Faith in Film 2, Superman Returns

Tonight marks the third time I have taught this lesson — one variation during my first "Faith in Film" class and once to the Junior High Group. I like to think I've gotten better at explaining the imagery used in the film, but I also know that I have discovered more nuances every time I've explored this film. This time is no exception. Even up to today I was refining some of the vision of what I wanted to share.

The Christian author Donald Miller said, "Narrative has an unbelievable ability to adjust your moral compass." I believe that all art, which is what film is at its core, serves as a reflection of the beliefs and values of its creators. In this case, that happens to be the filmmakers. The key is being able to uncover those messages embedded in the film, and that's what the Faith in Film class is all about.

Superman is one of the oldest superheroes in our culture. Each culture has had something akin to superheroes, with the Greek and Roman culture including a dense mythology of the "gods." Superheroes seem to take that function in our culture, which helps explain why Superman is endowed with many of the attributes we'd ascribe to God. It's also what makes him the most deistic of all our modern superheroes.

Director Bryan Singer doesn't shy away from that with "Superman Returns," in fact he uses that and borrows heavily from the Biblical account of Jesus Christ in constructing a Superman that satisfies a longing in all of us for a savior. But he creates a humanistic savior — what we might refer to as a secular messiah.

The film includes a close parody of John 3:16, the most famous and foundational verse in Christianity, as well as a version of the death and resurrection story. All of it is done in an effort to cement the idea of Superman as our savior, which he in fact calls himself at one point in the film.

Superman, as presented in "Superman Returns," is the perfect savior for a humanistic society. He is an all-powerful, noble being who lives to make our lives better. He saves us when we're in trouble, he protects us, he intercedes for us and he asks nothing in return. And, as the film twists the message of the Gospel, he does this all because of "our capacity for good." His father says, "The can be a great people Kal-El, they wish to be, they need only the light to show them the way." That is what the humanist would like to believe of mankind, that at our core we are basically good. The Bible indicates otherwise.

In stripping down the mythology of Jesus Christ and making it more friendly to our modern culture, the film also destroys what makes Jesus Christ such an inspiring example to all of those who truly know, love, and worship him. He sacrificed himself not because we're so worthy, but in spite of how unworthy we are. 1 John 4:9-12 says, "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

Now that's what a real savior looks like.