Religious Inclinations of heroes

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2005-03-01 05:38pm

I started reading JLA: The Obsidian Age yesterday and in it Batman admits that he is an athiest. Wonder Woman of course a pagan of the Greek pantheon style. Superman's religion has always been left up in the air - Silver Age Supes was a believer in Kryptonian religion but retconned Superman has been left ambigiously religious. Thor is a God himself so religion is a moot point for him.

What about other heroes? I notice religion rarely plays a part in main stream superhero comics (absent things like the Vertigo line) but have you ever picked up on hints or outright admissions by some heroes as to their religious inclinations?

Seems that atheistic heroes are as rare in comics as in real life. If they are religious it's a sort judaeo christian wishy washy sort of religion.

On the other hand Daredevil for instance is a devout Catholic IIRC. Any other examples of guesses?

Crazedwraith · Post by **Crazedwraith** » 2005-03-01 05:46pm

Well any discworld hero beleives in one god or another. Atheisist tends to get thunderbolted......

Spider-Man's made references to 'God' in the JMS stories I've read so he's either jewish or a wishy-washy chrisitan of no particular discription

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-03-01 06:04pm

What kind of references to God. Atheists occassionally use phrases like "God knows" and so on.

NeoGoomba · Post by **NeoGoomba** » 2005-03-01 06:06pm

The Punisher definately knows that angels and demons exist.

*shudders at Demon Hunter Punisher*

Elheru Aran · Post by **Elheru Aran** » 2005-03-01 06:11pm

One presumes that most authors would rather avoid religious references in order to prevent offense to any parties; early PC, so to speak.

That said, there's Azrael, guy who replaced Batman during the 'Knightfall' story arc, IIRC-- a monk of the Order of St. Dumas. That would make him distinctly Catholic. Not sure about any others, though...

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2005-03-01 06:42pm

Most obvious is nightcrawler who became a priest IIRC.

The Prime Necromancer · Post by **The Prime Necromancer** » 2005-03-01 06:50pm

Kitty Pryde aka Shadowcat is Jewish, right?

Battlehymn Republic · Post by **Battlehymn Republic** » 2005-03-01 06:57pm

Perhaps I should make a thread only about the comic or religious comics in general, but has anyone read Astro City: Confession? The main character is Altar Boy, the sidekick of the Confessor, who's Catholic. There's also a born-again bunch named the Crossbreed.

Batman · Post by **Batman** » 2005-03-01 07:00pm

The Prime Necromancer wrote:Kitty Pryde aka Shadowcat is Jewish, right?

Yup. Huntress seems to be a devout catholic (makes sense given her background).
And how in Valen's name can I be an atheist? I know God exists, I fucking worked with his right-hand man.
I merely don't believe in him. Shouldn't that make me a theist?
*confused*

Elheru Aran · Post by **Elheru Aran** » 2005-03-01 07:10pm

Batman wrote: And how in Valen's name can I be an atheist? I know God exists, I fucking worked with his right-hand man.
I merely don't believe in him. Shouldn't that make me a theist?
*confused*

Er... you've worked with the Archangel Gabriel?

And as to your question, I'd say that would make you more simply an... agnostic?

Batman · Post by **Batman** » 2005-03-01 07:34pm

Elheru Aran wrote:
Batman wrote: And how in Valen's name can I be an atheist? I know God exists, I fucking worked with his right-hand man.
I merely don't believe in him. Shouldn't that make me a theist?
*confused*
Er... you've worked with the Archangel Gabriel?

Hal Jordan/The Spectre used to work directly for God.

And as to your question, I'd say that would make you more simply an... agnostic?

Agnostic believes the (non)existence of God(s) is unprovable.
I know God exists. That's pretty hard to do at the same time.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2005-03-01 07:39pm

The Thing is Jewish, IIRC. Don't know how devoutly so, though.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2005-03-01 07:54pm

Strangely most of DCU...with the exception of the Amazons and a few others, should believe in God. But not out of faith, but the fact he really does exist. Though worship is another matter entirely.

And before one goes "Light show." Does it matter, if it's some uber being or really the divine. This version of God actually for all intents and purpose, doesn't care for worship(though I hated that Wonder Woman arc that tried to go DnD Diety power....which makes no sense because if you only require basically a small island of chicks believeing in you to be able to blow up small moons...then how does that leap to 1 billion yabbo allowing to render creation asunder....hate to see what X'Hal is given she has a entire star Cluster worshipping her....guess she outranks God.) and is really that strong. He does many deeds to prove to the average yabbo he is God. And for the most part, man isn't going to qustion a being that does squash you.

Which is another interesting point. In DCU , God is rather a fickle and mean being. Yet the general though of religon is he's still the same gentle being who helps people...yet allows all sort of shit to happen for really the fuck all reasons that even his agents question.

Seriously if I knew Gopd existed yet was basically a whiny brat child with loads of power...not going to go "Up yours, GOD!!!" knowing full well tomorrow I will be a frog inside a star, but really would you worship that?

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » 2005-03-01 07:57pm

Imperial Overlord wrote:What kind of references to God. Atheists occassionally use phrases like "God knows" and so on.

It's more than that. In a recent issue, and I don't remember which one, he has a kind of monologue to himself where he says something to the effect of: "God, I know you and I have 'issues', but thank you for giving me a beautiful wife whom I love dearly." I doubt there's anything more beyond being a wishy-washy Christian.

Why he can't thank Mary Jane herself I don't know...

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2005-03-01 08:55pm

Batman wrote: Agnostic believes the (non)existence of God(s) is unprovable.
I know God exists. That's pretty hard to do at the same time.

Sounds like a Deist.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2005-03-01 10:14pm

what category would Constantine fall under? he knows god and the devil exist. he's literally given the finger to the three rulers of hell and caused an archangel to fall from grace. course he despises catholicism with an extreme passion. can't say he doesn't believe in them, since he's had first hand encounters. so. where would he fit in?

lgot · Post by **lgot** » 2005-03-01 10:49pm

Wolverine also proclaims to not trust any God to save him but he does not disbelief him. Which is pretty much the best logic possible in DC and Marvel also, because the existense of God(s) there is without doubt.
I remember an old number of Avengers - It was when John Byrne, George Perez and John Buscema are working with it and they go inside a Church (or a Convent) and Thor says he felt not confortable inside there because of the religious stuff.
About worshiping there is also the story where Loki kidnaps Scott Summers and Magdalaine (when they are married still) and a few friends when they are traveling in one plane and later the X-man go there to rescue them (The art was Paul Smith's) and Loki tried to give them - humans - special skills but they would be grateful and worship him (although of course he does not revel that part because it was really not that important).
One of the best things is also in The Ultimate (the version of Avengers) with a Thor with a vision more world-wise. He does also proclaims to be a God all the time...great stuff..

Darth Sephiroth · Post by **Darth Sephiroth** » 2005-03-01 11:05pm

Daredevil is a Roman Catholic, not sure which one Illuminator was (an old Marvel comic that lasted for 12 Issues, great stuff though) though he was definately a Christian of some kind, fought all sorts of demonic critters. One thing that is strange is how many worlds have demons without angels involved, one side gets over represented.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2005-03-02 12:19am

Batman wrote:
Elheru Aran wrote:
Batman wrote: And how in Valen's name can I be an atheist? I know God exists, I fucking worked with his right-hand man.
I merely don't believe in him. Shouldn't that make me a theist?
*confused*
Er... you've worked with the Archangel Gabriel?
Hal Jordan/The Spectre used to work directly for God.
And as to your question, I'd say that would make you more simply an... agnostic?
Agnostic believes the (non)existence of God(s) is unprovable.
I know God exists. That's pretty hard to do at the same time.

Uh-oh, contradictions. Time for another Crisis.

Kon_El · Post by **Kon_El** » 2005-03-02 01:45am

Batman wrote:
Elheru Aran wrote:
Batman wrote: And how in Valen's name can I be an atheist? I know God exists, I fucking worked with his right-hand man.
I merely don't believe in him. Shouldn't that make me a theist?
*confused*
Er... you've worked with the Archangel Gabriel?
Hal Jordan/The Spectre used to work directly for God.
And as to your question, I'd say that would make you more simply an... agnostic?
Agnostic believes the (non)existence of God(s) is unprovable.
I know God exists. That's pretty hard to do at the same time.

Batman also worked with an angel in the JLA for a while,,,, what was his name?

Dick Grayson is a christan. Wasn't anything that played into any storylines but he had a bible and a few other things in his apartment. Chuck Dixion was asked about it in an interview once.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2005-03-02 02:13am

In the DC-verse isn't there some weird thing where most if not all the religions are true if enough people believe? Or was that only for Vertigo?

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » 2005-03-02 02:14am

Darth_Zod wrote:what category would Constantine fall under? he knows god and the devil exist. he's literally given the finger to the three rulers of hell and caused an archangel to fall from grace. course he despises catholicism with an extreme passion. can't say he doesn't believe in them, since he's had first hand encounters. so. where would he fit in?

Antitheist, perhaps?

Sriad · Post by **Sriad** » 2005-03-02 02:45am

Kon_El wrote:Batman also worked with an angel in the JLA for a while,,,, what was his name?

Yea, Zauriel.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2005-03-02 07:12am

neoolong wrote:In the DC-verse isn't there some weird thing where most if not all the religions are true if enough people believe? Or was that only for Vertigo?

They tried to do it in the God War for Wonder Woman.

Basically it was a way to justify how the heck the Greek Gods exist as gods, because they are worshiped, and why the Judeo-Christian God is so powerful.

Also like I said in my post, it makes no sense given that all he has is one planet, and cause things to affect universally, while X'Hal has a star system or two and can only squash a few worlds and stars.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2005-03-02 12:09pm

Since this seems to come up time and again, just because some one knows "gods" doesn't mean they believe they're anything more than powerful beingings. In comics where every one and their mother can have superpowers, it stands to reason that they could easily enough believe that those guys are just a cut or two above the rest, but are not deserving of deification with all the worship and hoopla that goes with it.