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In this episode of Hebrew Voices #197 - Nehemia on "Grotto in the Tar Pit": Part 1, Nehemia appears on the Grotto in the Tar Pit podcast to discuss the questioning of one’s beliefs, the historical struggle for free speech, and the Spanish Inquisition.

You are listening to Hebrew Voices with Nehemia Gordon. Thank you for supporting Nehemia Gordon's Makor Hebrew Foundation. Learn more at NehemiasWall.com.

You are listening to Hebrew Voices with Nehemia Gordon. Thank you for supporting Nehemia Gordon's Makor Hebrew Foundation. Learn more at NehemiasWall.com.

Sergio: Even if you believe completely one way, you should know the other perspective. You should know the flip side of the coin and everything they’re going to argue.

Nehemia: Absolutely. Well, that’s how people get surprised. They don’t know what the other argument is going to be. That’s how people end up losing their faith.

Sergio: Welcome to another episode of Grotto in the Tar Pit. I’d like to thank you all for being here, and to say we have a great guest for you today is a total understatement, because the person we have today is someone that I’ve been watching for years, a true treasure trove. If you’ve ever found a treasure map, this would be the X on the spot! So, Mr. Nehemia Gordon, how are you doing today?

Nehemia: I’m doing good, how are you doing?

Sergio: Dr. Nehemia Gordon I should say! I’m doing good, man.

Nehemia: You know, the joke is… somebody gave me a mug when I got my PhD, and it says on the mug, “Don’t show me that! I’m not that kind of doctor!”

Sergio: Oh, yeah!

Nehemia: Yeah. Tell me about the name of your program – Grotto in the Tar Pit. Maybe the audience knows, but I don’t.

Sergio: Okay. They’re not really going to know either. The reason I did it is because, first of all, you’ve got Elijah’s grotto out there on Mount Sinai, and I came back out here with Dr. Hovind in Alabama, so since he’s all about the dinosaurs I figured there’s got to be a tar pit somewhere, you know what I mean?

Nehemia: Okay! I thought maybe you’re in California. Isn’t that where the tar pits are?

Sergio: Yeah, I’ve actually passed by those; the La Brea Tar Pits.

Nehemia: Have you? Okay. I’ve never seen them; it sounds pretty cool.

Sergio: Yeah, it’s pretty cool. Now, I’m going to have to wing it. The reason being I just totally deleted all my questions I had for you. So, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing!

Nehemia: That’s the best way to do it. It’ll be completely spontaneous.

Sergio: Okay. So, one question I was going to ask you… you found out that you were Jesus’ cousin 20 times removed or something like that…

Nehemia: Well, I found out he was my cousin. Let me back up. My great-grandfather was a rab