Discussing
Are superhero movies a form of idol worship?

I couldn't agree more. The movie itself was not wholesome in content. But the message was better than most superhero movies I've come across. There was something refreshing about the humanity of the superheroes. It was their downfall, and something unable to be conquered.

Matt
Christian2.0

Why do you watch those type of movies anyway? Yes, I think we all wanted to be superman and save everyone from injustices, but alast, we are but human. Have no fear, for God stands right next to you, sometimes pushing the angels aside so that he can get even closer. He is my hero and he is the one that I count on for everything. Thanks for watching the movie, because now I don't have to. In God's Grace John

If any superhero is a false idol then every war hero, police office, firefighter, Doctor, pastor, father and grandpa would be a false idol as well. We look to these people for help in time of need. And before you say it, we should look to God for help in these instances as well but if we don't seek physical help and praise those who give it we will be much worse off. If you don't you may as well not take medicine for any ailment. Who hasn't wanted to be a firefighter when they grew up. We aren't treating them as idols, we treat them with a greater amount of respect than we have for ourselves and strive to be like them. "Most" superhero's deserve the same respect even if they are fictional. They drive us to do better and help those who can't help themselves.

Just my very humble opinion.
Chris (a Christian, not a superhero nut)

“'Watchmen' is hardly religious, but it at least recognizes that no human being can offer that sort of redemption."

Umm, you want to re-think that link REALLY carefully...

I see your point, but I think most people understand that I meant "...no human being who doesn't also happen to be the Son of God..." Such phrasing would have covered all the bases, but it also would have been a chore to read.

Josh

Are superhero movies a form of idol worship? Absolutely not!
Did Harry Potter turn our kids into witches? Did the Golden Compass create a new flock of Satan worshipers? Does Americas devotion to Pro Sports teams equal Idol worship as well? The answer to all of these questions is "NO" if we are doing our jobs as parents. Teach the children what they need to know and they will not stray from it. I haven't seen the movie you are talking about but I will let my children watch it with no fear of it teaching them anything. Its 90 minutes of entertainment and they have had a lifetime of teaching.

It didn't have to be a chore to read - The only human who can save is Jesus, because the rest of us have/would have/are eaten/eating the forbidden fruit. Focusing on that would have made a better article too - because then you could have looked at the super-hero myths as a cultural need for someone to save. Rather than being something to be scoffed at - they might actually be useful.

Some great insights and comments on this topic. I would have to say the answer to your question is both a yes and no.

Yes, because just like our preoccupation with movie-TV stars, the wealthy walking among us (re: a Mark Cuban or the Kennedy Clan) and our sports heroes...Comic book characters serve a fill a need in our society as an escape that seems innate within the human psyche...the need to believe in something greater than ourselves. Joseph Campbell wrote a wonderful book on this phenomenon called, "The Hero With a 1000 Faces." In general terms it can be looked at in the same light as wanting to believe in a "living God" and a "holy spirit" working among us. Star Wars foundation of the force was all about this.

But, that being said, I would also say no...because having been involved in comic books/graphic novels first as a fan and than as a career, I've seen how people deal with these icons. They truly enjoy them and will spend incredible amounts of money to get their fix (so to speak) of their favorite character's adventures, but I've seen a very small percentage of people that allow them to become the center piece of their lives and take it to a point where you'd look at their facination as worship, as opposed to entertainment. But of course there are exceptions!

But the fact that comics do tap into the same underlying need as faith can...is why I answered God's calling to create a graphic novel series that broke down the story of the birth of the Christian Faith, from the Passion week through the Book of Acts...in a comic style format. People always seem to need heroes, so why not give them the greatest ones!

If you'd like to check out what I am attempting to do, visit: www.headpress.info

Umm I watched it and letting your kids go see it wouldn't be a good idea as Dr. Manhatten never wears pants in the movie and you see more then your would want too. and it has tons of sex so it was a little to graphic in my view.

In my humble opion they are not. They are just a means to escape our present reality..

I recall reading the book. Gave all my adult purchased comics away years ago. I had purchased them during a less close time with God.
I don't recall the book being all that vile. It just depicted people doing what people do in a setting people are not put into in real life.
The Dr. Manhattan thing I find interesting to this day. He is a man/god who is losing touch with his humanity. Something Jesus wouldn't do.
But what's never mentioned in the reviews of the movie, is that at the end of the book there is a clear reference to the Book of Revelation hinting that the Ozymandias character (the villain/former ally who kills millions to unite the planet against a false threat, saving it from WWIII) is the AntiChrist.. Maybe it didn't make the movie.

Thanks for the thought. I love to watch the these cartoons, however, lately, the same thoghts have crossed my mind. It is indeed idolatry, and anpther way for the enemy to implant in our minds that we don't need God. But we do!

I think Christians forget that the final solution that their God offers is the destruction of planet earth, killing all the sinners, and the eternal torture of most of humanity in hell. This is God using "wanton violence" to not only stop evil, but this same God sustains violence against his enemies for all eternity. Hardly a hero we would want our children to learn about and emulate.

Yes, it's certainly not a movie for children...

I infer that cardw is speaking sarcastically, from either an atheist or a non-Christian theistic viewpoint, whether monotheist, polytheist, or atheist. The "Final Solution" he refers to is not, in my fallible but seldom humble opinion, God's solution. It is a solution woven by Greek philosophers and Roman patriarchs into the fabric of the Christian fellowship, as it was bureaucratized into a Church. There are Christians who do not buy it, me for one, and Seventh Day Adventists for an institutional example -- that church teaches that those who are not saved after final judgment will simply die, permanently. I believe God knew what he was doing when he provided our sun with enough fuel to last in its current state for another 5 billion years. If we destroy the planet sooner, that will be an unfortunate exercise of our free will, not an Act of God.

Getting back to superheroes, I am not a big fan, although I did read a few comic books now and then. I preferred that format to the movie format. Movies try to make these guys too realistic to be believable, whereas comics left more to the imagination, and kept the story lines appropriately simple. I don't look to either for deep spiritual inspiration.

But consider the recent movie Hancock, which was an interesting movie simply because it did put the superhero into a humorously life-like setting. There is a line where superheroes are defined as being the same thing as gods (lower case g) and angels, known by different cultures under different names. That could be an affront to the mythology many devout people rely on. Or it could be an incongruously funny idea. But I thought it ruined the second half of what started off to be a funny movie.

The thing about superheroes is that they are over-glorified law enforcers rather than saviors from our human nature. What I feel that most Christians miss when critiquing these kinds of movies is an open mind. Christians are quick to point out the immoralities of a movie and the effects it has on a small demographic. What is an idol? Anything we worship and revolve our lives around (the pursuit of money, the love of someone, our own personal goals). Kids look up, mimic, dream of becoming like a super hero. While other people look up, mimic, and dream of becoming like their parents, teachers, Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr., Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, etc. Do we consider them as idols? No, it's called heroism. They are merely human beings who set a standard of accomplishments and heroism for us to admire and to a degree, attain. Super heroes display heroic acts that saves people (the world) from acts of evil that are meant to harm people. Jesus Christ does more than save people from a physical threat; Christianity believes that he saves people from themselves, their human nature that inherently leads to eternal damnation. So if you were to ask me, are these superhero movies a form of idol worship? My answer would be, No, they are (on the surface) a form of entertainment that depicts acts of heroism from evil people that poses physical and psychological harm on people, not spiritual.

my motto is WWJD? Would you be ashamed to invited christ to sit next to you and join you in your choice of movie without being ashamed? If not, then can it! Remember that we are told "set nothing evil before your eyes"Mayra

I disagree that the love of someone is idolatry. Genesis 1:27, 2:21 and 2:23 teach me that a woman embodies everything of the image of God that I do not (I being male), and it is therefore intended that the two halves of the image of God should be attracted to reunite the Adam. Of course there are many ways to abuse our sexuality, but it is not always idolatry.

I agree with Josh and Chris's comments. But I need to say something here. I am a superhero comic book fan. But that is quickly changing. I used to like superhero movies. The devil and the world is inserting themselves into the comic book and movie industry. Hollywood does not change. Concepts of purity, good ideals, morality and traditional heroes of DC and Marvel is being hijacked by hollywood, rude young ignorant fans who cuss, mock purist comic book fans don't believe in absolutes sexual abstinence. Vulgar and apathy rule over art, beauty and good storylines.

I no longer enjoy comic book conventions. There are some good people there. But...they are not people who think and read the bible. Why must any of the movies be "adaptations"? Why so dark,gritty and no bright colors. Lots of pessimism about the world. Your industry you talk about here has changed. The comic book superhero charachters have been ruined, changed in unheroic, predictable confused immoral heroes.

I feel alone in my views. I feel troubled, because I wonder if true christians understand what I see happening now in superhero movies and comics, but also in the present world culture. The devil is winning. I dont enjoy life. Jesus and church people don't stand up for morality or conservative values in the science fiction or comic book culture. So why participate anymore in that once enjoyable past time!? Nobody fights incompetance, compromise, relativism or sexual promiscuity.

thank you for posting my comments. I would like to reitterate (spelling?) that I don't have all the answers. As an angry and struggling christian, I see again the decline of something that used to be enjoyable like comic book stories, and good comic book art, and superhero movies, to be depressing. I liked to read those things and see those movies because like appreciating firemen, policemen and other real heroes, they used to be inspiring and fun. But now that world is being used by the devil and hollywood to preach to young people that sex is okay outside marriage, that violent vigilante justice is okay, and that being noble and honest yet strong and determined, like superman or spiderman of the 70s storylines is unrealistic and unimportant.

Jesus has shown me that He would not take matters into his own hands and hurt people so we dare not be imitators of that though it can look very good to watch. I had lots more to say. Not a whole lot so do you want me to share it?

wow, a response! So somebody does read my comments. Understand that this issue is important to me. I have posted similar comments on 4 different "christian" websites that host this specific discussion, but nobody has respondes or talked with me. I have received rude and angry comments on comic book and sci fi Non christian websites that were discussing this.

Update: I now understand that I want nothing to do with most hollywood movies, most science fiction genre and comic books. You are right. The real biblical response is not a popular won. Understand that what you believe is NOT supported by other christians who have expressed their opinion on this at other blogs, message boards and other christian science fiction sites.

I have had a lot of trouble when I go to the "conventions". sin abounds. It is now a very corrupt industry and comic books and their movies are getting more cultic, dirty, antihero and gay supporting. They also have violence and support no christian values. I am out of it.

Thank you and god bless you Nick for your honesty and clarity.

Superheros are quite obviously idolized by the world; they replicate what/ who Jesus Christ is. Many of their "powers" were given to them by gods according to their biographies. People argue that they are for entertainment so they are innately harmless to indulge in. The same could be said about listening to rap music, reading romance novels, etc.. it's conditioning sin to become part of the normal construct and fabric of society and culture. Christian's who profess Christ yet adore superheroes for their supposed acts of heroism are sourly mistaken. When did Christ use violence to save the world? There are no superheroes today that took upon the sins of the world unto the point of death (the same martydom Christ calls us to partake in). They all achieve their means by destruction. Look at the spiritual aspect of this, forget the basic sinful nature of superheroes and see how satan has masqueraded himself as an angel of light in these movies. We expose our youth to these highly stimulating films which desensitize and fictionalize Jesus.