2006-12-29 01:56:05 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't know, but I did think when I was watching the newest one, that it reminded me of God sending his son to earth to save mankind.
2006-12-29 02:31:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Okay, as I'm sure you've seen in the other answers by now, the original intent of Superman was not to parallel Jesus. However, as I'm sure you've also noticed (hence the probably origin of this question), there are a lot of similarities. If you trace back Superman, as well as other superheroes, you can see many similarities in their origins. Superman, however, was not a religious allusion at all. Here is the history of his character, in full.
As was stated, two Jewish teenagers from Cleveland, Jerry Siegel and Joseph Shuster, were comic book fanatics. However, in the twenties, the only comics came in newspaper strips, and included basic cartoon characters involved in Charlie Chaplin-esque slapstick comedy. The two had tried for many years to get their charactrs published, (they had many others besides Superman) but to no avail. As the story goes, Jerry was reading about the great Greek heroes for a school assignment, and came up with the idea of a super strong being. He then though tit would make a great comic strip, and asked his friend Joe to draw it. They tossed around ideas, and decided that he should be an alien. As was also stated, they decided to make him a villian, and they would make humanity stand up to him. However, every company tyhey submitted it to denied them, stating, both politely and rudely, that no one would be interested. However, one comic company thought about making a periodical of comic strips, and wanted something big to start it going. The ditor contacted the boys and discussed with them the concept. Telling them to rearrange some of the ideas, they changed him from hero to villian. And the 13 pages of Action Comics #1 became a part of history.
Now, his parents sending him to a better place because they were in trouble is a very clear allusion to Moses. However, I'm not 100% sure that it was intentional, because the same allusion of a savior to humanity is also there. But his powers can be found in all sorts of Mythology, from Jewish to Egyptian to Greek to Christian. Now the surname of "El" is Jewish (and very much so, for any Jew who's been Bar or Bat Mitzvah'ed) but other than that, I do not think there was a clear, intentional base of any religion on the creation of Superman
2006-12-30 08:25:46 · answer #2 · answered by heavens_buddha 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not consciously, though the Savior-like aspect of his character has been played up in some of the comics, graphic novels, and especially the last Superman sequel, and to good effect.
The following from Wikipedia
The first Superman character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster was not a hero, but a villain. Their short story "The Reign of the Superman", from Science Fiction #3 (1933), a science fiction fanzine that Siegel published, featured a bald-headed villain, with super mental powers, bent on dominating the world. Siegel reconceived the character in 1933 as a hero.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman
2006-12-29 01:58:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Superman was created in 1938 by 2 Jewish teenagers in Cleveland. His origin story is said to have been inspired by Moses, and one assumes that when creating him they may have had the messiah on their minds, keep in mind that Jesus's status as such is the cause of the split between Christians and the Jewish people.
One could also take Jor-El's Travel speech from Superman 1 and with minimal effort claim it as scripture.
2006-12-29 07:00:03 · answer #4 · answered by janssen411 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is certain parallels to the coming of Jesus. In Superman Returns there is a lot of reference's and symbols " They can be a good people Kor El they just need a light to show them the way and for this reason above all others i send them you my only son". When Jor El ( Marlon Brando) says those words a shiver goes down my spine.
2006-12-29 02:25:44 · answer #5 · answered by jack lewis 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Superman is based on the human being's basic need to have a hero solving crime in our countries. Imagine that!! However, it is man causing the drama and mere man can't sort it out - that's why we need heroes. Superman is a wonderful idea - but luckily, GOD is real.
2006-12-29 02:43:18 · answer #6 · answered by Amanda G 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Superman seems to be more like an Achilles than Jesus. He is part of a long tradition of hyper-strong warrior heroes.
2006-12-29 02:02:27 · answer #7 · answered by Lao Pu 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. Especially since his creators, Siegel snd Schuster, were Jewish. Actually, the idea of the orphan being taken in by strangers and becoming a great man was more based on Moses, even the last part of his Kryptonian name the -El from Kal-El is taken from an old Semetic word for God. The idea of this alien being taken in my humans was a direct and deliberate parallell to the Old testament story of Moses being taken in by the Egyptians.
2006-12-29 02:08:35 · answer #8 · answered by kveldulf_gondlir 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can't stand Superman and his facsist pro American govt. stuff.
I like the original Superman from back in the twenties, when he would wake up and declare "Lets go mess with somebody today"
2006-12-29 01:58:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
No Jesus was real...Superman not.
But i still have more faith in superman, than the twisted interpretations of God followers...!!
2006-12-29 02:00:19 · answer #10 · answered by BillyBudd 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Ahh... no. Superman was based on a cartoonists fantasy, Jesus is the son of God. BIG difference
2006-12-29 02:04:22 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋