Comics Sweet merciful Rao?

[SupaTaft]

I've only recently started to get into Superman, even though I've read many of the comics for years, and one question has always piqued me.

When something astonishing happens to the Man of Steel, he tends to exclaim "Sweet merciful Rao!" or something closely akin to it. Now, I've gathered that Rao is a/the god worshipped on Krypton, likely a sun god.

Clark Kent was more than likely raised Christian, being brought up in the conservative Midwest. My question is at what point did he stop practising the Christian faith and adopt the religion of his native Krypton? Does anyone know if it's ever been tackled in the comics?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

- S

 

[storyteller]

Well supes has stood before those who really serve god. I dont think he is under kryptons religious views. He simply been absorbing krypton knowledge every chance he gets so well he says a few phrases here and there.

 

[SuperLee]

I thoguht Rao was just the name of their Sun?

 

[The Question]

Yes, but they worshiped their sun. Anyway, I think it's just something he says out of habit after learning the name of the Kryptonian sun god. I say "danke" instead of "thank you." Danke is German for thank you. I am not German, I have no German ancestry, and have never set foot in Germany once in my life. It's just something I say. It's probably the same with Supes and Rao. He learned the name of the Kryptonian sun god, and over time started using it as an explative.

 

[SuperLee]

Question has a really good point. It could simply just be like "Oh my God". People say it all the time, whether they believe in a God or not.

 

[SupaTaft]

Hey, that's good enough for me. Thanks for your input.

But since we're in the general vacinity of the topic, what do you suppose Supes' religious views are? I imagine he likely believes in something, seeing as he's essentially the beacon of hope for an entire planet. He's always struck me as the kind of guy who fights with what he believes is right on his side, sort of a moral invincibility beyond his physical near-invincibility.

And he's generally not in it for himself, so I bet he's a man of faith in some form or another.

 

[The Question]

I think he was probably raised prodistant, and continues to engage in many of the practices, but many of his veiws seem to reflect that of an agnostic humanist.

 

[Joker]

Superman is a god, hence he worships himself...Superman is also a vain prick

 

[Lazlo Panaflex]

On the Superfriends each member had a goofy exclamation:

Superman -"Great Krypton"

Batman -"Great Gotham"

Wonder Woman -"Mercival Minerva"

Aquaman -"Great Neptunes"

a bit corny but what do you expect from the 70's?

 

[nite-owl]

You think they ever scaraficed someone to their sun god on Krypton, like something out of the wicker man.

 

[The Question]

Maybe thousands of years ago, but I doubt at all recently.

 

[cjhill_14]

It's a Freudian slip.

 

[Andy C.]

Maybe thousands of years ago, but I doubt at all recently.

Indeed. Recently, they're all too busy being dead.

Anyway, I know that Kryptonian religion is something that's very rarely touched on, but I believe that such a science-centric culture had just about phased it out entirely, the only vestiges of it being leftover expressions in speech. In many ways, the Science Council would have replaced the clergy, since in most interpretations they seem to be every bit as authoritative and fanatical. Religiously atheist, you might say.

As for Superman himself, I think it's been said somewhere that Jonathan and Martha Kent are Methodists, and Clark would've been raised as such. However, he's seen a lot of stuff since then that may have altered his perception of the Great Beyond. While he adheres to morals and values that are traditionally associated with Christianity, I think he'd be more of a Deist or Agnostic in terms of what he actually believes.

 

[Spike_x1]

On the Superfriends each member had a goofy exclamation:

Superman -"Great Krypton"

Batman -"Great Gotham"

Wonder Woman -"Mercival Minerva"

Aquaman -"Great Neptunes"

a bit corny but what do you expect from the 70's?

Batman actually said "Great Gotham"?!
That's almost as awesome as saying your own name as a swear word.