350: Beth Allison Barr and Christian Curiosity

Beth Allison Barr is the James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University and author of the book The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth. Today, Beth shares how she grew up knowing Jesus, learning that there were some things women didn’t do, and how intellectual curiosity is deeply important for her spiritual journey. We also discuss how knowing Church history and taking a curious approach to biblical interpretation can shape our faith in positive ways. Beth’s story reminds us that understanding church history with an inquisitive mind is a vital part of Christian growth.

Listen to Beth’s story here or where you get your podcasts.

Stories Beth shared:

• Growing up in a Christian family in Texas
• Never not knowing faith in Jesus and getting baptized as a young woman
• Realizing that there were expected gender roles in high school
• Using her intellectual curiosity and how that clashed with a literal interpretation of the Bible
• The distinction between man’s interpretation of God and who God really is
• Meeting her husband
• Seeing churches regressing in terms of intellectual curiosity
• Why KJV only is problematic
• Why historical context is critical to understanding texts
• How medieval history can help us now
• Being angry at God and the letters of despair that helped her
• When God spoke to her after her husband was fired
• Historical context and how it helps our hermeneutic

Great quotes from Beth:

My parents were never afraid of me being curious.

My story fits into a story that’s a lot bigger than me and I’m thankful to be part of that story.

Historical context does not diminish the Bible as God’s Word. It just helps us better understand God’s Word.

God does not look like the white, Evangelical church.

Resources we mentioned:

• Beth’s website
• The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr
• The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark
• The Showings by Julian of Norwich

Related episodes:

• Aaron Niequist and Swimming in the Eternal Current
• Aimee Byrd and Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
• Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer and Becoming an Agent of Good
• Kristen Du Mez and Knowing Church History

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