The Stranger Theology Podcast
This podcast dives into the stranger and more puzzling passages of the Bible. Host Joel Muddamalle, PhD, invites special guests to explore unusual scriptures and theological questions. Together they seek to uncover deeper meanings and encourage thoughtful reflection on faith.
Episodes
Strange & Blurry Episode 1: Scientology Explained, feat. Jeremy Jenkins
Is Scientology a UFO religion? What is Xenu, Dianetics, and the Bridge to Total Freedom — and how should Christians respond?In this first Strange & Blurry crossover, Stranger Theology teams up with Blurry Creatures for a crash course on Scientology with world religions expert Jeremy Jenkins. Recorded in-studio after the full Blurry Creatures episode.You'll learn how L. Ron Hubbard went from sci-fi
Cosmic Mt. Episode 9 - The Three Temptations
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strangertheology.substack.comAfter forty days in the wilderness, the Second Adam faces the test the First Adam failed. Satan takes Jesus to a high mountain and offers Him all the kingdoms of the world in a single moment—no cross, no suffering, just worship the enemy and take the shortcut to glory. But this isn't just about resisting tem
Cosmic Mt. Episode 8 - Mt. Carmel
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strangertheology.substack.comOne prophet. Four hundred and fifty priests of Baal. One mountain. This is the ultimate cosmic showdown—not just between Elijah and false prophets, but between Yahweh and the storm god who claimed to rule from the heights. On Mt. Carmel, where Baal supposedly sent rain and fertility, the God of Israel reveal
Samson and the Gates of Gaza - Episode 7
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strangertheology.substack.comIn the dead of night, a compromised judge does the impossible—he rips the gates of Gaza from their foundations and carries them uphill to Hebron. But this isn't just a feat of strength; it's a cosmic statement. The gates of the underworld, the very symbols of death's dominion, are torn away and paraded to th
Clarity in a Crowded Cosmos
In this episode of Stranger Theology, Joel sits down with Jeremy Jenkins to unpack his essay, “Clarity in a Crowded Cosmos,” and explore why the Bible presents a spiritual world far more populated than many modern Western Christians assume. Together, they discuss Michael Heiser’s influence, the Divine Council worldview, the meaning of Elohim, and why terms like monotheism, polytheism, and henothei
Mt. Sinai - Episode 6
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strangertheology.substack.comTwo mountains stand in opposition: Sinai burning with the glory of Yahweh and his angelic armies, and Bashan brooding with envy as the mountain of the gods. At Sinai, God descended in fire, surrounded by myriads of holy ones, to give the Law that would define His people. But this mountain of terror would ult
Relics, Remembrance, and the God of Matter
In this episode of Stranger Theology, Leslie Garcia unpacks the history and theology of relics through the lens of her essay, When Holiness Lingers. Rather than asking listeners to adopt the practice of venerating relics, Leslie invites us to consider how early Christians understood bodies, sacred spaces, martyrdom, and remembrance. Together, the conversation explores the tension many modern Prote
Psalm 121 - Episode 5
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strangertheology.substack.com"I lift my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?" If you think you know the answer to this beloved psalm, think again. In a world where mountains represented divine dwelling places and rival gods, this psalm isn't about scenic inspiration—it's about rejecting counterfeit worship and false refug
Unlocking Biblical Chiasm: The Hidden Patterns That Help Us Understand Scripture
Join Joel Muddamalle and Doug Van Dorn as they explore biblical literary structures like chiasm, the cosmic significance of spatial topography, and the strategic use of subversion in Scripture. Discover how these insights deepen our understanding of Revelation, Luke-Acts, and the overall biblical narrative.Buy Rings of Revelation: https://a.co/d/0eE6MXl0Join the Substack: https://strangertheology.
Mt. Moriah - Episode 4
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strangertheology.substack.comOne mountain. Three moments. Infinite significance. On Mt. Moriah, Abraham bound Isaac, David built an altar, and Solomon raised the temple—and at the center of it all stands the Angel of the Lord with outstretched sword. This is the mountain where the morning star fell and where the true Morning Star would
Melchizedek: The King-Priest Who Appears Without Beginning
The figure of Melchizedek appears in Genesis 14 without warning. No genealogy. No origin story. No explanation. He blesses Abraham, receives tithes, and then vanishes from the narrative—only to resurface centuries later in Psalm 110 and become the centerpiece of Hebrews 7’s argument about Jesus as our great high priest.Most Christians skip past Melchizedek entirely. Second Temple Judaism tried to
The Unseen Battle - A Deep Dive Into the Theology Behind the Book
Get The Unseen Battle Today: https://amzn.to/4bsRMfkWeaving through the Old and New Testaments we will explore how Paul presents a supernatural household framework—the idea that God has both a supernatural and a human family—to explain the cosmic worldview of the Bible.We’re going to cutting through the noise of conspiracy theories and fanaticism, and instead gain a the theological framework to un
The Tower of Babel - Episode 3
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strangertheology.substack.comWhat do you do when you don't have a mountain? Build one. The Tower of Babel wasn't just human arrogance—it was a temple-tower reaching for the divine, an attempt to recreate what was lost at Eden. Explore the ingenuity, rebellion, and cosmic significance of humanity's first skyscraper, and discover how Pent
Why Iran Rages: Cosmic Geopolitical Warfare Today
THE GODS OF THE NATIONS & GEOPOLITICAL WARFARE A 5-Week Cohort with Dr. Joel Muddamalle Exclusive for Stranger Theology Paid Members Starts March 27This is not a casual Bible study. It’s a seminary-level exploration of one of the most neglected frameworks in Scripture: the rebellious divine beings assigned to govern the nations after Babel (and what their ongoing warfare means for how we understan
The Overlapping of Realms: Dreams, Visions, and Martyrdom with Leslie Garcia
What if one of the most overlooked figures in early Christianity reshapes how we understand spiritual warfare, martyrdom, and authority in the unseen realm?In this episode of Stranger Theology, we explore “The Woman Who Stepped on the Dragon’s Head”—a deep dive into Perpetua, early Christian visions, and the cosmic worldview of the ancient church. Far from symbolic fantasy, Perpetua’s visions reve
Mt. Hermon - Episode 2
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strangertheology.substack.comWhy do we always talk about the flood but never why it happened? Hidden in plain sight in Genesis 6 is the most overlooked backstory in Scripture—a rebellion on Mt. Hermon that unleashed chaos into creation. From Syria's snow-covered peaks to the springs of Caesarea Philippi where Jesus later declared war on
When the Spirits Answer Back: How the Bible Understands Spiritual Encounters
What does Scripture assume is happening when spiritual beings respond, deceive, or intervene?This conversation explores how the biblical authors understood spiritual encounters—not through modern psychology or superstition, but through ancient cosmology, divine councils, and spiritual authority. If you’ve ever wondered whether the Bible actually expects the unseen world to interact with ours, this
Mt. Eden - Episode 1
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strangertheology.substack.comBefore the fall, there was the ideal garden planted by Yahweh on a mountain top.Journey to the cosmic mountain of God, where Eden sat as earth’s first temple-garden. Discover why Adam and Eve weren’t just gardeners but warrior priests, how the Garden prefigured every sanctuary to come, and why understanding
The Cosmic Mountain: It's Time To Start The Ascent
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strangertheology.substack.comIn our inaugural episode of The Cosmic Mountain, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most overlooked yet essential features of biblical cosmology: mountains aren’t just pretty hiking spots, or an ancient tourist attraction. They were cosmic intersections. Ever wonder where stories of portals, time t
How To Read Genesis 1-11 Like An Ancient Israelite w/ Hakeem Bradley
In this conversation, Joel Muddamalle and Hakeem Bradley explore the profound themes found in Genesis 1-11, emphasizing the importance of understanding the ancient context and language of the biblical text. They discuss how language reflects cultural worldviews, the significance of genealogies, and the theological implications of stories like Babel and Abraham's narrative. The conversation hig
