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.

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Theme music written and performed by Dave Roos, creator of Biblical Time Machine. Season 4 produced by John Nelson.

Bible & Bedlam – Disability, Sanism and the Gospels

Biblical Time Machine