Jodie and Matthew jump back in time to a famous black-and-white Yiddish film, “The Dybbuk.” Based on a play by S. An-sky, the Dybbuk explores a forbidden love between two lovers across social classes despite being pledged to each other by their fathers before their births. So, Chanan dives into Kabbalah to win Leah over, but dies, becomes a Dybbuk, and possesses her. It’s a brilliant film that uses Hasidic Judaism to explore class struggles, the problems with the ultra-wealthy, while acting as a classic love story, similar to stories such as Romeo and Juliet. You can find this film for free on Youtube, so watch it, listen to us, and let us know your thoughts on this classic film!

Matthew Rating: 4.5/5

Jodie Rating: 2/5

Follow our socials and reach out to us with thoughts or questions!

Bluesky: @TheRELTreehouse

Instagram: @TheReligiousTreehouse

TikTok: @thereligioustreehouse

Facebook: TRT

Email: TheReligiousTreehouse@gmail.com

Jodie and Matthew talk about the canonization of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. Sadly, there was no single time in history where someone just decided that the books in the Old Testament were settled as definitive scripture for Jews or Christians. Rather, it was a process that occurred over time with debates on what makes the canon and what misses the cut. Regarding this process, Jodie and Matthew discuss “defiling the hands” when it comes to the discussions around Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes, and also they discuss how the apocrypha became canonized for Christians but not Jews. Listen along and share your thoughts, questions, comments, and disagreements!

Works Referenced and Recommended Readings:

Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know - And Doesn’t, by Stephen Prothero

A History of the Bible: The Book and Its Faiths, by John Barton

Follow our socials and reach out to us with thoughts or questions!

Bluesky: @TheRELTreehouse

Instagram: @TheReligiousTreehouse

TikTok: @thereligioustreehouse

Facebook: TRT

Email: TheReligiousTreehouse@gmail.com

Jodie and Matthew investigate the 2003 Disney movie “Brother Bear” and discuss the potential religious themes that it gives the audience to ponder over. Whether it be themes of family, forgiveness, love, grief, empathy, or Othering, Brother Bear provides a good starting point for discussing theological issues for children for many religious traditions. Through tangents and other topics Jodie and Matthew also discuss Totemism and other religious studies themes while touching on other important ideas such as Shrek 2. Let us know your thoughts on Brother Bear or on this episode!

Matthew Rating: 3/5

Jodie Rating: 5/5

Follow our socials and reach out to us with thoughts or questions!

Bluesky: @TheRELTreehouse

Instagram: @TheReligiousTreehouse

TikTok: @thereligioustreehouse

Facebook: TRT

Email: TheReligiousTreehouse@gmail.com

Jodie and Matthew dive into 2 Kings 2:19-25 to discuss the infamous story of Elisha sending 2 female bears to maul 42 children. It’s your classic Bible story with all the warm fuzzy feelings you’re familiar with, right? Wrong. It’s a weird story with no meaning we can be really certain about, but it provides a great context for Jodie and Matthew to introduce the books of Kings, explore the nature of bears in the Bible, extinction studies relating to the Bible, and look at a handful of potential interpretations of what is going on in 2 Kings 2.

Works Referenced and Recommended Readings:

Irwin, B. P. (2016). The curious incident of the boys and the bears: 2 Kings 2 and the prophetic authority of Elisha. Tyndale Bulletin, 67(1), 23–35.

Stone, K. (2023). Reading Elisha’s She-Bears: Biblical Interpretation, Extinction Studies, and the Wildness of God. Biblical Interpretation, 31(5), 602-622.

Follow our socials and reach out to us with thoughts or questions!

Bluesky: @TheRELTreehouse

Instagram: @TheReligiousTreehouse

TikTok: @thereligioustreehouse

Facebook: TRT

Email: TheReligiousTreehouse@gmail.com

Originally released on April 27, 2025 in honor of the passing of Pope Francis, Jodie and Matthew discuss the Oscar award winning movie, Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes. If you haven’t seen it yet, you definitely should, because we touch on all the spoilers, following each character and how this movie portrays catholicism in all of its beautiful and problematic forms. Take a listen and let us know what you think about Conclave!

Follow our socials and reach out to us with thoughts or questions!

Bluesky: @TheRELTreehouse

Instagram: @TheReligiousTreehouse

TikTok: @thereligioustreehouse

Facebook: TRT

Email: TheReligiousTreehouse@gmail.com

Street theater in the Bible may be more common than you think! Jodie and Matthew introduce the book of Ezekiel and then look at one of the things he is most known for: Prophetic Sign acts. Especially in Ezekeil 3-5, Ezekiel acts out the siege of Jerualem, eats a scroll, and lays on his side for over a year to mediate prophecy for those in exile with him. Is God being an abusive leader or is Ezekiel delivering prophecy to people who deserve this punishment? Let us know your thoughts on Ezekiel and these sign acts!

Works Referenced and Recommended Readings:

The Prophetic Body by Anathea Portier-Young

Follow our socials and reach out to us with thoughts or questions!

Bluesky: @TheRELTreehouse

Instagram: @TheReligiousTreehouse

TikTok: @thereligioustreehouse

Facebook: TRT

Email: TheReligiousTreehouse@gmail.com

Jodie and Matthew return to the cinema to discuss Mona Fastvold’s recent materpience: The Testament of Ann Lee (2025), starring Amanda Seyfried. This biopic explores the life of Ann Lee as she becomes the leader of the Shaker movement, an offshoot of the Quakers, started in the 1700s. The Testament of Ann Lee explores her fascinating life while also raising questions of femininity, motherhood, existing as an outsider, and religious practice while also showing beautiful choreography, music, and acting. Let us know your thoughts about the movie and any questions you have about Shakers!

Matthew Rating: 4/5

Jodie Rating: 5/5

Follow our socials and reach out to us with thoughts or questions!

Bluesky: @TheRELTreehouse

Instagram: @TheReligiousTreehouse

TikTok: @thereligioustreehouse

Facebook: TRT

Email: TheReligiousTreehouse@gmail.com

Jodie and Matthew dive into the Minor Prophets and discuss the short, but beautiful, book of Habakkuk. After introducing the Biblical prophets as a whole, Jodie and Matthew talk the critical study of the Bible and how it relates to Habakkuk. They also look at modern interpretive lenses such as performance theory to understand how Habakkuk could be performed, reperformed, interpreted, and reinterpretted. There’s a lot going on in Habakkuk for such a short and overlooked book, but it should be much more appreciated. Please reach out with any question, comment, concerts, or ideas regarding this episode!

Works Referenced and Recommended Readings:

Performing Habakkuk by Jeanette Mathews

Follow our socials and reach out to us with thoughts or questions!

Bluesky: @TheRELTreehouse

Instagram: @TheReligiousTreehouse

TikTok: @thereligioustreehouse

Facebook: TRT

Email: TheReligiousTreehouse@gmail.com