is Superman Christian-inspired?

Question

remember Jor-el's quote? "they are a good people Ka-el. they just need someone to show them the light...i send you, my one and only son." John 3:16, anyone?

Answer 1

You can make the argument in many different ways. I think his origin follows the science of the time rather than any religious imagery.

Jor-el was not actually named that when Superman was first created. It was "Jor-L". This blows an earlier poster's idea that Jor"-el" was an indication for "god".

Supes origin ran: "Krypton, a distant planet so far advanced in evolution that it bears a civilization of super men - beings which represent the human race at its ultimate peak of perfect development!".

We are not seeing a divine creation here, we are seeing eugenics, the application of science on the genome. Superman's original origin followed along the thought of the 1930's that selective breeding could yield a "superman". The terrors of Germany in WWII brought a change to this type of thought.

So, in answer to your question, Superman was not christian inspired... he was inspired by the science and cultural theories of the 1930's.

Answer 2

Many people have drawn paralels between them. Such as Superman's last name is "El", which is the Hebrew word for God. Whether Shuster and Spegel had that in mind when they created the character is another matter.

Answer 3

There are certainly a lot of parallels. An almighty savior who came from the heavenly realm to battle evil and rescue the helpless. That sounds like Jesus to me!

Answer 4

Or maybe Christianity is Superman-inspired???

Answer 5

Never seen anything religious about a guy in a tight suit after a chick....

Answer 6

I agree with the first answerer.

Answer 7

I think so.