The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

WOF 071: The Case for the Resurrection

5 snips

Apr 18, 2017

Lee Strobel, an atheist reporter, investigates the claims against the Resurrection of Jesus. Bishop Barron debunks these claims using historical evidence. They discuss the importance of asking hard questions about faith, the bodily nature of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances, and navigate skepticism and unsupportive familial reactions.

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ANECDOTE

The Case for Christ

Lee Strobel, an atheist reporter, was challenged by his wife's conversion to Christianity.
He used his investigative skills to debunk Christianity, focusing on the resurrection.

INSIGHT

Christianity and Reason

Christianity does not dismiss reason; it encourages thoughtful inquiry, exemplified by Aquinas and Strobel.
Reason and faith can coexist and support each other.

INSIGHT

Christianity's Historical Basis

Christianity is historically grounded, specifically in Jesus' resurrection, making historical analysis relevant.
The resurrection's historicity is crucial to Christianity's validity.

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The Case for Christ is a film adaptation of Lee Strobel’s best-selling book of the same name, one that has made an enormous splash in Evangelical circles and beyond. It is the true story of a young, ambitious (and atheist) reporter for the Chicago Tribune, who fell into a psychological and spiritual crisis when his wife became a Christian. In an attempt to bring his wife back to atheism, Lee used his considerable analytical and investigative skills to debunk the resurrection of Jesus. If Jesus didn’t rise, Strobel realizes, all of Christianity crumbles like a house of cards. In this episode, Bishop Robert Barron walks alongside Strobel through many of the common claims against the Resurrection of Jesus and explains why each lacks credibility in the face of real historical evidence. The listener question wonders how he might overcome objections from his loved ones as he joins the Church.

Topics Discussed

0:17 - Introduction, Bishop's recent Confirmations.
2:40 - What is The Case for Christ about?
4:36 - Is it wrong to ask hard questions about your faith?
7:10 - How is historical evidence used in the evaluation of the Christian faith?
9:00 - What's wrong with seeing the Resurrection as a symbol of myth?
12:30 - Is it possible that the witnesses of the Resurrection were hallucinating?
16:30 - Is it possible that Jesus didn't die on the cross but simply fainted and was fully revived three days later?
20:24 - How do the claims against the Resurrection hold up against the historical evidence as a whole?
23:35 - How do people become convinced that the Resurrection is true?
25:41 - What was the converging moment for Lee Strobel?
27:24 - Question from listener: What do you do when your friends and family don't support your decision to join the Church?

Bonus Resources

Videos
DVD's
- CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Word on Fire)
- CATHOLICISM series (Word On Fire)
- Faith Clips (Word On Fire)
Articles
- "The Case for Christ and a Stubbornly Historical Religion" (Bishop Barron)
- "Why It Matters Who Jesus Is" (Bishop Barron)
- "Why Jesus is God" (Bishop Barron)
- "The Disturbing Fact of the Resurrection" (Bishop Barron)
Books
- The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
- The Priority of Christ by Bishop Barron
- The Incarnate Lord by Fr. Thomas Joseph White
- Jesus Christ: Fundamentals of Christology by Roch A. Kerezty
- The Resurrection of the Son of God N.T. Wright

Study Program
- The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron)
- CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players Study Guide (Word on Fire)

Websites
- Word On Fire (Proclaiming Christ in the Culture)
- DailyCatholicGospel.com (Bishop Barron)

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://As kBishopBarron.