What does everyone think about the incoporation of religious themes in Superman Returns and Spiderman?

Question

Give your opinion, and some insights.

Answer 1

I took my five year old to see Superman last weekend. Lois said, "The world doesn't need a savior", and my son (without missing a beat) turns around and says, "but it does, right daddy?"

I didn't teach him that. I don't think anyone's talked about Jesus as a Savior to him yet. (At least not in those terms.) Maybe he picked that up from church, but probably it came from something more universal in all of us. Even if he's picked this up from a religious beginning, what made him connect superman and Jesus so quickly?

All religious insight I've received has always come in quiet, peaceful moments: the warm confirmation, the simple insight, the confirmation of truth. Kids seem to resist this less than adults. Our best stories seem to appeal to this in us without getting preachy.

I find that some of the most fascinating stories of all ages tend to use broader themes about our place in this universe (who am I, what am I doing here, is there more to life than this). The ones that resonate in me seem to come to the same conclusions. (I'm thinking here about The Lord of the Rings, What Dreams May Come, Matrix, Superman, Spiderman, the list goes on.) The ones that leave me feeling cheated somehow tend to by fighting against the peaceful answer. (A lot of the urban/despair movies that portray the meaning of life as a dog-eat-dog conclusion.) This isn't because I'm thinking about movies from a religious perspective, but I'm experiencing the stories and the truth of them seems self evident.

It speaks to the question posed by another answerer, why we tend to have universal religious themes without cultural cross-polination. The one scholar I've found most interesting on the subject is Hugh Nibley. He talks about all sorts of themes that show up from the Egyptians to the people of Masada (Dead Sea Scrolls) to the Hopis to the Masons, etc. He talks about over 1,000 temples around the world that share rites that can't be explained away easily. Certainly the quiet voice in me confirms that there's one guiding influence amongst us all, through all the ages. I guess it helps that he spoke quite a few dead languages, but he seems to have been at the forefront of this question, using the world's ancient literature as his laboratory for discovery.

Whatever people's level of religious activity in their lives, Hollywood seems to be proving that we tend to listen to spiritually-based messages when they don't get too sappy, preachy, or manipulative. (At least the box office seems to support this common thread amongst us.)

Answer 2

Ever think that you see religious tones in comics because the theme of there being an all-powerful being who can rescue us is one that has been seen since the beginning of recorded history. This is even true in cultures that never crossed paths. Of course religious people would say this is because their God has spoken to each of these people indirectly. I think it is because human kind has a tendency to make things up to explain things we can't currently explain.

Answer 3

Well I am pretty ticked off 'cause they said some stuff about Christianity in Superman Returns(they called him a savior). There was some other stuff too.

JESUS LOVES U!

Answer 4

why does there always have to be religious themes in movies? That's my opinion and insight.....it's superman and spiderman, just enjoy it!

Answer 5

I think it can be a bit over the top at times but, it's teachin the kids In order to do the right thing sometimes you have to put yourself at risk and give up some of the things you want.

Answer 6

Well, it was there from the beginning with superman. He was created by 2 jewish young men who name him kal-el which has the -el from elohim which means god. I Think it's clever but kind of silly, like a pun.