2021-01
2021-01
Tuesday Jan 19, 2021
Tuesday Jan 19, 2021
In the previous episode, Garrick and Timothy debunked the logical problem of evil. But dealing with the problem of evil requires far more than mere logic! The problem of evil also calls for a close examination whether or not the overwhelming amount of evil in the world might make God's existence unlikely. That brings your intrepid cohosts to the evidential problem of evil.
What Is the Evidential Problem of Evil?
According to the evidential problem of evil, the depth and the degree of evil in this world make the existence of God highly improbable. It makes God’s existence so improbable, in fact, that the very possibility of an all-powerful God can be reasonably dismissed.
Debunking the Evidential Problem of Evil
But does the amount of evil in the world really make God’s existence improbable? And, even if the amount of evil in the world did reduce the probability of God’s existence, would that necessarily mean it’s irrational to believe in God? And how on earth does Jar Jar Binks fit into all of this? Those are a few of the questions that the dynamic duo unpacks throughout this episode.
Along the way, they dig into a song by the only punk band that Timothy likes. The band is Bad Religion, and the song is “God’s Love.” Bad Religion also happens to have produced the one and only Christmas album that Timothy actually enjoys—but that might be because Timothy spends most of the Christmas season yearning for summer, cheering for the Grinch, and fantasizing about moving to Florida.
This week’s Toybox Hero Tournament may be the craziest one yet. Timothy brings an amazing, transforming chunk of pork to this tournament. Garrick responds with a toy that would have caused the Reformers to scorch him at the stake for his recalcitrant rejection of the Second Commandment. The fate of the pig is too horrific to describe in human words, but it’s safe to say the swine flew and did not survive, due to Garrick’s disregard not only for the Second Commandment but also for the Second Council of Nicaea. Also, “Swine-Sink” would be the perfect name for a nu-metal band. The new cover art for this season was created by Dani Wallace (daniwallace.myportfolio.com).
Links to Click
B and H Academic
The Problem of Evil: book by Jeremy Evans
Christmas Songs: album by Bad Religion
God's Love: song by Bad Religion
Live Again: song by Bad Religion
SBTS Preview Day
Urban Ministry Podcast
How to Make Three Chords and the Truth More Amazing than It Already Is
Support the show and spread the word! Here are a few ways to do that:
1. Subscribe to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast: Apple / Android / RSS.
2. Leave a rating and review on iTunes to encourage other people to listen to the show.
3. If you purchase any of the books mentioned in Three Chords and the Truth, consider using the Amazon links provided in the show notes. The show will receive a small percentage of each sale.
4. Visit our Patreon site where you can support the podcast, suggest future songs or topics, and order Three Chords and the Truth merchandise.
5. Make contact with us on Twitter: @DrTimothyPJones @GarrickBailey @ApologeticsPod
The Closing Credits
Three 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 Trent Thompson. Brief excerpts of music played in 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).
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
Garrick Bailey and Timothy Paul Jones: The Logical Problem of Evil + Pop (U2)
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
According to a survey of recent college graduates, the problem of evil is the issue that makes it most difficult for many of these graduates to trust in the truth of Christianity. These students' struggles mirror the struggle that biblical scholar Bart Ehrman describes in his book God's Problem: "I felt compelled to leave Christianity [because] I could no longer explain how there can be a good and all-powerful God actively involved with this world. ... For many people who inhabit this planet, life is a cesspool of misery. ... I came to a point where I simply could not believe that there is a good and kindly disposed Ruler who is in charge.”
Engaging with the Logical Problem of Evil
In this episode, your intrepid cohosts tackle the claim that the existence of evil makes it illogical to believe in the existence of God. To do this, the dynamic duo spends a lot of time simplifying Alvin Plantinga's philosophical work on the problem of evil so that ordinary people can comprehend some of Plantinga’s arguments. Along the way, Garrick and Timothy discuss U2's album Pop, a series of songs that turn out to be an extended reflection on the apparent absence of God in a fallen world.
This week's Toybox Hero Tournament produces one of the most heartwarming moments ever heard on this podcast, which has been a veritable fountain of heartwarming moments over the past couple of years. Timothy reveals his longstanding adoration of red pandas and then discovers that Garrick shares the same love for these cuddly Asian mammals. This teary-eyed conjunction of affections is so touching that two heavily-armed starships from the Star Wars universe pause their attacks and let the red panda run free. Also, "Red Panda" would be an amazing name for a C-pop band. The new cover art for this season was created by Dani Wallace (daniwallace.myportfolio.com).
Links to Click about the Problem of Evil
B and H Academic
The Problem of Evil: Jeremy Evans
Pop: album by U2
God, Freedom, and Evil: book by Alvin Plantinga
SBTS Preview Day
Urban Ministry Podcast
How to Make Three Chords and the Truth More Amazing than It Already Is
Support the show and spread the word! Here are a few ways to do that:
1. Subscribe to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast: Apple / Android / RSS.
2. Leave a rating and review on iTunes to encourage other people to listen to the show.
3. If you purchase any of the books mentioned in Three Chords and the Truth, consider using the Amazon links provided in the show notes. The show will receive a small percentage of each sale.
4. Visit our Patreon site where you can support the podcast, suggest future songs or topics, and order Three Chords and the Truth merchandise.
5. Make contact with us on Twitter: @DrTimothyPJones @GarrickBailey @ApologeticsPod
The Closing Credits
Three 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 Trent Thompson. Brief excerpts of music played in 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).
Thursday Jan 07, 2021
Three Chords and the Truth Goes to the Movies: Soul
Thursday Jan 07, 2021
Thursday Jan 07, 2021
This episode is all about Soul. Garrick and Timothy head to the theaters to watch Soul, a new cinematic feature produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. And by "heading to the theaters," what they mean is that each of them headed downstairs to their respective home theaters, where the screens are far smaller but the seats are much larger and the popcorn is much cheaper. Your intrepid cohosts' goal in watching Soul was to discuss the theological nuances of this film, but Garrick quickly derails that noble intention with his description of a "Giant Bug Zapper in the Sky" (which would, by the way, be an amazing name for a bluegrass punk fusion band).
(Also, by the way, there are a lot of spoilers in this episode, so you may want to listen to this episode later if you haven't seen the movie yet.)
In the end, Timothy manages to wrangle enough focus out of Garrick to discuss how Soul tends toward Greek dualism while simultaneously critiquing the secular notion that happiness is found by discovering your "thing." Along the way, the dynamic duo explores Andrew Root's book The End of Youth Ministry? and considers how Josh Chatraw's Telling a Better Story might help Christians to draw from the storylines of popular movies to make their case for God. In the end, it becomes clear that, despite being packed with pop mysticism and Eastern spirituality, Soul is able to provide viewers with a meaningful resolution only by borrowing from the Christian metanarrative.
Links to Click
B and H Academic
Cultural Intelligence: book by Darrell Bock
Soul: trailer from Pixar Studios
MY N.Y.: album by Jon Batiste & The Stay Human Band
Smokin' at the Half-Note: album by Wes Montgomery
Immortality of the Soul or Resurrection of the Dead?: book by Oscar Cullmann
The End of Youth Ministry?: book by Andrew Root
Telling a Better Story: book by Josh Chatraw
SBTS Preview Day
Urban Ministry Podcast
How to Make Three Chords and the Truth More Amazing than It Already Is
Support the show and spread the word! Here are a few ways to do that:
1. Subscribe to Three Chords and the Truth: The Apologetics Podcast: Apple / Android / RSS.
2. Leave a rating and review on iTunes to encourage other people to listen to the show.
3. If you purchase any of the books mentioned in Three Chords and the Truth, consider using the Amazon links provided in the show notes. The show will receive a small percentage of each sale.
4. Visit our Patreon site where you can support the podcast, suggest future songs or topics, and order Three Chords and the Truth merchandise.
5. Make contact with us on Twitter: @DrTimothyPJones @GarrickBailey @ApologeticsPod
The Closing Credits
Three 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 Trent Thompson. Brief excerpts of music played in 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).