Super Jesus?
Published by Matt Glover June 23rd, 2006 in Articles of Interest, Questions of FaithA bit of a stink is rising about the new Superman movie and how some see it as yet another movie based on the story of Jesus.
There’s been hundreds of movies that have a ‘christ’ figure in them. Movies where the main character dies but then is brought to life to save humanity, or variations of that theme. In recent times we’ve had The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and the Matrix Trilogy.
Regardless of whether you are a person of faith or not, there is no denying that the story of Jesus is a good story. It contains all the elements that make us sit on the edge of our seats wanting to know what happens next. One movie in the 50’s refers to it as The Greatest Story Ever Told.
So is it any wonder that movie makers and story tellers draw on the story of the crucified Messiah for inspiration? Probably not…
Anyway, read the article from todays Age newspaper and go and see the movie!
interesting, but then again I’m sick of the “tap into the Christians” ideology. And I don’t blame the corporations- who can blame them for getting into a good thing.
Christians should think for themselves and yes, it’s cool to see the Jesus story in different places, to remind us about our faith, to help us talk about our faith to others.
Should we go to a film because it has “Christian themes” ? buy a book? go to a play? I disagree. Go if you want to see it. Other reasons need not apply.
Let’s keep some integrity in our faith, guys!
Eh if they stopped making movies with Christian themes then preachers would have to come up with their own illustrations for sermons. Not to mention the extra three minutes they’d have to fill time for.
Unless,of course, they just used a song about how depressing the world of today is….
haha! Good point Mitchell!
And Alison, I agree - infact I often avoid movies that have overt Christian themes because of the cringe factor.
I’ll probably see superman because, well, I’m a sucker for anything even remotely cartoon related. LIke you, I think “see if you want to” but there’s certainly no need to if you don’t.
Did you know that ET was based on the gospel story? The writers quite openly admit this….
ET? Never knew that one. I guess I can see the Christian themes in a movie like Superman, or The Matrix, and they are fairly “obvious”. However, I think that if you look into most films (and I said most, not all!), you could find some sort of Christian theme. I try not to do that, and just enjoy the movie, and think about the overall themes, without really looking for a Christian one. (Kind of like what I mentioned today at lunch Matt, with the movie “click”.) I agree that you should see the movie if it appeals to you, but not go simply because you heard it had “a good Christian message”.
The Superman story is one of the great modern Fables. Ever since people were smart enough to draw pictures on walls they have been telling stories. They’ve been telling stories because people love to sit around a fire (or cafe) and listen to, or tell, tales of merriment and wonder. Sometimes these tales have a historical basis, sometimes they dont. What these tales do, is allow the ordinary person to enter into the life of another - to see, to feel, to imagine. Yes, the story of Jesus is fantastic. but even elements of that written story have elements that are borrowed from other well known stories. Several parts of the bible have ben drawn from older sources.
Yes, a large part of the gospel story is true. That Jesus exists, and did great things in his time as a man I do not question. But everytime a movie comes out that captures the imagination, do we have to draw comparisons to Christ? it probably isnt hard, given that God purposely made the events of Jesus’ life ones that we could all aspire to, ones that we could all relate to. But I could also take the story of superman and link it to the story of Muhammed, to Buddha, to Matt Glover, to Kel Varnsen. I could also link each of these stories to that of Jesus.
As I said, the story of Superman is one of the modern fables. There is a back story to it that surpasses that of stories of old, and it is told through cinema, television, and 70 years worths of comics. Enjoy it just for what it is.
Link the story of Superman to Matt Glover…?
I’d like to see that!
I’m not sure Kel, but I think the issue has been raised by people who do not subscribe to the Christian faith. They seem to be tired of ‘obvious’ analogies to jesus appearing in so many movies.
I don’t think it is done on purpose though. Like I said, the story of Jesus has some great elements, and these elements show up in other great stories. As the preacher says, “There’s nothing new under the sun.”
It’s interesting that you say the story of Jesus borrows elements from others. Undoubtedly there are things drawn from the Jewish faith (Abraham sacrificing his son, Jonah in the whale for three days etc) but these are looked on more as prophecy.
Do you know of any other stories that are similar to that of Jesus?
Anakin Skywalker doesn’t count.
I wasn’t trying to put forward that the gospel was an imitation, just that there are elements of good story telling that have, and will echo through the ages. I’d like to see us simply judge each on its own merits.
But to answer your question:
The Gilgamesh epic has some parallels to the Gospels - Gilgamesh being 1/3 Human, 2/3 God, comig to earth. The story begins when the wild stranger Enkidu (a man similar to Gilgamesh himself) deciding that Gilgamesh is a man of greater worth than he. (John the Baptist?)
Heracles, son of God and a mortal woman, strangles a snake. At the end of his life, in great pain, he asks for his friends to sacrifice him on a funeral pyre. As his body burns, the Gods decide he has earned immortality and invite Heracles to God-hood with them.
just a couple of randoms.
Interesting.
I’d heard of similar stories in other cultures to some of the Old Testament stories (the flood for instance) but hadn’t heard many that were similar to Jesus.
Now I’m going to have to go and read those. Thanks for the homework Kel…;)
And you’ll be happy to know I’m wearing my undies on the outside today.
lol not a good look matt!! =S … neway i have to say i can understand both sides, just watch the movie dont pick up on all the christian linked stuff, just enjoy it for wot it is.
but honestly im kinda leaning to the other side, look for the themes, i think it is great that quite a few people draw on the story of jesus and work it into films and books and stuff! like ET! that was great, like it was really obvious if u knew the story of Jesus and i memba telling one of ma family members bout wot it was based on and they were like WOW! i didnt kno that! it was great!
And the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe, THATS AN AWESOME book [and movie!] i mean it does really express jesus story. but i suppose thats wat C.S Lewis wanted it to do! =)
i think it is great in alot of ways and the ones that link it on purpose, it is interesting to see how they express Jesus’ life, because ET and The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe… well they have completely different approach to expressing the story of Jesus!
Although i do find it kinda sad when the story gets corupted! it shatters me! deep down it hurts! but hey, look at the positive side the story is being told in many ways and as christians we can draw on that like when i told ma family memba bout ET…
Heh. While I may not be a fan of movie illustrations (unless they are Indiana Jones or Fight Club), I sat through that dealie-o on Thursday thinking that the movie ‘click’ would be a great companion to taking some guys through a seres about male brain function and prioritising life, about how our actions can easily harm those around us.
While Adam Sandler does not take on a Christ like character - (unlike Happy Gilmore) he does show a great “male with good intentions but flawed behaviour” character. Check it out, good movie.
Hey,
I think is most definetly good to pick up on themes like in “Click” General, the whole prioritising life stuff, and thinking about how thaing s that appear small can harm those around us in the long run. I think it is good that people draw on the story of Jesus in stories, but people have already said, it is agreat story to draw upon and is something we can all relate to. With Superman, there are definetly things that are drawn from Christianity, in but where it talked about the world acting as if it didn’t need a saviour, but inwardly crying out for one, the references to father & son, and humanity’s condidtion.
Yes, there are some movies which are quite bluntly “re-works”, if you will, of the story of Jesus, and “The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe” is a great example of that. But then again, it was written by C.S. Lewis, a great Christian author. With the story being “corrupted” I think it is sometimes good to remember that a lot of these, like the new “Superman” movie, are simply pulling in these Christian things in order to get more people in to the cinema, and hence, one should expect it to be “corrupted” somewhat. It’s not aimed at being a “Christian” movie, it is aimed at getting more people through the door. Though it is good that it can give us something to draw upon for illustrations. I feel there are many other ways which could do this better, but these movies are so popular and common, it could be used to illustrate the Christian message. In terms of movies getting the message across, I feel that something that is written quite openly and bluntly in order to convey this message is best, but in that case the audience already knows what they’re getting themselves into.