Superman=Jesus?

[Michael]

First there were the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Now, for many Christian moviegoers comes another gospel.

As the hype machine shifts into high gear for the upcoming release of "Superman Returns," some are reading deeply into the film whose hero returns from a deathlike absence to play savior to the world.

"It is so on the nose that anyone who has not caught on that Superman is a Christ figure, you think, `Who else could it be referring to?'" said Steve Skelton, who wrote a book examining parallels between Superman and Christ.

[js3971]

I remember several years ago Pat Roberson was talking about some "Chronicles of Narnia" book or movie that had come out and how it was off from the original. Pat then said that when it had been written, it was supposed to point to the salvation story of Christ. He also said the same thing about the SuperMan comics, but Hollywood had taken it far away from the original.

[charl]

Well of course God is an exalted man from another planet. I'm sure our Mormon friends (the only true christians anyway) would affirm that.

[executioner]

I hope no one gets offended(especially Enosh) by my comments, but Superman is SO OVERATED! I've always hated him and his movies. Batman would kick his tail in a fight.

[Enosh]

Here I am, say it now! J/K


1. EXE, you obviously don't have a clue as top what you speak. Superman could flick Batman and he'd be dead. End of story. I love Batman too. Begins was an amazing movie IMO, but Superman is something that I feel we should want to be. Batman is revenge driven. While making for great cinema and story, it is not the character of a christian. For those who say that Superman is just perfect and never has to deal with things that have substance, I say the you obviously haven't read a Superman comic or story in years and you've bought into the current popular view of Superman as a character instead of doing your own research and making up your mind.

Superman is very complex. He has been orphaned and left on his own, yet raised in a family that loved him. I relate because I was there too. He has no revenge release because there is no one person he can go after that will satisfy that part of his life. He has to learn to just except what he cannot change. (Just like we have to deal with things instead of running out into the night to avenge)

He is in love with a woman that even after he finally gave in in the comics and married her, he was afraid for her that someone would try to kill her because of his status. He strives to hold up a symbol of hope for what humans can be, even in the face of a modern society. The comic and movie world should be thankful that Superman decides to not react to the trials he has faced, they'd all be dead or under his rule and made to do what's right.

2. I am very interested in that book. (The Gospel according to the worlds greatest superhero.) It goes in depth into the facts of how the character of Superman was taken largely from the story of Christ. At one point his earthly parents were even named Mary and Josepth Kent, instead of Jonathan and Martha. The simularities were placed there on purpose. Should be a good read.

No, I'm not offended. I still love you EXE. I do question a your sanity a little if you didn't appreciate Superman I and II though. haha

[drcoolguy]

First there were the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Now, for many Christian moviegoers comes another gospel.

As the hype machine shifts into high gear for the upcoming release of "Superman Returns," some are reading deeply into the film whose hero returns from a deathlike absence to play savior to the world.

"It is so on the nose that anyone who has not caught on that Superman is a Christ figure, you think, `Who else could it be referring to?'" said Steve Skelton, who wrote a book examining parallels between Superman and Christ.

I think people make too much of parallels in stuff like that. On the flipside I think they make too much of the DaVinci Code too.

I just don't see why people have to try to find spiritual parallels to have an excuse to enjoy a story that doesn't exist in their realm of understading according to their faith.

Anakin Skywalker was also a "supernatural" being who was "the chosen one" with a "virgin birth". Big whup.

I used to have a book somebody bought me at a Christian bookstore about the parallels between the Force and the Rebel Alliance and God and his "chosen people." Come on.... seriously. Give George a break. It's a movie.

Hercules/heel = Sampson/hair. Okay. Big deal.

The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter... do I even need to go there? But it's a perfect example of folks having to find a spiritual parallel to validate enjoying it or rejecting it.

Now I can appreciate the relevence of Philipians 4:8 and Psalm 101:3 (go look it up... we'll wait... <tapping foot>... ready?), but I find it hard to see Harry Potter as a work against God. Sorry. I just don't.

That's not to say that other's can't, of course. I just wonder about folks who do, and worry about how much of their faith is based on what they've seen in movies about Jesus, versus an actual relationship with him and the study of his Word. While you can give Harry Potter movies as much credence as "Jesus movies," because they're both just as easily created, I don't put my faith in a relationship with my local cineplex.

Still, even coming out of the Bible, there are copycats or "types" throughout.

Isaac's birth was somewhat supernatural, and he also was supposed to be the leader of his people. Sampson had the hair thing and was supposed to be a deliverer for his people. The story of Moses puts the best soap opera writers to shame. The list goes on. Does Sampson being "a type" of Christ as leader, deliverer, and supernatural, then falling to the lusts of the flesh make his story a mockery of Christ? Shouldn't that get him kicked out of the Bible?

Just throwing some food out there for thought... a whole lot more than I meant to! (sorry it's a little long)

[Enosh]

Yo Dr. Cool.

I agree with you on many points. I would only point out that many of the material you referenced was derived from Christian stories and beliefs.
That is what the book about Superman is actually about. Not trying to find something about Christ as many have written books about other movies and such. This book actually deals with the fact that the character was actually created with those traits and backstory. The creators of Superman did it on purpose. That's why I said it should be an interesting read. It's something different than what you're talking about.

I didn't read the book about Star Wars, but as an advid fan I have seen several interviews with George himself where he has made well known that he borrowed many of his concepts and stories from the bible and chirstianity, as well as many other religions and cultures. It's just what happened.

LOTR, Narnia, and others are also examples of creative works inspired by different men and their faith. Harry Potter, not so much. There are those who spend way too much time protesting and don't even know what they are against. Those movies while entertaining, are probably not the best example and I can see why some are upset. I do think though that there is some hipocrocy with the Harry Potter movies. If it's witchcraft you're against then it should be all witchcraft. (Disney, I'm looking at you.)

That's the thing though. You have to sift everything you take in. You should look for Godly attributes in entertainment and share those with your children, as well as being able to point out the evil and share why this or that is wrong. It drives me bananas to hear people say, "It's wrong because God says so." Even though I agree "God says so" Where does He say? Why does He say? These are things we must be prepared to answer to the world. Seen and not heard anyone?

I don't base any part of my faith on anything Hollywood does or puts out. That would be crazy! Not everything people find Christ in is neccessarily based on Christ, but many of the examples you gave DR. cool actually were. You gotta look into the authors and creators and see where there heads and hearts were. I saw an interview with the guy who wrote this book about Superman. He made a great statement. We must remember that Christ figues are just that. (Christ figures) There is only one Christ who was a perfect man. That is why we should be able to look at Chrisat figures and not be offended when they have failings. They are not the real thing.

[greenchili]

What does disney have to do with harry potter?

Harry Potter belongs to warner brothers.

[executioner]

I never meant to bring theology or anything about the Gospel into this; I just feel like the Superman movies, Tv shows, and comics have always been corny(especially the movies). The writing and production of the movies has always been subpar IMO.

[Shell]

What does disney have to do with harry potter?

Harry Potter belongs to warner brothers.

I think what Enosh meant was that the Disney stories, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, etc., have witches in them. There are witches all over the place in literature; Shakespeare has witches in his plays. So if you're going to be consistent about not watching or reading something because it has witches in it, that's gonna have to go too.

[Enosh]

Thank you Shell. She got exactly what I was saying.

I've known many people who have blasted Harry Potter and talked about how evil it is. Yet these same people enjoy and "Collect" Disney and other movies that depict witchcraft with no problem. When I ask them about it they just say, "That's different." Really, how's it different? Last I checked witchcraft was witchcraft.

Now I say this because I think there needs to be a distinction in how we view entertainment. If you protest something and call it evil most people in our world today will flock to it. If you use it as way to educate people of the truth and open up conversation it becomes a tool for God. Otherwise you just look like an uneducated loud mouth.

EXE> I have to agree with you about some of the cornyness that has come with Superman movies/tv. You can't blame the character though. You like Batman right? Think Batman: Forever and especially Batman and Robin the movies. What about the old Batman tv show? You can't get any campier than that. I just think people are more forgiving of Batman because they understand what the character SHOULD be portrayed as. I think many just don't understand the actual character of Superman to see beyond the campiness associated with him.

Also, I was just joking about you not knowing what you were talking about. Typed words don't always express sarcasm. Sorry.

[greenchili]

Ahh thanks for clarifying. On a slightly off topic I've seen the same thing with the Lord Of The Rings and Harry Potter movies. I know one person who does not mind the HP movies, but refuses to see the LOTR movies. Another person who is the opposite. Thinks the Harry Potter movies are bad but loves the LOTR movies.

[executioner]

Thank you Shell. She got exactly what I was saying.

I've known many people who have blasted Harry Potter and talked about how evil it is. Yet these same people enjoy and "Collect" Disney and other movies that depict witchcraft with no problem. When I ask them about it they just say, "That's different." Really, how's it different? Last I checked witchcraft was witchcraft.

Now I say this because I think there needs to be a distinction in how we view entertainment. If you protest something and call it evil most people in our world today will flock to it. If you use it as way to educate people of the truth and open up conversation it becomes a tool for God. Otherwise you just look like an uneducated loud mouth.

EXE> I have to agree with you about some of the cornyness that has come with Superman movies/tv. You can't blame the character though. You like Batman right? Think Batman: Forever and especially Batman and Robin the movies. What about the old Batman tv show? You can't get any campier than that. I just think people are more forgiving of Batman because they understand what the character SHOULD be portrayed as. I think many just don't understand the actual character of Superman to see beyond the campiness associated with him.

Also, I was just joking about you not knowing what you were talking about. Typed words don't always express sarcasm. Sorry.

Don't worry I took it the way you intended. The old Batman TV show has some of the funniest slapstick comedy that has ever been seen.

Holy heart attack Batman!

[drcoolguy]

I've known many people who have blasted Harry Potter and talked about how evil it is. Yet these same people enjoy and "Collect" Disney and other movies that depict witchcraft with no problem. When I ask them about it they just say, "That's different." Really, how's it different? Last I checked witchcraft was witchcraft.

I completely agree, but the hypocrisy I think lies in a root of A) people not really knowing what they believe, and/or B) people not wanting to admit their claimed faith is going to demand what they see as changes in their life. I'm not sure why you said "(Disney, I'm looking at you.)", since Disney isn't the one with the apparent hypocrisy.

But to your point, Mary Poppins has been one of my favorite movies all my life, and it wouldn't take too much effort to make the case that Mary Poppins is, by definition, a "witch." That having been said, I look forward to sitting down with my kids when they are old enough to enjoy Mary Poppins and enjoying it with them for what it should be, a sweet fantasy story.

I think Petra probably said it as well as anybody has:
http://lyrics.rare-lyrics.com/P/Petra/Witch-Hunt.html

Yes, I remember there being references to Biblical history in some of the background on Lucas' storyline diatribes, and believe me, it beat it to death in the book I mentioned, but that hardly makes it a fresh modernization of the Bible. I'm hard pressed to make the case that Lucas was trying to bring salvation or Biblical understanding to anyone.

As for Superman, I don't really see what the point is of him being "inspired" by the story of Christ. Aside from having unnatural abilities not originating on this planet, I'm really grasping for straws to see how Superman applies to my spiritual walk. Frankly, I think Superman was more like the Messiah the Hebrews were looking for, not the one they got.

Oh, and BTW, ADAM WEST BATMAN RULES!!!

[Enosh]

My dear Mr. Cool,

I don't think good ole George was trying to get anyone saved, but I think we can see examples of our everyday struggles as Christians in the story. I wouldn't write a book about the comparison of Star Wars to the bible, but I do tend to think about my own spiritual walk and life as I look at and read stories. Even if they are fictional, I just have never been one to separate myself from all reality as I watch. My mind usually is running thinking of about 7-12 things so I guess I just get more out of a story than some.

As far as Superman goes. Hmmm... A child sent to earth by his father in the heavens to be a savior to mankind. Raised by earthly parents in humble surroundings. Grew up learning a trade. Followed by many. Performed many extrordinary feats and "miracles" Died. Defeated death and rose from the grave. After he had died, those who followed him took up the mantle and carried on his work. Basically lived as a god/man. Having become human yet not fully mortal.

These are just a few I think of off the top of my head. I'm just interested in reading the book to see where the creators minds were when they created Superman really. I just find stuff like this cool.

At the end of the day, it doesn't really effect my faith at all. I just think it's interesting that with all people read into characters som much, that Superman was created with those traits on purpose.


Now I have to go find my Bat Shark repellant. You never know when you might be hanging from a helicopter by a rope ladder that's lowered into the ocean and a shark grabs onto your spandex covered leg. Always good to be prepared.