Spiritual Misfits Podcast · Meeting Ground

'An Honest Faith': When philosophy & theology meet (Keith Mascord)

September 6, 2025·1 hr·5 clips

Keith Mascord argues the Bible is a mythical epic like Lord of the Rings, transforming how Christians engage with scripture.

Will Small hosts the Spiritual Misfits Podcast, interviewing author and former Anglican minister Keith Mascord about his book "An Honest Faith." Mascord discusses the relationship between philosophical inquiry and Christian theology, drawing from his background in ministry and teaching at Moore Theological College. He argues that philosophical currents have always influenced biblical texts and subsequent Christian thought, from Platonism to Aristotle. Mascord contends that viewing the Bible as a monolithic, inerrant text is inconsistent with its own internal development and diversity. He suggests the early chapters of Genesis, like the Adam and Eve story, are mythical, similar to epic narratives like *The Lord of the Rings*. Mascord explains that biblical writers adapted myths from their cultural context to express theological truths about life, death, and redemption. He notes that even some evangelical scholars acknowledge the non-factual nature of stories like the Exodus, viewing them as legendary. A significant insight is Mascord's belief that an honest faith requires revising traditional interpretations when they cause harm, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ people and the subordination of women. He shares that a clergyman recently died by suicide after being rejected by his father for coming out. Mascord advocates for "epistemic humility," where scripture's authority sends believers to consider new knowledge and evidence, even if it challenges doctrine. He describes his own shift toward panentheism, the idea that God is both transcendent and immanent in all creation, which he finds in Celtic spirituality and early Christian thought. This perspective leads him to value the sacred in evolution, nature, and human questing for truth. Mascord finds that music, art, and poetry often tip the scales for belief more than philosophical arguments alone. He reflects that speaking out on controversial issues cost him his place in the Sydney Anglican diocese, but it also connected him to wider communities like Equal Voices and Spiritual Misfits. The conversation is reflective and educational, blending personal narrative with theological and philosophical exploration. Listeners interested in faith deconstruction, progressive Christianity, or the intersection of philosophy and religion will find this episode compelling. Those who hold to strict biblical inerrancy or find non-literal readings of scripture threatening may choose to skip it.

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