By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-08-27T05:22:22-04:00September 2nd, 2026|Tags: Gnosticism, Noncanonical Texts, Plato, Secret Revelation of John|
"There will be things that will be seen that I never saw. I’m sure that always goes on. I think they’re going to be around for a while. I would hope increasingly there will be … some humility about the texts." An interview with Dr. Michael Williams.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-08-25T11:11:04-04:00August 25th, 2026|Tags: Gender Issues, Love, Meaning of Life, Sex, Violence|
We explore how Nag Hammadi texts transformed an ancient myth into a powerful reflection on longing, identity, healing, and our journey toward wholeness. An interview with Rikki Liu
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-08-01T06:36:19-04:00August 5th, 2026|Tags: Demons, Gospel of Mark, Gospels, Healing, Magic, Religion, The Greek Magical Papyri|
"They would focus on the fact that he (Jesus) was Jewish, and so that would make him exotic. And they would also focus on some of the stories that he had knowledge of secret or foreign incantations to heal." An interview with Dr. David Frankfurter.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-07-29T18:05:05-04:00July 29th, 2026|Tags: Ancient Writings, Translation Issues|
When we think about early Christian monks and nuns, we often imagine illiterate men and women whose lives are devoted to prayer, solitude, and spiritual discipline. But how did these communities learn? An interview with Dr. Lillian Larsen
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-06-05T06:08:15-04:00July 1st, 2026|Tags: Church, Community, Early Church, Heaven, Parables|
So I think it can be hugely shaping. And it makes it really kind of a perfect example of something with no physical structure that can still be very core to our identity and how we live our lives. An interview with Dr. Karen Winell.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-06-24T03:52:44-04:00June 24th, 2026|Tags: Bible, Christianity, Early Christian Texts, Secret Revelation of John|
This month's Bible and Beyond Discussion celebrates eight years of the Bible and Beyond. A time in which the Nag Hammadi texts have been moving from the “fringe” toward mainstream Christianity. An interview with Dr. Shirley Paulson
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-06-04T07:03:03-04:00June 2nd, 2026|Tags: Ancient Writings, Baptism, Concepts of God|
"But your true self, in the hermetic worldview, is trying to break out of the distractions, and it’s trying to awaken itself. It’s trying to think God and to see God in reality." An interview with Rev. M. David Litwa.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-07-07T04:10:47-04:00May 19th, 2026|Tags: Demons, Hebrew Bible, Old Testament, Translation Issues|
This discussion will focus on Lilith, who is arguably the most feared demon in the history of Judaism. We give some basic overview of her key features, such as the long-held view that she attacks pregnant women and their children, and also examine her appearance in the biblical tradition. Oddly for a demon who is so important in Judaism, she only appears once in the Hebrew Bible—Isaiah 34:14. An interview with Dr. Matthew Goff
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-05-11T22:12:59-04:00May 13th, 2026|Tags: Chaos, Christian History by the Century, Christianity, Fear and Protection, Mandaeans, Religious Boundaries|
In the 7th century, Christianity was not only taught—it had to be proven. Christian truth was increasingly measured in power: to heal, to command loyalty, to hold territory, and to outlast rivals.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-04-29T04:18:36-04:00May 6th, 2026|Tags: Apocryphal Texts, Christian Heresies, Gnosticism, Magic, Peter|
“On the basis of the Acts alone, we certainly cannot conclude that Simon is—as you mentioned—a scumbag, nor is he portrayed as an ally of evil, as he will be portrayed in later sources.” An interview with Dr. Benjamin DeVos.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-04-28T12:55:43-04:00April 28th, 2026|Tags: Bible, Dr. James McGrath, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Matthew, Spirituality, Theology|
Deconstruction isn’t the end of faith. James McGrath explores how critical Bible study can lead to deeper understanding and renewed faith. An interview with Dr. James McGrath
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-03-24T09:32:38-04:00April 1st, 2026|Tags: Christian Canon, Gnosticism, Gospel of Mary, Mary Magdalene, Women|
“When I use the word ‘gnostic’ or ‘gnosis’… I’m speaking about gnosis in its original sense… an inner awakening to the divine presence already dwelling within us.” An interview with Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan.
