David French & Russell Moore: Superman Isn't Just a Movie, He's a Mirror of America
Description
Is Superman Woke—or Just Wonderfully Human?
Can a superhero cut through the world’s chaos better than a political debate or another sermon? New York Times columnist David French and Christianity Today editor-in-chief Russell Moore explore why Superman still strikes a cultural nerve—especially in the age of outrage and “wokeness” debates. From his immigrant origins to the often-overlooked theme of adoption, they unpack how James Gunn’s 2025 reboot revives timeless questions about identity, belonging, moral courage, and kindness. This conversation is more than capes and kryptonite—it’s a surprising, thoughtful, and even fun look at the stories shaping who we are.
(00:00 ) - Exploring the Resonance of Superhero Myths
(07:24 ) - Fun That Connects To Deeper Needs
(10:10 ) - A Jewish Immigrant’s Myth
(15:40 ) - Exploring James Gunn’s Superman 2025
(23:06 ) - Is Superman Woke?
(27:04 ) - Kindness as a Countercultural Value
(34:11 ) - Parenting With Superheroes and Morals
(51:09 ) - Credits
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Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Russell Moore’s article Why Superman Matters
- David French’s column Kindness Is MAGA Kryptonite
- J.R.R. Tolkien’s On Fairy Stories
- J.R.R. Tolkien’s eucatastrophe (an essay)
- C.S. Lewis’ “True Myth”: The Myth That Became Fact
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United States
