Superman or Super Idol? America's Obsession with Cinematic Idolatry
by Ed Enochs
Theological Nomad,
The Evangelical Debate Society
"Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen" (Romans 1:25).
Today marks the nationwide release of the summer motion picture blockbuster, Superman Returns. As many American's rush towards the theaters to experience firsthand, the latest and greatest groovy cinematic exploits of the man from Krypton, I am left wondering if contemporary Americana's fixation on fictitious Super heroes in glorified pajama's, leaves me wondering if there isn't something inherent within humanity that longs for to worship a figure that is greater than the themselves.
The wild cultural popularity of this super hero genre of films that has emerged from Hollywood is a seeming verification of the eminent German theologian and comparative religion scholar Rudolf Otto's thesis in his seminal and epic sociological work entitled, The Idea of the Holy, wherein Otto argues that all people in all cultures at all times seek to worship something that transcends the mundane. Otto argues that all men and women, irrespective of social stature and geographical location seek the numinous, or a non-rational, non-sensory experience of feeling whose primary and immediate object of fixation is external or outside of ones self. Otto derived this conception based on the Latin "numen" (Deity).
Popular American culture's worship and fascination with make believe hero's demonstrates the innate depravity of the human heart wherein people generally worship the created thing or make up "god's" for themselves like Aaron making the golden calf for the children of Israel. A pagan god that gives them some sense of spiritual satisfaction without the accountability to the true and living God as revealed in Holy Scripture. This universal trend towards depravity and idolatry is what the Apostle Paul refers to in Romans chapter one when he writes under the infallible guidance of the Holy Spirit,
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles" (Romans 1:18-23).
While the general American populace does not worship idols made with hands (unless you count their obsession with bigger and better homes and SUV's) yet this transcendent depraved condition towards idolatry is witnesses by our culture's worship of music stars, sports players and movie stars.
As Christians in a postmodern world given over to style without substance, to worship without accountability, we must turn to the preeminece of Jesus Christ and avoid drinking the sweet , indulgent Kool Aid of popular American culture that is good old satanic idolatry in disguise.
"Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross" (Colossians 1:14-20).
We must turn from our idolatry and abject sinfulness towards the true and living God who sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ into the world to die upon the cross for our sins and rise again from the dead to give us eternal life if we sincerely repent from our sins and believe in the Gospel.
"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31).
