All Rise: The Gospel According to Barbie? How Ken it Be!?

Barbie is everywhere thanks to Greta Gerwig’s recent blockbuster movie about the (in)famous doll. Some say it is anti-man propaganda that went too far while others say it didn’t go far enough! Abdu and Derek discuss these reactions and some surprising ways in which Barbie actually affirms the Bible, while also being confronted by it.

All Rise: Will AI Destroy the World!? with Michael Butler

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere right now, and much of the press has been concerned with one question: will AI unleash a technological revolution that inevitably ends in catastrophe? Cutting through some of the uninformed hyperbole of those who think it will destroy the world (and those who think it will save it!), Abdu and Derek […]

Deliberations LIVE! Ep. 20

In this episode, Abdu and Derek respond to comments and questions on their episode addressing comments made by Paula Fredriksen on Luke/Acts and the relation of that author to Paul. They also add some more details that they did not get to mention in the original episode.

All Rise: Ricky Gervais Claims Atheists Just Believe In One Less God … And??

Comedian Ricky Gervais claims that we are all essentially atheists with regard to 2,999 gods, and that atheists just have the courage/integrity to go one god further. But is this a meaningful statement? Abdu and Derek address other claims made by Gervais, including what would happen if all science and history books disappeared and where […]

All Rise: Bart Ehrman Objects! “The Gospels Are Anonymous”

Bart Ehrman claims that the Gospels are anonymous because the names attached to them are too convenient and were added a century later, and because the disciples of Jesus were too illiterate to write such exquisite Greek texts. Has Dr. Ehrman overstated the case?

Deliberations LIVE! Ep. 8

Abdu and Derek answer questions related to Bill Maher’s claims that Jesus was based on pagan myths. They also discuss the meaning of similarities and dissimilarities, if Christmas and Easter were based on pagan holidays, the symbolism of snakes in the Bible, and Hell.

All Rise: Asked and Answered! Bill Maher Claims Jesus Is Based on Pagan Myths

By now everyone has heard some version of “Jesus is based on [enter ancient deity here].” But these claims were debunked for nearly a century before being resurrected recently. And now, because overwhelming evidence debunked the older claims, new proponents have suggested different deities as the template for Jesus. Are these new claims any more […]

All Rise: Can You Handle the Truth?

Abdu discusses our complicated relationship with truth. Quite often, people simply seek verification for what they already hope is true. To complicate matters, painful disruptions in our lives make it more difficult for us to recognize what is good and true. So, how do we begin to escape the cycle of confirmation bias to find […]