Is purgatory a biblical doctrine—or just a long-standing church tradition?

In this episode of Rooted & Reason, Mikey and Ryan dive deep into one of the most debated topics in Christian theology: the concept of purgatory. Is it truly supported by scripture, or is it a man-made addition to the gospel?

We explore what the Catholic Church teaches about purgatory, where the idea originated, and why many Protestants reject it as unbiblical. With real conversation, honest questions, and a little bit of laughter, this episode offers a clear breakdown of both sides of the argument—and why what you believe matters.

00:00 - Intro
03:14 - What Is Purgatory? A Clear Explanation of the Concept
10:33 - Where Did the Idea of Purgatory Come From? Historical Origins Explained
20:55 - Is Purgatory Biblical? Scripture and Theological Arguments in Favor
41:56 - The Best Case Against Purgatory: What Critics Say
58:04 - Closing Thoughts + Final Prayer

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In this episode of Rooted & Reason, Mikey and Ryan take on a hot topic: Is Easter really a pagan holiday? You've seen the memes, the online debates, and maybe even heard people say Christians shouldn’t celebrate Easter because of its “pagan roots.” But is that actually true?

We dive deep into the history, language, and biblical perspective — all while keeping things light, clear, and rooted in Christ (with a few laughs and Cadbury eggs along the way 🍫).

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro – Setting the tone with a little humor and a lot of heart
02:32 - Is Easter Really a Pagan Holiday? – Laying out the theories
04:32 - The Truth About the Word “Easter” and the Goddess Ēostre – What history actually says (and doesn’t say)
19:12 - Is Easter Linked to the Pagan Goddess Ishtar? – Debunking the popular internet meme
24:53 - Do Easter Bunnies and Eggs Have Pagan Origins? – A reasoned look at springtime symbols
29:22 - The Burden of Proof for Easter’s Pagan Claims – What needs to be proven for the argument to hold
33:16 - Can Christians Celebrate Easter? – A biblical perspective on the resurrection and how to celebrate it faithfully
39:28 - Closing

Whether you call it *Easter* or Resurrection Sunday, we believe it’s worth celebrating — and that it’s not about paganism, but *Christ risen from the dead*.

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*Why does the Gospel of Mark mention a mysterious naked man fleeing the scene during Jesus’ arrest?* In this eye-opening episode of *Rooted & Reason*, Mikey and Ryan dive into *Mark 14:51-52* — a passage that's rarely talked about but surprisingly packed with meaning.

We explore:
* 📜 The possible identity of the “naked guy” (Is it Mark himself?)
* 🤯 Why this moment is only mentioned in the Gospel of Mark
* ✝️ How this odd detail fits into the bigger Easter narrative
* 🙌 What it tells us about Scripture, authorship, and even church disagreements
* 😂 And yes… a few laughs along the way

Whether you're a Bible nerd, a curious Christian, or someone who just wants to know *what’s up with that verse*, this conversation will leave you thinking deeply—and maybe laughing a little too.

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In today’s culture, we’re told that success is everything—money, status, influence. But what if that’s a lie? What if chasing success is actually pulling us away from what truly matters?

🔹 In this episode of Rooted & Reason, we break down:
✨ Why cultural success will never satisfy you
✨ God’s definition of real success
✨ How to stop chasing empty achievements and live with purpose

📌 Chapters:
00:00 - Intro: The Success Illusion—What Are We Really Chasing?
03:54 - The Success Illusion: Why We’re Chasing the Wrong Things
12:29 - The Problem with Cultural Success: Why It Will Never Be Enough
18:52 - God’s Design for Success: A Better Way to Live
33:20 - Breaking Free from the Lies: How to Redefine Success God’s Way
41:38 - Closing out

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Hold on to your hats, folks, because this one's a wild ride! 😲 We dive into declassified CIA documents that claim the U.S. government actually used psychics (yes, you read that right!) in a top-secret mission to locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant.

Was this some kind of real-life Raiders of the Lost Ark? 🤔 We explore the details of "Project Sun Streak" and how remote viewers, including the mysterious "Viewer 32," attempted to pinpoint the Ark's location in the Middle East. Get ready for some seriously strange details, including talk of "entities" guarding the Ark and its potential destructive power.

But here's where it gets even crazier: was the CIA dabbling in the occult? 😬 We discuss the implications of using psychic abilities and what the Bible really says about that kind of stuff (we're Rooted and Reason, after all!).

Is this the ultimate conspiracy theory come to life, or is there something more to the CIA's psychic Ark hunt? Join the conversation and let us know what YOU think!

In this video, we cover:
* Declassified CIA documents and Project Sun Streak
* The concept of remote viewing and psychic abilities
* Details of the Ark's alleged location and its "protectors"
* The biblical perspective on the occult
* And much more!

Don't forget to:

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Are distractions pulling you away from God? In a world filled with endless entertainment, social media, and constant noise, it’s easy to lose focus on what truly matters. In this episode of Rooted & Reason, we dive deep into how modern distractions affect our spiritual lives—and how we can reclaim our attention for Christ.

📌 CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
02:00 - Is Our Soul Under Attack Like Never Before? – Are we facing spiritual warfare through distractions?
10:52 - Searching for Peace in All the Wrong Places – Why do we seek fulfillment in things that can never satisfy?
19:00 - The Limits of Christian Content – Are we consuming Christian media instead of pursuing a real relationship with God?
29:16 - Hooked on Entertainment – Have we become addicted to distractions without even realizing it?
40:58 - Living with Eternal Purpose – How should we spend our short time on Earth in a way that truly matters?
52:18 - Conclusion

If you’ve been feeling distant from God, constantly busy, or spiritually drained—this episode is for you. Let’s break free from distractions and refocus our lives on what truly matters.

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Does the universe have a beginning, or has it always existed? In this episode of Rooted & Reason, we explore this crucial question and why it matters—not just for Christians, but for anyone curious about science, philosophy, and faith.

We break down key concepts like actual vs. potential infinity, the Grim Reaper Paradox, and the mathematical impossibility of an infinite past. We also discuss what modern science, logic, and scripture reveal about the origin of the universe.

🔹 Topics Covered:
✔️ The Big Bang Theory & why it points to a beginning
✔️ Can an infinite past actually exist?
✔️ The paradoxes that make a past eternal universe impossible
✔️ What this means for our understanding of God, creation, and reality

📌 CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
03:00 - Does the Universe Have a Beginning? Why It Matters
11:10 - Actual Infinity vs. Potential Infinity: A Key Distinction
19:44 - The Grim Reaper Paradox: Why Infinite Time is Impossible
24:34 - Mathematical Paradoxes of an Infinite Past (Including the Saturn & Jupiter orbit paradox)
29:10 - The Problem of Counting Down from an Infinite Past
31:39 - Conclusion

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So… you’re thinking about naming your daughter Jezebel? Bold move. In this episode of Rooted & Reason, we dive deep into the name Jezebel—its meaning, its very messy biblical history, and why it hasn’t exactly been a top baby name for the past few millennia. We also take a look at other names with questionable reputations (yes, we’re talking about you, Delilah and Judas) and ask: Can bad names be redeemed?

👀 Is Jezebel really that bad, or has history been a little unfair?
🤔 Why do some names (like Delilah) make a comeback, but others don’t?
🔥 And what’s up with people saying someone has the “Spirit of Jezebel” anyway?

If you love deep (but fun) biblical discussions with a side of humor, you’re in the right place! Drop a comment—would you ever name your child Jezebel? Or Judas? Let’s talk about it!

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