Faith Lab (formerly Almost Heretical) explores the evidence for Christianity and why the Christian story can be trusted. Hosted by former pastor Nate Hanson, who served in ministry with Francis Chan, and Bible scholar Shelby Hanson, the show grew out of Nate’s journey through deconstruction and his return to Christian faith by following the evidence. Each episode features conversations with leading scholars, scientists, and historians who explain why Christianity makes the best sense of reality.
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Faith Lab (formerly Almost Heretical) explores the evidence for Christianity and why the Christian story can be trusted. Hosted by former pastor Nate Hanson, who served in ministry with Francis Chan, and Bible scholar Shelby Hanson, the show grew out of Nate’s journey through deconstruction and his return to Christian faith by following the evidence. Each episode features conversations with leading scholars, scientists, and historians who explain why Christianity makes the best sense of reality.
What if the stories at the end of Genesis weren’t just family drama—but political storytelling?
In this episode, Nate and Shelby revisit six key moments from Genesis 27 to 50—including Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing, Dinah and Shechem, Judah and Tamar, and Joseph’s rise in Egypt—to explore how these stories may have been written to explain Israel’s political identity, tribal dynamics, and national origin.
We talk about:
Why Jacob and Esau’s rivalry reflects Israel vs. Edom
What Jacob’s wrestling match really says about the name "Israel"
How the story of Dinah might not be about justice at all
The subversive role of Tamar and why she’s called righteous
Why Joseph marrying an Egyptian priest’s daughter created tension later
And how Genesis closes by blessing tribes that already existed
These aren’t just ancient stories—they’re layered political texts that reveal how Israel saw itself and its neighbors. Join us as we read Genesis a little more historically, and a little more honestly.
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Faith Lab
Faith Lab (formerly Almost Heretical) explores the evidence for Christianity and why the Christian story can be trusted. Hosted by former pastor Nate Hanson, who served in ministry with Francis Chan, and Bible scholar Shelby Hanson, the show grew out of Nate’s journey through deconstruction and his return to Christian faith by following the evidence. Each episode features conversations with leading scholars, scientists, and historians who explain why Christianity makes the best sense of reality.
