

2019-06-2301:09:53

Niko and Lauren discuss gopher wood, Mesopotamian flood myths, the curse of Ham, and everything else about Noah and his ark. Plus: a giant named Og hitches a ride, and oh yeah, this is our 100th episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apocalypse of Abraham

2019-06-0955:15

Niko and Lauren discuss Terah's idols, Jahoel, Abraham's revelation, a possible Jesus sighting, and everything else in the apocryphal Apocalypse of Abraham. Plus: Bogomil and friends! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Philippians: Anthology Edition

2019-05-2601:08:24

Hey! Lauren coedited an anthology called Empty the Pews: Stories of Leaving the Church! You can read an excerpt and get a preorder discount at bit.ly/EmptyThePews. To celebrate we’re rerunning our episode with her coeditor, Dr. Chris Stroop. Original show notes: Lauren and Niko welcome Dr. Chris Stroop to the show to talk about growing up Christian in Indiana, a twenty-year crisis of faith, battling demons Hulk-style, and everything else in the book of Philippians. Plus: rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say, rejoice! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Archangels

2019-05-1252:541

Niko and Lauren discuss the archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael; the humans-turned-angels Metatron and Sandalphon; and a bunch of other angels who were important enough to get names. Plus: angels are weird, and angels are Ninja Turtles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Angels

2019-04-2101:10:312

Lauren and Niko discuss cherubim, seraphim, grotesque eye monsters, and everything else about angels. Plus: Whose angel rankings are authoritative: Maimonides, Dionysisus, or Niko? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shekhinah

2019-04-0701:14:02

Comedian/playwright Rebecca Bulnes (@almondmilkhotel) joins Lauren and Niko to discuss Kabbalah, the sacred feminine, the bride of God, and everything else about the Shekhinah. Plus: Maya Angelou, and Niko gets locked out of the Etymology Corner! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Acts of Andrew

2019-03-2449:46

Niko and Lauren discuss miracle inflation, marriage between cousins, X-shaped crosses, and everything else in the apocryphal Acts of Andrew. Plus: a rat king of demons, and we question Gregory of Tours’ editorial instincts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nimrod

2019-03-1001:00:201

Writer Nate Waggoner (@nathanielwagg) joins Lauren and Niko to talk about Gilgamesh, the White Stag, the Huns vs. the Magyars, and everything else tangentially related to the story of Nimrod. Plus: Looney Tunes theology, and a classic Sunday School Dropouts Tower Check™️! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lilith

2019-02-2401:00:111

Comedian and writer Ryan Houlihan (@ryanhoulihan) joins Lauren and Niko to talk about killing babies, magic amulets, seducing rabbis, and everything else about Adam's first wife Lilith! Plus: Talkin' 'bout Britney! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2 John

2018-02-0455:11

Lauren and Niko discuss the antichrist, hologram Jesus, whether the skateboarding scorpion crab is a fool, and everything else we can wring from the book of 2 John. Plus: Bree Mae joins us to talk about homeschooling and Bible quizzing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Fall of Satan

2019-02-1053:412

In the inaugural episode of season 3, Niko and Lauren discuss the serpent, Adam and Eve, John Milton's Paradise Lost, and everything else about the fall of Satan. Plus: the return of everyone's favorite sexy angels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Testament Part 4

2018-09-2301:04:121

Join Lauren and Niko for the thrilling conclusion of our playthrough of the Bible-based role-playing game Testament. Our guests for this miniseason are Maggie Tokuda-Hall (@emteehall) and Greg (@leducviolet). WILL the adventurers finally root out heresy in Jericho? WILL Neva finally find love? WILL there be a shocking reveal that was not foreshadowed at all? The only way to find out is to listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Testament Part 3

2018-09-1601:27:451

Lauren and Niko continue playing the Bible-based role-playing game Testament along with their guests Greg (@leducviolet) and Maggie Tokuda-Hall (@emteehall). Tune in this week as our heroes continue their investigation into the bizarre heresies of Jericho. Plus: Greg's rival is revealed, and more hyena facts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comments (6)

Moshe Wise

The title is a little misleading. This episode is more complaining about Ireland than discussing the ancient prophet.

Dec 28th

The lottery was used to select Saul, not David

Nov 13th

Amit Bhalerao

Not eating bats is the best advice in the Leviticus. Sorry Mr. God. We failed you. 👉😓👈

Apr 22nd

ID19308807

This podcast is a lot of fun, especially for those of us that grew up in (and out of) Christianity. Also, the commenter Andrew is a douchy asshat.

Aug 2nd

Andrew Permafide Greaves

their use of the word like (mostly her) makes them sound very stupid and amateur

Feb 17th

Markus

Informative, entertaining and very ambitious! / Markus, Sweden

Jul 7th

#box-pro-ellipsis-173243633142929{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}Sunday School Dropouts

Moshe Wise

Moshe Wise

Amit Bhalerao

ID19308807

Andrew Permafide Greaves

Markus