Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is one of my favorite parts of these weekly presentations because it gives us a chance to dig a little deeper, connect the dots, and really challenge ourselves to think critically about what we’ve been discussing.
So, let’s recap the central message from this week’s episode, where we took a look at the readings for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C of the Roman Catholic lectionary. We focused on the importance of understanding many of the things that shape our lives. Whether we’re talking about laws, religious texts, or societal norms, the key takeaway was that we need to engage with these frameworks responsibly. When we abdicate that responsibility—whether by blindly trusting others to interpret for us or by using these writings to manipulate others—we risk undermining not just our communities, but our own integrity.
In this episode of Afterthoughts, we’re going to explore how the Bible’s role in history has been both a source of progress and, unfortunately, a tool for harm. We’ll look at how the availability of the Bible shifted power dynamics in history, how practices like proof texting have turned Scripture into a weapon rather than a guide, and how all of this impacts our ability to build a just and informed society today.
Here’s the heart of it: The way Scripture has been interpreted—and misinterpreted—over time is not just an interesting but abstract issue. It’s something that has impacted all of Western culture—it affects the way we think and speak, the way we engage with one another, and even the way we address the challenges facing our world. So tonight, we’re taking a deeper look at how these shifts have shaped us and what we can do to move forward responsibly… with reason, honesty, and a commitment to justice!
Share this post