Religion & Fiction Podcast · J. A. Bouma

R & F Podcast Episode 015 | First Chapters in Apostasy Rising, Episode 1 of Season 1

·1 hr 26 min·5 clips

A new religious order forms, threatening to unite all faiths and challenge Christianity.

This episode features the first chapters of "Apostasy Rising," the initial book in J.A. Bauma's End Times Chronicles sci-fi series, narrated digitally by Google AI. Host Jeremy Bauma, a former pastor and author, presents this audio sample to promote a Kickstarter for the series' final season. The story is set in Tripolitania in 2123 AD, a future where sea levels have risen and a global government called the Solterra Republic oversees a unified world. The narrative follows Father Alexander Zaruk, a priest caretaking a historic cathedral in North Elkibulana, the continent formerly known as Africa. Alexander struggles with a head cold, a leaking church roof, and news of coordinated terrorist attacks on underground Christian congregations. The Christian remnant is globally designated as "Icthys," a term reclaimed from a historical curse. Alexander reads morning prayers from II Thessalonians, reflecting on persecution and divine judgment. He observes a Solterra tracker drone surveilling his parish, which unsettles him. Later, Alexander checks his government-issued Divinet slate and sees two major news stories. His old college roommate, physicist Sasha Pavlovich, has reportedly discovered preliminary evidence for time travel. Another story reveals a former classmate, Apollo Nikolai, is involved with a new "Pan-Lego World Assembly" aiming to unify all world religions. Alexander's assistant, Deacon Zachariah, then urgently informs him a clandestine courier from the Icthys governing Ministerium has arrived with a sealed parchment letter, requiring a secret meeting. A striking detail is the description of Alexander's ultra-modern home standing in stark contrast to his ancient, stone cathedral. The story juxtaposes advanced technology, like AI assistants and holographic news slates, with enduring rituals like fixed-hour prayer. The world-building includes specific historical changes, such as continents being renamed after a global "Reckoning." The tension between personal faith and state surveillance is immediately palpable. The narrative style is descriptive and immersive, blending theological reflection with sci-fi elements. The tone is serious and contemplative, focusing on a protagonist grappling with doubt, duty, and looming threat. Listeners who enjoy speculative Christian fiction, detailed apocalyptic world-building, and slow-burn political and religious tension would appreciate this episode. Those seeking a fast-paced action plot or who are uninterested in theological themes might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A reflective Christian sci fi opening that keeps faith, history, and story tightly linked.

This episode shifts away from commentary and opens the first chapters of Apostasy Rising with steady, patient world building. It imagines a future shaped by climate change, civil wars, and pressure on Christians, and the Icthys symbol gives the story its sharpest turn as it…

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Why you'd press play

Press play if you want a narrated opening to Apostasy Rising, where the show drops you into the first few chapters of Episode 1 before the larger story takes over.

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