Comics Q: what is Aunt May's religious affiliation?

[Fantasyartist]

Given that it was recently revealed that Aunt May's maiden name is Reilly- is it possible that she is a Roman Catholic?

Terry

 

[iloveclones]

I wonder what penance he's given after going to confession and telling Father that he made a deal with Mephistopheles. To end his Sacred Union. (10 Our Fathers and 8 Hail Mary's...)

 

[Wesley Dodds]

"Recently revealed"? We've known her maiden name for years... That's were Ben Reilly got his second name from.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

She is a wahhabi Muslim.

 

[Meehaul]

Despite the ethnic association (Reilly) with catholiscism, Marvel has always said Pete's a main line protestant. It's possible Aunt May was/is Catholic, but that Uncle Ben (a Parker, presumably English, thus maybe Episcopalian) brought her into his faith and that's what made Pete a standard protestant.

Marvel treads on the subject of religion with some (understandable) care. Ben Grimm's been identified as a Jew and Matt Murdock Catholic, but they really shy away from overt religion. Mephisto's not really "the devil" any more than Loki is. But it gets complicated when you acknowledge God on occasion, but also have beings like Thor (Norse God), Hercules (Greek/Roman God) not to mention God-esque denizens like Glactus, theh Watcher, etc. Marvel has a very complicated theology, to say the least.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Despite the ethnic association (Reilly) with catholiscism, Marvel has always said Pete's a main line protestant. It's possible Aunt May was/is Catholic, but that Uncle Ben (a Parker, presumably English, thus maybe Episcopalian) brought her into his faith and that's what made Pete a standard protestant.

Even if Aunt May is Catholic that wouldn't affect Peter if he's a protestant. Peter's parents died when he was between three and five (he has to have been at least that old because on several occasions he talks about remembering Uncle Ben telling him they've died). Until that time, his parents probably raised him as a protestant. When Aunt May (who isn't related by blood) took him in with the also protestant Uncle Ben, she wouldn't change his religion, that would be disrespectful. I think Aunt May could retain her Catholicism, while Peter goes on a protestant in adult life. Let's face it; neither one is very religious, so I don't believe it would be a big issue in that household.

Marvel treads on the subject of religion with some (understandable) care. Ben Grimm's been identified as a Jew and Matt Murdock Catholic, but they really shy away from overt religion. Mephisto's not really "the devil" any more than Loki is. But it gets complicated when you acknowledge God on occasion, but also have beings like Thor (Norse God), Hercules (Greek/Roman God) not to mention God-esque denizens like Glactus, theh Watcher, etc. Marvel has a very complicated theology, to say the least.

Yeah, religion is a mess in the MU. As a Jewish kid growing up, I was always a bit puzzled (and let down) how so many of Marvel's founders were Jewish, and yet there were no really strong Jewish superheroes and role-models (and Ben Grimm was only confirmed as Jewish in the 80's or 90's as a homage to Jack Kirby's heritage). I guess no one wanted to alienate 80% of Spidey's readers by making him wear a yarmulke.

 

[Donald Thomas]

Given that it was recently revealed that Aunt May's maiden name is Reilly- is it possible that she is a Roman Catholic?

Terry

Aloha,
Irish Catholic, I would think.
Spidey rules

 

[Themanofbat]

When it comes to christian based religions, does it really matter if Aunt May is either protestant, anglican, catholic, presbitarian, or heck, even a Jehovah's Witness?



Personally, given the "I'm right, you're wrong" mentality that usually pops up whenever religion is being discussed, I'm glad Marvel keeps it at arms length... otherwise, it would just create more stupid arguments, not to mention that religious "stereotypes" would pop up... like when Kurt (Nightcrawler) became a hardcore catholic...

Just me two cents here...

 

[Meehaul]

It's funny too that it's not JUST religion. It's sports, bands, home towns, ethnicity, political beliefs, and even OMD/BND! The nature of human beings is to take sides and fight about stuff. "X church is the only TRUE church" or "you don't really like metal unless you like X band" or "You're not a REAL Spider-Man fan unless...." We just have a propensity to be driven, and occasionally blinded, by ideologies and beliefs no matter what they are.

As to JJJ's Ulcer, there's a good bit of work on Jewishness and comics, mostly looking at Superman as the "chosen son" of parents who "put him in a rocket (basket)" and sent him elsewhere where he performed miracles as the outsider looking in. Supposedly, Clark Kent is supposed to mirror the Jewish experience in the US--which is why Superman Returns was kind of interesting because it re-cast him into a Christ-like figure. Batman is the revenge fantasy, Captain American the jingoistic dream, Spider-Man the reluctant, accidental hero who's just like you & me. Each of those four heroes represents an archetype into which you can shoehorn virtually every other hero who's been created. I do think that Marvel (and DC and everyone else) has shied away from religion because they don't wish to offend. All kind of fun stuff to contemplate.

 

[Timstuff]

Despite the ethnic association (Reilly) with catholiscism, Marvel has always said Pete's a main line protestant. It's possible Aunt May was/is Catholic, but that Uncle Ben (a Parker, presumably English, thus maybe Episcopalian) brought her into his faith and that's what made Pete a standard protestant.

Marvel treads on the subject of religion with some (understandable) care. Ben Grimm's been identified as a Jew and Matt Murdock Catholic, but they really shy away from overt religion. Mephisto's not really "the devil" any more than Loki is. But it gets complicated when you acknowledge God on occasion, but also have beings like Thor (Norse God), Hercules (Greek/Roman God) not to mention God-esque denizens like Glactus, theh Watcher, etc. Marvel has a very complicated theology, to say the least.

In the DC universe there is some hinting at an all-encompassing multi-universe God, but naturally they do not want to tread on the toes of anyone so it's kept as just that-- hints. The DC Wikia has him listed as "Presence." The existence of such a God would mean that the "pagan" gods in the DC universe are lesser immortals with more limited influence (often limited to the region of their origin). Most pagan gods were considered finite by the people who worshiped them, to the point where if one nation was defeated by another, the defeated nation would usually believe it was because the victorious nation had a more powerful god backing them, and many of them had mythologies that did not rule out the possibility of their gods being killed.

 

[Meehaul]

I didn't realize DC did that. If so, it's a pretty clever solution to a vexing problem. I guess that's the God Homer Simpson occasionally hangs out with.

 

[roni14]

Earth X discussed religion in the Marvel Universe-- specifically in issue #0. I haven't read it in a while, but something about how beings called the celestials created everything. The way they explain how greek and norse gods (Hercules, Thor) can coexist is by saying that they are only real because people believe they are, or something like that. I really want to go back and read that issue now. Did anyone else here read it?