Superman as a Christ figure?

[04nbod]

In a reboot, whenever we get one, should Superman be like a Christ figure to the people of Metropolis? If yes how should that be portrayed?

he is as much Christ as he is moses and moses was no lord of men he was one of the crowd that wanted his people's freedom. I think the christ imagery is very exclusive of other cultures and beliefs. So I voted no.

 

[Fresh Prince]

Superman is more Moses then Christ. Superman not a lord either and just wants people freedom from evil.

 

[The Guard]

People continue to miss the point. Superman is many things. He is not just like Moses, or just like Christ, or just like Hercules, or just like Flash Gordon. He has similarities to many of them.

 

[Fresh Prince]

How is he like Flash Gordon? Or all them types of people for that matter?

 

[Panthro]

I find the Christ figure angle to be pretty lame and a cheap attempt at being seen as 'deep'.

 

[Fresh Prince]

Agreed Panthro.

 

[Fresh Prince]

Flash Gordon sucked. Also movie did too. Theme song was lame.

Flash! Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!! Saviour of the universe! Dun! Dun! Dun!!!!!!!!!!! Dun! Dun! Dun!!!!

 

[Panthro]

Agreed Panthro.

Cool.

Well, the Flash Gordon movie was straight up camp. And how can anyone not love Queen music?

 

[Fresh Prince]

I did not. They need to remake Flash Gordon into a good action/science fiction movie. Do not have to be dark but not campy.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

I find the Christ figure angle to be pretty lame and a cheap attempt at being seen as 'deep'.

The Jesus Christ angle or the generic Christ angle? If it's the latter, count me in as disagreeing with you, friend. They can present Superman as a larger-than-life savior/messiah without being too specific as who he should parallel.

 

[Fresh Prince]

But why should Superman be all that? Why can't he just be well himself. He can still be larger then life the man has unlimited ability. He does not need the Christ thing.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

That is himself. I can't understand a person rejecting the parallels as if they were misguided, recent additions. Here, I'll quote myself:

Superman is a messiah. That's the character, and there's no way around that. Now, I'm not saying the parallels need to be solely with Jesus Christ. The idea is that a god-like being came from the heavens (stars) to save us from our sorry selves. That isn't present in only Christianity. It's the ultimate legend that's probably existed for far longer than recorded history is able to account for.

It's pretty damn hard to ignore the Christ-like aspect of Superman, and I'm an agnostic. I am secular. Materialistic. I'm not some Superman fan that likes the character because he reminds me of Jesus.

 

[Fresh Prince]

Well golden age Superman was no wear near Christ like.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

Maybe not so much in personality.

 

[The Guard]

The idea is that a god-like being came from the heavens (stars) to save us from our sorry selves. That isn't present in only Christianity. It's the ultimate legend that's probably existed for far longer than recorded history is able to account for.

This.

 

[Fresh Prince]

SupermanPrime i respect your opinion. Superman can be christ like but do not over due it atleast like in Returns.

 

[stargazer]

This too,

"What sets Superman apart from all those who came before and after him, is that he is the personification of the most deeply rooted human belief there is: that there are gods in this world, and if we pray to them, they might help. The wonder of Superman is, that when we ask for HIS help in fighting something so big or dangerous that we poor humans can only fail, he shows up and helps. Instantly. On time. And everybody lives at the end of the story. He is god in a cape. The living answer to our prayers."


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[DavidTyler]

Goody goody? The guy who left Earth and the love of his life without telling anyone to find Krypton was still there?



The Christ/Superman thing is a small reason why the general public didn't get onboard SUPERMAN RETURNS. Most of them, in my experience, didn't even see it until it was pointed out to them.

I wasn't speaking only of SR. I'm talking about the general tone Superman is given in feature films. That needs to end.

 

[GreenKToo]

I dont really mind that he will be compared to christ, I do mind seeing things like a cruifixion pose, clouds parting for him, etc. Thats a bit too in your face for me.

 

[afan]

I dont really mind that he will be compared to christ, I do mind seeing things like a cruifixion pose, clouds parting for him, etc. Thats a bit too in your face for me.

With ya here!

Heck, Indiana Jones in "Temple of Doom" was a christ figure, but I don't think you would see an Indiana Jones forum ever exhaustively discussing the appropriatness of that. Why?
Because the film did not blatantly stick it in our faces.

SR went for the spiritual jugular, blatantly and purposefully forcing the allusion onto the character.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

Heh. I just remembered that I watched SR two times in theaters back-to-back. Then I watched part of the Garfield sequel before getting bored and going out for lunch. I think I only payed for one ticket. Lol.

Trying to remember if I caught the allusion myself, or if I read about it on these boards before realizing it was there.

 

[afan]

Heh. I just remembered that I watched SR two times in theaters back-to-back. Then I watched part of the Garfield sequel before getting bored and going out for lunch. I think I only payed for one ticket. Lol.

Trying to remember if I caught the allusion myself, or if I read about it on these boards before realizing it was there.

There are christ figure allusions in Garfield!!!???

How about STM? Did you realize them there?

 

[Superwoman Prime]

Noooo no no. If Garfield is a Christ figure then we're all in serious trouble.

I noticed the parallels in STM, especially with his origins. I have somewhat of a more unique perspective on it, personally.

In the LDS/Mormon church there is a concept of three kingdoms... Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial. Earth belongs to, or sometimes referred to as being, the Telestial. At the top of the ladder we have the Celestial, which is heaven, wherein our "heavenly parents" reside. Before we became humans, we lived in the Celestial as non-corporeal beings with our heavenly parents. We chose to come to earth to face physical trials, and if we are found true of heart, we retain our physical bodies, which are perfected during the Final Judgment, and we ascend back to the Celestial Kingdom.

Though, when I belonged to the LDS church, heavenly parents were seldom talked about. There is a much stronger emphasis on our earthly family units someday living in eternity.

Anyway, do I believe that? No. Does it strongly remind me of Superman? Definitely. I can't help thinking about Mormon doctrine whenever I watch those starting scenes from STM.

 

[Fresh Prince]

With ya here!

Heck, Indiana Jones in "Temple of Doom" was a christ figure, but I don't think you would see an Indiana Jones forum ever exhaustively discussing the appropriatness of that. Why?
Because the film did not blatantly stick it in our faces.

SR went for the spiritual jugular, blatantly and purposefully forcing the allusion onto the character.

How was Indiana Jones in that movie a Christ figure?

 

[Fresh Prince]

This too,

"What sets Superman apart from all those who came before and after him, is that he is the personification of the most deeply rooted human belief there is: that there are gods in this world, and if we pray to them, they might help. The wonder of Superman is, that when we ask for HIS help in fighting something so big or dangerous that we poor humans can only fail, he shows up and helps. Instantly. On time. And everybody lives at the end of the story. He is god in a cape. The living answer to our prayers."


.

True.