Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Episode V

Superman

I've been thinking a lot lately. Just thinking. One of the thoughts has been based around the idea of Superman. There are some things that I honestly love about him.

First, he's not from around here. That gives him the ability to do things we can't do. However, Superman looks like us; feels like us. That gives him the ability to empathize with our pain.

Next, for some reason, with all that power, he is inherently good. What makes him want to, no, NEED to fight bad guys? Is it because he can? Because ONLY he can? Surely there are others, true, but no one can do what Superman can do. When Superman saves the day, he does so because he values us over his own life.

Last, you can't kill that guy. You can't kill Superman. At least not permanently. You knock Superman down, he just gets back up again. He just keeps on living.

And here's why I love these things about Superman. Let's replace one word and see how it reads.

I've been thinking a lot lately. Just thinking. One of the thoughts has been based around the idea of Jesus. There are some things that I honestly love about him.

First, he's not from around here. That gives him the ability to do things we can't do. However, Jesus looks like us; feels like us. That gives him the ability to empathize with our pain.

Next, for some reason, with all that power, he is inherently good. What makes him want to, no, NEED to fight bad guys? Is it because he can? Because ONLY he can? Surely there are others, true, but no one can do what Jesus can do. When Jesus saves the day, he does so because he values us over his own life

Last, you can't kill that guy. You can't kill Jesus. At least not permanently. You knock Jesus down, he just gets back up again. He just keeps on living.

Maybe Superman really does exist...

4 comments:

  1. while i get where your coming from Seth, I'm not sure comparing the Lamb of God to a fictional character in a pulp magazine is the best approach. Everyone knows superman is make believe, while many believe that Jesus is also.

    All in all, I don't think Jesus needs Supermans help saving the world.

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  2. I was pretty sure I commented last night but now I don't see it. It was acting funny though so i guess it didn't go through after all. I left you some superman factoids but it wasn't important enough to type back out.

    I'm kinda suprised Cameron didn't like this. I, personally, don't think it matters that Superman is fictional and Yeshua is largely thought not to be. I think these are fair parallels to draw because they're both so undeniably iconic.

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  3. I can see that view as well, and would agree that they are both larger than life icons. For that matter, you could even note that the Superman Mythos has an undeniable relation to the story of Jesus through things like his parents sending him away, to be taken care of by simple people.

    Knowing Seth to be a christian, it was my take that he was trying to illustrate how Jesus is of super strength and love for the people he protects. My point is simply, that if we hold the creator next to a fictional character, doesn't that make him more susceptible to being thrown in that same category.

    I don't think anything you wrote is invalid. Its just my belief that if defending Christ, or for that matter giving people a reason to believe not only in his existence, but his salvation, Superman may not the best benchmark to test him by. Though Jesus may have gained more followers if he had laser eyes.


    also from another point of view, The Kill Bill quote...

    "Now, a staple of the superhero mythology is, there's the superhero and there's the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When that character wakes up in the morning, he's Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic Superman stands alone. Superman didn't become Superman. Superman was born Superman. When Superman wakes up in the morning, he's Superman. His alter ego is Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red "S", that's the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears - the glasses, the business suit - that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent. He's weak... he's unsure of himself... he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race."

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  4. I can see that. I definitely agree about the lazer eyes.

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