PODCAST

Theology Nerd Throwdown

Dr. Tripp Fuller & Rev. Bo Sanders

Tripp & Bo get nerdy talking about theology, faith, life, and other things.

religion & spirituality christianity

All Episodes

103:01

Why Your 'Biblical' Christianity Might Just Be...

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/11/03

Wow, this episode was a wild ride! Bo and I kicked things off recapping the absolute magic that was Theology Beer Camp in St. Paul - seriously, the energy this year was different, more connected, more like a family reunion of podcast nerds day-drinking and talking theology. Then we dove into what really gets my blood boiling: this whole restorationist fantasy that we can just skip over 2,000 years of church history and get back to some "pure" Christianity. Like, have these folks even read Acts? The

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109:31

The One Where We Tried Something New and It Mostly...

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/10/07

We opened up the Zoom room and let listeners bring whatever questions they wanted, which turned into one of those sprawling conversations that goes from Karl Popper's tolerance paradox to the unique trauma of rapture theology to whether algae-filled church toilets are connected to the hot water line. Josh Patterson kicked us off asking about progressive intolerance, which led Bo to brilliantly distinguish between liberalism and liberation. We got into how algorithms are making us all more

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106:55

Against Empathy: When Christians Declare Compassion a...

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/09/19

Bo and I dive deep into a controversial AP article about Christian conservatives declaring empathy a vice - yeah, you heard that right. We unpack how figures like Ali Beth Stuckey and Joe Rigney are arguing that empathy has become a "cudgel for the left," leading Christians to affirm sin and support destructive policies. But here's where it gets interesting: Bo thinks this whole anti-empathy movement is actually a smokescreen for deeper issues around personal versus structural sin, and how

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101:05

Religion Before Language: Why We Danced Before We...

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/09/09

So we're LIVE at the Common Market in Charlotte, drinking craft beverages and fielding questions from the Speaking to a Modern World conference, which means we're ping-ponging between topics faster than your algorithm-addled attention span. Josh starts us off playing voice of the people, then we trade him for Leah Robinson, who's delightfully willing to interrupt me when I get too deep in the philosophical weeds. We tackle everything from what the hell "modernity" actually means (hint: it's not just

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110:35

Heidegger Dreams and Chicken Interruptions: An...

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/08/29

Bo and I dove deep into onto-theology after he texted me wanting to explore its "upside" - which led to a sprawling conversation about everything from James Dobson's recent death and its impact on evangelical parenting, to Taylor Swift's engagement, to my chickens interrupting the show. We unpacked how onto-theology (the problematic conflation of Being itself with a supreme being) actually offers important critiques of theological overconfidence, exploring how thinkers like Caputo and Westphal use

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141:15

Love at the Center: Tom Oord's Systematic Theology...

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/08/15

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend Tom Oord, who's in the middle of writing what might be the first ever systematic theology with "love" right there in the title. We dove deep into how systematic theology actually works - you know, the difference between someone like Wayne Grudem who treats the Bible like a collection of proof texts versus Paul Tillich who's doing this whole apologetic dance with existentialism. Tom's taking this fascinating approach where he's putting love at the

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123:57

From Epstein to Palestine: The Common Thread of Basic...

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/08/01

Wow, what a wild ride this turned out to be! Bo and I got into the religious landscape after I shared this crazy sticky note revelation I had at the cigar lounge - connecting Jeffrey Epstein conspiracies and Palestine through the lens of basic human decency and institutional trust. We ended up unpacking everything from why young people are abandoning religion (spoiler: it's not just youthful rebellion) to the difference between being "spiritual but not religious" versus actual consumer spirituality

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92:23

Bible Bonanza: What Verses Should Actually Be Read in...

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/07/18

What's up Theology Nerds! We're back from vacation and home renovations with a special Bible bonanza episode that's equal parts hilarious and thought-provoking. Bo and I are tackling the issue of mandatory Bible reading in schools by collecting suggestions from listeners about which verses should be read if we're going down this road. We got calls from Finland to Britain with everything from Jesus's upside-down teachings about greatness through service, to some truly awkward Old Testament passages

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117:02

"You Met One Pharaoh, You Met 'Em All" - Remembering...

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/06/06

What's up theology nerds! When we lost the legendary Walter Brueggemann, I knew we had to do a proper tribute to one of the most influential biblical scholars of our time. I'm joined by Bo and Rolf Jacobson from Luther Seminary for a deep dive into Walter's life and work - this is the guy who somehow managed to have both mega-nerd street cred in the academy AND pastors across the country whose preaching was transformed by his books. We explore how Walter revolutionized biblical theology by showing

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103:51

The Great Untethering: Why Everything Feels Fake

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/05/30

Bo comes back from an epic 22-year tradition canoe trip in the Adirondacks - complete with black flies, hypothermia, and some serious Type 2 fun - and drops maybe his most intense opening riff ever. We're talking democracy, pornography, evangelicalism, the economy, and a whole bunch of other stuff that doesn't mean what it used to mean anymore. Bo's got this theory about "floating signifiers" - basically things that have become untethered from their original meaning and are just floating around

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126:13

Tending to Questions: A More Hopeful Future for...

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/05/10

What's up Theology Nerds! This week on TNT, Bo and I kick things off with the breaking news about the new American Pope from Chicago (perfect timing for a Bear's Super Bowl win?) before diving into a deep theological conversation about the future of liberal Christianity. Following last week's rather pessimistic outlook, we explore more hopeful possibilities for revitalizing liberal theology. We discuss the potential of engaging the cultural desire for re-enchantment, reclaiming myth, and adopting

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130:15

Does Liberal Christianity Have a Future?

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/05/01

What's up, Theology Nerds! In this episode, Bo and I tackle the existential question: "Does Liberal Christianity Have a Future?" Spoiler alert: Bo doesn't think it does, and his explanation involves both elevators and human eardrums! We dive into the fascinating history and predicaments of liberal theology, exploring why churches with endowed organs might be spiritually starving. I share five theological predicaments identified by scholars like Catherine Keller and Steven Webb (who inspired Bo to

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81:07

State Mandated Bible Verses & Chronic Lonliness

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/04/25

What's up Theology Nerds! Today's episode goes all over the place - from Easter rituals to mandatory Bible readings, with plenty of religious baggage unpacked along the way.Bo starts us off with his discomfort over some potentially mandatory Bible reading legislation in Idaho (which I kept confusing with Iowa - my bad, flyover state friends). This leads to a fascinating discussion about religious literacy versus using religion as a tool of conformity and exclusion in education systems. We share

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82:30

The BoDaddy Confessional: Faith, Cat Posters, and Tom...

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/04/01

In this episode, we were joined by surprise guest Josh Patterson from the Rethinking Faith Podcast, who subjects Bo to his signature "20 Questions" game. The conversation ranges from lighthearted to profound as Bo considers which biblical book he would eliminate, which religious figure would make the worst associate pastor, and why he remains a Christian despite doubts. The discussion weaves through topics including Native American spirituality, Tom Bombadil from Lord of the Rings, wild adventures

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104:41

Dispositional Not Dispensational: on Territorial...

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/03/22

Tripp and Bo dive into a fascinating theological discussion about Daniel 10 and its interpretation in this episode of the Theology Nerd Throwdown. Bo, who is preaching through Daniel, seeks Tripp's insights on how progressive Christians can approach the text's three-tiered cosmology featuring territorial spirits and angelic battles. They explore various ways to understand ancient worldviews without dismissing them, including how some modern Christians have used these concepts for potentially

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92:47

Co-Passion & Contemplation

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/03/14

In this episode, the BoDaddy shares about his co-passion projects in his local community and the struggle to act as a community of faith in our increasingly tribal time. Then they discuss the nature of contemplation versus fascination, sparked by reflections from Tripp's son's school essay and interviews with scholars Kevin Hart and Norman Wirzba. They reflect on the impact of smartphones on our attention, social life, and spiritual well-being, proposing ways to shift from fascination to deeper

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99:52

MAGA is Manifesting a New Civil Religion

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/02/21

What exactly is MAGA? In this episode, we dive deep into the movement, not just as a political force, but as a new kind of civil religion. We'll explore the history of self-creation, from Martin Luther to the age of Trump, and how this uniquely American idea shapes the MAGA movement. We'll also unpack the complex relationship between online communities and real connection, the allure of nostalgia, and the very nature of truth in a post-truth era. Join us for a fascinating conversation on the

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107:27

Bo’s got the gift of Prophecy?

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/02/19

Bo texted Tripp about preaching through the book of Daniel and some ideas he has about resilience and resistance he wants to discuss. He also has a preterist theory about biblical prophecy. Tripp assumes this is something his church and education experience failed to tell him about. What resulted was a lively discussion on the book of Daniel, exploring its layers of prophetic texts, historical contexts, and theological implications. We dive into Daniel's diet, fiery furnaces, the lions' den, and the

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94:28

The Tech Takeover: Reimagining Connection in a...

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/02/12

In this episode, Tripp & Bo dive deep into the concept of digital colonialism and how tech giants are reshaping human interaction and power dynamics. They explore how data is extracted, processed, and monetized, creating a new colonial class and transforming social relations. Through a critical lens, they discuss the implications for individual autonomy, the erosion of social trust, and potential ways to resist and reimagine our digital lives. Join them for a thought-provoking conversation that

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100:57

The (Never-Ending) Crisis Edition

Theology Nerd Throwdown ·

2025/02/01

On this episode of the Theology Nerd Throwdown, Tripp & Bo dive into a vibrant discussion on the evolving cultural and political landscape. Bo shares his experiences and insights after moving to Idaho, reflecting on conservative backlash and modern conservatism. The duo explores the complexities of liberalism's critics, the fragmentation of society, and the role of community and virtue in an individualistic world. They discuss strategies for reclaiming ecclesiology as upstream of politics and the

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Theology Nerd Throwdown

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