Faith in Film — Superman Returns

I want to thank everyone who attended last night. I thought it was a really great discussion and I appreciated hearing all your ideas. I hope that everyone got something out of the discussion and was encouraged in their faith. I am a strong believer that, as the Bible says, "Iron sharpens iron," and participating in group discussions like last night helps us all grow and think deeply about our faith.

Here is a summary of some of my speaking notes on "Superman Returns."

The film is not a reboot but actually a sequel. It's meant to be placed after "Superman II" in the cannon of Superman films. The film, directed by Bryan Singer, has some great cinematic value, but it takes an interesting position on what Superman stands for. In the documentary "Look Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman," Singer says he believes Superman is a Judeo-Christian allegory. I believe that's key to our understanding of what he does in the film.

Also key to understanding a bit of Superman is looking at the historical and background context of his creation. Superman was created in 1932 to Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster, two Jewish immigrants. He was created during one of the worst periods in U.S. history, during the Great Depression. I think that informs a lot of the ideas around his creation. Superman served as a social crusader and his super-powered nature make him somewhat similar to the ideal Jews had about what the Savior would look like.

I think Singer takes that a step farther with "Superman Returns." There are several not-so-subtle ways in which the film intimates that Superman is our Savior, borrowing liberally from the Bible. Superman is depicted as our savior, is beaten and wounded and mocked on our behalf, dies saving us and rises from the dead, or eternal great protector. All of that is embedded in a movie that also has the trappings of a great super hero film, comedy, and romance, so it subtly seeks to inform our perspective.

The most jarring example, for me, is when Superman is floating over the Earth while his father, in voice over, says, "Live as one of them, Kal-El, to discover where your strength and your power are needed. Always hold in your heart the pride of your special heritage. They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you, my only son."

This is a clear imitation of the greatest Scripture, John 3:16, only the filmmakers distort the message. In "Superman Returns" the savior is depicted as being a power force that comes to offer us salvation because we're so worthy. That is a perversion of the message of the Gospel. Jesus didn't come to Earth because we were so good, he became because he was so good. He loved us so much that he sacrificed his life for us even though we did not deserve it. That is the heart of the Gospel.

In the end, this secular messiah allegory for superman falls short the same way non-believers often fall short. It's logical to recognize salvation and want it to come in an easy-to-swallow form. Superman is the perfect savior because he fills our needs and requires nothing of us in return. Real salvation requires faith, and it's hard. It requires work, but the rewards are so much greater.

Next week, we'll look at Jurassic Park. Hope to see you there.