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Bible & Bedlam – Disability, Sanism and the Gospels

2025-09-22 · 43 min · episode 4 · 9 entities

episode page audio

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  • → hosted by Helen Bond & Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones person
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  • → discusses History website
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  • → discusses Religion & Spirituality concept
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  • → discusses Christianity concept
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    Feed category: Christianity

Entities found in this episode

concepts 5

persons 2

websites 2

  • mentioned History website
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    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: History
  • discusses History website
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    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: History
Episode description as stored
What does it mean to read the New Testament through the lens of disability and mental health? In this episode of Biblical Time Machine , Helen Bond is joined by Professor Louise Lawrence (University of Exeter), whose groundbreaking 2018 book  Bible and Bedlam explores how the ancient world understood “madness” and how modern interpretations can carry ableist and sanist assumptions. Together, they discuss different models of disability, whether Jesus’ healings reinforce or subvert stigma, and how metaphors of disability shape the language of the New Testament. Louise also reflects on “sane privilege” in biblical scholarship, how autism has been read into Nicodemus’ encounter with Jesus, and what we might learn from Africana writer Bessie Head.  SUPPORT BIBLICAL TIME MACHINE  If you enjoy the podcast, please (pretty please!) consider supporting the show through the Time Travellers Club , our Patreon. We are an independent, listener-supported show (no ads!), so please help us continue to showcase high-quality biblical scholarship with a monthly subscription . DOWNLOAD OUR STUDY GUIDE: MARK AS ANCIENT BIOGRAPHY Check out our 4-part audio study guide called " The Gospel of Mark as an Ancient Biography ." While you're there, get yourself a Biblical Time Machine mug or a cool sticker for your water bottle. Support the show Theme music written and performed by Dave Roos, creator of Biblical Time Machine. Season 4 + 5 produced by John Nelson.