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Faith Lab

Nate Hanson
Christianity
New Testament
Genesis
Deconstruction
Paul
Paul the Apostle
Spirituality
The Bible
Hell
Jesus
Gospels
Religious Trauma
Faith Evolution
James
Purity Culture
Enslaved Christians
Deconstructing Faith
Faith
Genesis 6:1-4
Theology

Christianity is deeper than you've been shown. Each episode, Nate Hanson sits down with scholars like N.T. Wright and Tim Mackie to talk through Jesus, the Bible, and the origins of Christianity in conversations you can actually follow. Nate came back from deconstruction through scholarship.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes205Founded9 years ago
Categories
ChristianityPhilosophyReligion & SpiritualitySociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

Our best source on Alexander the Great was written 450 years after he died, and historians trust it. Mark was written about 40 years after Jesus. So why are the gospels the only ancient texts we're told to doubt?

Craig Keener, author of Christobiogr... more

YouTube

Most of us were handed a gospel that works like a ticket to heaven: believe, die, fly away. New Testament scholar Nijay Gupta says that was never the headline of what Paul preached.

Gupta is the Julius R. Mantey Professor of New Testament at Norther... more

YouTube

The hardest critiques of the cross, like "he was only dead for a day and a half" and "anyone would take that deal," all target one version of the gospel. The earliest Christians were teaching something bigger.

In this solo episode, Nate traces the f... more

YouTube

Most Christians were taught to trust the Gospels without ever being shown why they should. The historical evidence is stronger than you think.

New Testament scholar Lydia McGrew lays out what she calls the "reportage model," the case that the Gospel... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Craig Keener
New Testament scholar, author of Christobiography and extensive Acts commentary
Duke University (academic)
Episode: Craig Keener: Why the gospels hold up as history
Nijay Gupta
New Testament scholar at Northern Seminary
Northern Seminary
Episode: Nijay Gupta: Is the gospel just a ticket to heaven?
Lydia McGrew
Historian and New Testament scholar
Independent scholar
Episode: Lydia McGrew: The Gospels are more reliable than you think
N. T. Wright
New Testament scholar (Tom Wright)
World's foremost NT scholar (as introduced)
Episode: N.T. Wright: Do Christians go to heaven? (part 2)
Caleb Friedeman
New Testament scholar specializing in ancient biographies
Episode: Caleb Friedeman: Why the genealogies don't match
Tim Mackie
Co-founder of The Bible Project
The Bible Project
Episode: Tim Mackie: The Bible isn't what you think (part 2)
Rebecca McLaughlin
Christian apologist with a PhD from Cambridge who has spent years addressing tough objections to Christianity.
Episode: Rebecca McLaughlin: The best arguments against Christianity
Dr. Andrew Perrin
Leading expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls, award-winning scholar, and professor
Unknown
Episode: #154 – Dr. Andrew Perrin: Unlocking the Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Marianne Williamson
Renowned author, activist, and spiritual advisor
Episode: Marianne Williamson (Full Episode)

Hosts

Nate Hanson
Host of Faith Lab; engaged in deconstruction-to-faith conversations with scholars
Shane Rosenthal
Co-host, interview-style host

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 843 ratings
  • New direction isn’t satisfying

    I think if you’re going to explain your return to Christianity, it would make sense to answer the kinds of questions that people actually have. I don’t think the ideas you’re presenting are new to people in this group or really get at what compels belief. We all know the Bible is more complicated than we thought, I think coming to the conclusion that it’s actually true still requires some explanation

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Demi112233
    Canada6 months ago
  • New Direction

    Don't love the new direction of the podcast. Feels basically like an apologetics podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    cjeicxjrkfk
    United States7 months ago
  • Unfortunate turn towards Christian Supremacy

    I am saddened that the show has moved back towards Christian Supremacy. My hope was that the show would continue to move towards equality amongst humanity, but has unfortunately concluded that any “honest investigation” necessarily leads to Christianity and its supremacy.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jason Stein
    Canada8 months ago
  • Just discovered

    Just listened to the Coercion episode with David Fitch. Your questions were excellent and really got to the heart of the matter. Fitch is right about Christ manifesting noncoercion. Your questions went to the deepest implications of his position and I found it fascinating. Bravo.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EMjo1999
    United Statesa year ago
  • Healing and Insightful

    This podcast has been a powerful guide in deconstructing my evangelical Christian upbringing. It has helped me unpack my discomfort with church and start identifying what I actually believe—based on truth, not fear. This podcast is thoughtful, honest, and truly healing for anyone questioning their faith. I tell anyone from my upbringing who is also questioning their faith about it and highly recommend giving this a listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shlee Whitener
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the rigorous, thoughtful exploration of scripture and history.
Some listeners crave more traditional, orthodox conclusions and push back against deconstruction themes.
Guests bring high-level scholarship in accessible conversations.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Craig Keener: Why the gospels hold up as history
Q: How does the presence of miracles affect the historical reliability of the Gospels?
Miracles are treated within the overall evidential framework, with emphasis on testimony, consistency across sources, and the broader pattern of eyewitness accounts; not every miracle is required to prove overall credibility, but corroborated accounts and historical context strengthen the case for trustworthiness.
Craig Keener: Why the gospels hold up as history
Q: Why should we trust the New Testament Gospels as historical documents rather than myths or late inventions?
Keener lays out multiple lines of evidence: proximity to living memory, corroboration from multiple independent sources, genre analysis aligning the Gospels with ancient biographies, and the consistency of eyewitness testimony across the four Gospels and other early Christian writings.
N.T. Wright: Do Christians go to heaven? (part 2)
Q: If the resurrection matters this much, why didn't Jesus just stay and make it easier for more people to believe?
The question highlights that the timing and mode of Jesus' post-resurrection presence were part of a larger divine plan, with emphasis on the Spirit's ongoing work and the eventual restoration of creation rather than a static display to increase belief.
Tim Mackie: The Bible isn't what you think (part 2)
Q: How do we actually talk about what the Bible is?
Instead of saying, here's what's wrong, just show a way that I think is a little more faithful to what's right.
Tim Mackie: The Bible isn't what you think (part 2)
Q: If the Bible isn't a rule book, then what is it?
It's an epic narrative pointing to a person who did something for us all that we can't do for ourselves.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Faith Lab

What is Faith Lab about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show features in-depth conversations with biblical scholars and theologians to examine Christianity from historical, literary, and philosophical angles. Guests range from New Testament scholars to apologists and Bible project contributors, often focusing on the reliability of Gospel accounts, interpretation of key biblical themes, and the practical implications of scholarly insights for faith today. Notable throughlines include deconstruction, rigorous evidence-based discussion, and a willingness to question traditional assumptions while remaining rooted in Christian thought. A distinctive strength is the way complex academic ideas are made accessible through conversational interviews, personal journeys, and challenges to listeners to r... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Faith Lab?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Faith Lab:

1. The Bible For Normal People
2. Homebrewed Christianity
3. The Holy Post
4. BibleProject
5. Exploring My Strange Bible

How many episodes of Faith Lab are there?

Faith Lab launched 9 years ago and published 205 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Faith Lab?

Recent guests on Faith Lab include:

1. Craig Keener
2. Nijay Gupta
3. Lydia McGrew
4. N. T. Wright
5. Caleb Friedeman
6. Tim Mackie
7. Rebecca McLaughlin
8. Dr. Andrew Perrin

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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