So what do Superman, Captain America, Professor X, and Jesus Christ all have in common? According to the canonical accounts of their lives, each one has been raised from the dead. So why is it that, even in fiction, humans yearn for heroes who die and return to life? That’s one of the questions that apologist and bestselling author Timothy Paul Jones explores in this episode with cohost Garrick Bailey and guest Todd Miles. In the second half, Garrick and Timothy go digging for God’s truth in the music of Larry Norman, the father of Christian rock--and, as it turns out, someone that Garrick had never even heard about until recently. This week's dilemma from the Infinity Gauntlet leads to a deadly duel between Jedi Master Yoda and Gandalf the White.
In this EpisodeTodd Miles, Ph.D. is professor of theology at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of the B&H Academic titles Superheroes Can’t Save You (2018) and A God of Many Understandings? (2010).
Questions to Discuss1. In Infinity War, Rocket Raccoon asks Thor about his brother Loki who has just died. Thor’s reply is, “Well, he’s been dead before” which is a reminder of how frequently death is temporary in comic-book universes. What are some of the best comic-book resurrection stories?
2. Why is there a recurrent theme of sacrifice, death, and resurrection in the comic books?
3. How might the rise of secularity reshape superhero stories now and in the future?
Links to ClickB&H Academic
Superheroes Can’t Save You: book by Todd Miles
A God of Many Understandings?: book by Todd Miles
The Gospel According to Superheroes: book with foreword by Stan Lee (Google Preview)
Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?: book by Greg Thornbury
The Great American Novel: song by Larry Norman
Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?: song by Larry Norman
Why Don't You Look Into Jesus?: song by Larry Norman
Jesus Sound Explosion: vinyl LP recorded at Explo '72
ThreeChordsApologetics.com
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The Closing CreditsThree Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast thanks B&H Academic for their sponsorship.
Music for the podcast has been licensed through Artlist.io and performed by the band Vegan Friendly—even though neither Garrick nor Timothy has ever been vegan friendly.
Brief excerpts of music played in the second half of each program are included solely for the purposes of comment and critique as allowed under the fair-use provision of U.S. copyright law. "The fair use of a copyrighted work ... for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, ... scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright" (U.S. Code § 107, Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use).
Josh Chatraw: Apologetics at the Cross + "Word on a Wing" (David Bowie)
Timothy Paul Jones and Garrick Bailey: Is the Coronavirus Evil? + “Sympathy for the Devil” (The Rolling Stones)
Timothy Paul Jones and Garrick Bailey: Were the Stories of Jesus Borrowed from Pagan Sources? + “We Didn’t Start the Fire” (Billy Joel)
Three Chords and the Truth Goes to the Movies: Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
Robert Plummer: The Perplexing Problem of When Quirinius Governed Syria + "The Living Years" (Mike + the Mechanics)
Dan DeWitt: Why Do the Apologetics of C.S. Lewis Matter? + “All Along the Watchtower” (U2)
Timothy Paul Jones and Garrick Bailey: Why Everyone Needs Creeds + “Where the Streets Have No Name” (U2)
Eric Johnson: How Can a Good God Allow Evil in the World? + “Free” (Stryper)
Peter Gurry and Elijah Hixson: Mistakes Apologists Make About Textual Criticism + "Learning to See" (Van Halen)
Peter Gurry and Elijah Hixson: Was the Bible Copied Accurately? + "You Belong to the City" (Glenn Frey)
Jonathan Pennington: What Are the New Testament Gospels and Why Should We Trust Them? + "We Are the World" (USA for Africa)
Doug Blount: What's the Relationship Between Evidence and Faith? + "Jack and Diane" (John Cougar Mellencamp)
Joshua Swindall and Grady Adkins: What Christian Beliefs Do College Students Struggle to Defend? + "Don't Stop Believin'" (Journey)
Three Chords and the Truth Live: Questions and Answers about Creation, Resurrection, the Canon of Scripture, and the Problem of Evil
Sean McDowell: Did the Apostles Really Die for Their Faith? + “Dust in the Wind” (Kansas)
Sean McDowell: Resurrection, Sacrifice, and Why Sean McDowell Didn't Love Avengers: Endgame + "Hotel California" (The Eagles)
Three Chords and the Truth Goes to the Movies: Avengers: Endgame
Robert Plummer: How Did Judas Iscariot Really Die? + "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (Blue Öyster Cult)
Tom Schreiner: The Earliest Christian Confession about the Resurrection + "Cat's in the Cradle" (Harry Chapin)
Robert Plummer: Historical Evidence for Supernatural Signs at the Death of Jesus + “American Pie” (Don McLean)
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