Sunday School Dropouts

Sunday School Dropouts

An ex-Christian (Lauren O’Neal) and a nonbelieving sort-of Jew (Niko Bakulich) read the entire Bible, cover to cover, so you don’t have to. If you’ve ever been curious about what’s actually in the bestselling book in history but never found the time to read it, we’ve got you covered. Sunday School Dropouts is kind of like Mystery Science Theater 3000 for the Bible, or like listening to a recap of your favorite show, if your favorite show was about polygamous shepherds on very strict diets. The weird, the wacky, the wonderful—we’ll clue you in on everything they didn’t teach you in Sunday school.

Episodes

Heaven and Hell

February 16, 2020 • 84 mins
It’s the season 3 finale! Niko and Lauren discuss a variety of underworlds, Dante’s Inferno, The Good Place, and why everything you thought you knew about heaven and hell is wrong. Plus: medieval hellmouths, and ancient Coltons Burpo! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Hanukkah

December 29, 2019 • 65 mins
Lauren, Niko, and special guest Sarah Michael (Niko's mom) discuss the Maccabees, dreidel disasters, all nine candles including the shamash, and everything else in the story of Hanukkah. Plus: growing up Jewish in 1960s Flint, Michigan, and Niko doesn't like sour cream on his latkes please! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Masada

October 20, 2019 • 65 mins
Niko and Lauren discuss the Zealots, the Sicarii, Flavius Josephus and the destruction of the second temple, and everything else in the story of the siege of Masada. Plus: 20th century Israeli poetry, and Niko wants a taste of those ancient dates! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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The Life of Flavius Josephus

September 22, 2019 • 70 mins
Lauren and Niko discuss the siege of Jotapata, the destruction of the second temple at Jerusalem, Essene internships, and everything else in The Life of Flavius Josephus. Plus: John and Jesus! But not that John and Jesus! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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The Dead Sea Scrolls

August 18, 2019 • 65 mins
Niko and Lauren discuss Bedouin goatherds, John the Baptist, a mysterious sect of Judaism called the Essenes, and everything else about the Dead Sea Scrolls. Plus: life in an ancient commune, and why archaeologists shouldn’t use Scotch tape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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3 Baruch

July 21, 2019 • 50 mins
Lauren and Niko discuss the phoenix, the angel Phamael, a heavenly ascent, and everything else in the apocryphal book of 3 Baruch. Plus: the thickness of doors is discussed, and what's the poop situation? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Beasts of the Bible

July 7, 2019 • 57 mins
Lauren and Niko discuss the leviathan, behemoth, ziz, and other mythological beasts of the Bible. Plus: pagan sports, and r u being served at the messianic banquet? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Noah

June 23, 2019 • 71 mins
Niko and Lauren discuss gopher wood, Mesopotamian flood myths, the curse of Ham, and everything else about Noah and his ark. Plus: a giant named Og hitches a ride, and oh yeah, this is our 100th episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Apocalypse of Abraham

June 9, 2019 • 56 mins
Niko and Lauren discuss Terah's idols, Jahoel, Abraham's revelation, a possible Jesus sighting, and everything else in the apocryphal Apocalypse of Abraham. Plus: Bogomil and friends! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Philippians: Anthology Edition

May 26, 2019 • 69 mins
Hey! Lauren coedited an anthology called Empty the Pews: Stories of Leaving the Church! You can read an excerpt and get a preorder discount at bit.ly/EmptyThePews. To celebrate we’re rerunning our episode with her coeditor, Dr. Chris Stroop. Original show notes: Lauren and Niko welcome Dr. Chris Stroop to the show to talk about growing up Christian in Indiana, a twenty-year crisis of faith, battling demons Hulk-style, and everythin...
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Archangels

May 12, 2019 • 54 mins
Niko and Lauren discuss the archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael; the humans-turned-angels Metatron and Sandalphon; and a bunch of other angels who were important enough to get names. Plus: angels are weird, and angels are Ninja Turtles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Angels

April 21, 2019 • 71 mins
Lauren and Niko discuss cherubim, seraphim, grotesque eye monsters, and everything else about angels. Plus: Whose angel rankings are authoritative: Maimonides, Dionysisus, or Niko? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Shekhinah

April 7, 2019 • 75 mins
Comedian/playwright Rebecca Bulnes (@almondmilkhotel) joins Lauren and Niko to discuss Kabbalah, the sacred feminine, the bride of God, and everything else about the Shekhinah. Plus: Maya Angelou, and Niko gets locked out of the Etymology Corner! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Acts of Andrew

March 24, 2019 • 52 mins
Niko and Lauren discuss miracle inflation, marriage between cousins, X-shaped crosses, and everything else in the apocryphal Acts of Andrew. Plus: a rat king of demons, and we question Gregory of Tours’ editorial instincts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Nimrod

March 10, 2019 • 61 mins
Writer Nate Waggoner (@nathanielwagg) joins Lauren and Niko to talk about Gilgamesh, the White Stag, the Huns vs. the Magyars, and everything else tangentially related to the story of Nimrod. Plus: Looney Tunes theology, and a classic Sunday School Dropouts Tower Check™️! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Lilith

February 24, 2019 • 61 mins
Comedian and writer Ryan Houlihan (@ryanhoulihan) joins Lauren and Niko to talk about killing babies, magic amulets, seducing rabbis, and everything else about Adam's first wife Lilith! Plus: Talkin' 'bout Britney! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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The Fall of Satan

February 10, 2019 • 55 mins
In the inaugural episode of season 3, Niko and Lauren discuss the serpent, Adam and Eve, John Milton's Paradise Lost, and everything else about the fall of Satan. Plus: the return of everyone's favorite sexy angels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Testament Part 4

September 23, 2018 • 65 mins
Join Lauren and Niko for the thrilling conclusion of our playthrough of the Bible-based role-playing game Testament. Our guests for this miniseason are Maggie Tokuda-Hall (@emteehall) and Greg (@leducviolet).  WILL the adventurers finally root out heresy in Jericho? WILL Neva finally find love? WILL there be a shocking reveal that was not foreshadowed at all? The only way to find out is to listen! Learn more about your ad choices. ...
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Testament Part 3

September 16, 2018 • 89 mins
Lauren and Niko continue playing  the Bible-based role-playing game Testament along with their guests Greg (@leducviolet) and Maggie Tokuda-Hall (@emteehall). Tune in this week as our heroes continue their investigation into the bizarre heresies of Jericho. Plus: Greg's rival is revealed, and more hyena facts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Testament Part 2

September 9, 2018 • 84 mins
Join Lauren, Niko, Greg (@leducviolet), and Maggie (@emteehall) as miniseason 2.5 continues with another session of the Bible-based RPG Testament. This week we’ve got Hittite leprechauns, mouse sexts, and blasphemous comedy within blasphemous comedy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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