Amanda Hope Haley has a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Rhodes College and a Master of Theological Studies in Hebrew Scripture and Interpretation from Harvard University. She is a lover of the Bible—its God, its words, its people, and its history. She writes and podcasts as the Red-Haired Archaeologist, bringing readers and listeners on her journeys to understand artifacts that can contextualize Scripture.

She contributed to The Voice Bible as a translator, writer, and editor, and she has been a content editor and ghostwriter for popular Christian authors. Amanda and David live in Tennessee with their always-entertaining basset hound, Copper.

As the Red-Haired Archaeologist®, I don't quite fit in academia because I don't always agree with their conclusions, but I am passionate about the intersections of archaeology and the Bible. I want to show you how to navigate the complex world of Scripture, history, and tradition. This means encouraging you to think critically about biblical texts, helping you to reconsider what you've "always been told" to believe, and emboldening you to distinguish between truth and tradition.

I hope you'll check out my podcast, my blog, and my most recent books to learn more about my background and my work. You'll see that I'm a church-going Christian...who graduated from Harvard. I'm a fair-skinned redhead...who works and plays—and freckles!—under the sun. I enjoy being the proverbial square peg in a round hole because it reminds me not to assume I know everything about others based on where they are from, what they might do, or which Bible translations are on their bookshelves!

I hope to see all Bible lovers work together to understand history, interpret Scripture, and apply God's words to our lives. We're discovering God together, and I'm ready to learn from you too.

SPEAKING TOPICS

When Text and Tradition Collide: Separating Ancient Scripture from Popular Culture

When read in its original context, Scripture is far more than just ancient stories or a list of rules—it’s God’s revelation of Himself to us. Motivated by her theology degree, hands-on archaeological experience, and a sharp sense of humor, Amanda explains common misunderstandings about the Bible and invites listeners to explore Scripture as it was written, not as it’s been reshaped by generations of human interpretation. Highlights include how:

• classic Hollywood epics influenced our visions of the “golden calf” and Samson’s life,
• bad translations and extrabiblical writings led to Goliath being labeled a “giant,”
• a pope launched the rumor of Mary Magdalene as a sex worker, and
• clickbait headlines, “edutainment,” and AI promote pseudoarchaeology and false belief.

“Digging” the Bible: How Archaeology Contextualizes Scripture

Drawing from her time as an archaeologist in Israel, Amanda brings to life the historical and modern contexts essential for understanding both the Bible and God’s people. Through engaging personal stories and biblical insights, she sheds light on often-misunderstood passages, making Scripture both accessible and meaningful while:

• showing how excavations are performed today,
• connecting important sites to biblical history and Scripture,
• and explaining how recent history and politics impact archaeological discoveries in the Near East.