Jesus and Superman? Superjesus?
Sounds weird? Definitely.
Superman has been called on to help in the classroom. The subject? Jesus Christ, morality and religious thinking. It may be his toughest assignment 
Experts say that using a fictional character, like Superman, can help students learn and focus better.
“Research has shown that the use of films, including Star Wars, Saving Private Ryan and The Matrix, increases pupils’ motivation and helps them to a better understanding of abstract concepts”, says Helen Cook, of Sheffield Hallam University.
Now, the similarities that Hellen Cook finds are very funny yet interesting:
• Both arrive on Earth in unusual circumstances after being sent by their fathers
• Both move from relative obscurity to a prominent adulthood
• Both are able to help the humans they are sent to live with
• Both struggle to stand up for truth against injustice and evil
The Rev Dr John Gay, the Church of England’s spokesman on religious education, said analogies could be a highly effective teaching technique as long as they are used carefully. “They go right back to the parables.”
Source: The Telegraph
Lisa Gardner said,
March 20, 2006 @ 9:27 am
Very unique message. How you can make equation with Jesus Christ and Superman?
Larry Stevens said,
March 27, 2006 @ 12:46 pm
Lisa Gardner said,
” Very unique message. How you can make equation with Jesus Christ and Superman?”
They are both mythical characters of course
neil spencer said,
April 13, 2006 @ 2:15 pm
Have to agree with Dr Gay about films. As the Head of Religious Education at a large Church of England high school the use of film clips and a variety of music seems to engage pupils at all levels. My only concern is that Dr Gay has only just found this out….we teachers have been using such material for years in our classroom. Maybe this is another example of how out of touch most of the clergy are when it comes to what goes at the chalk face!
chris condit said,
April 24, 2006 @ 2:26 pm
hello?! “both are mythical characters?” Jesus is a historic figure who has been proven to have lived, in the Bible, in the writing of Josephus, and countless other historians who mention him.
don’t make blatantly wrong comments treating them like they are fact - do your homework.
as a student pastor, i’ve been using analogy and film/movies as much as possible to show how stories always relate back to the basic message of the Bible. it always seems to come down to good vs. evil, love that reaches beyond all measure. not ALL clergy are out of touch!
chris
Mild Mannered said,
April 25, 2006 @ 5:51 pm
Apparently, there’s a new book about the connection. It’s called The Gospel According to the World’s Greatest Superhero. It says the Superman storytellers based Superman on Jesus on purpose. Check it out.
http://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books_nonfictionbook.cfm?productID=6918121
Julian said,
April 25, 2006 @ 6:35 pm
Thanks for the link Mild Mannered
Larry Stevens said,
May 1, 2006 @ 5:32 pm
Hi!! Both are indeed mythical characters. And by mythical I mean “stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use supernatural events or characters to explain the nature of the universe and humanity” -Wikipedia.
In my opinion one story is far more belivable. There are probably just as many books and articles and evidence for superman than there is for jesus.
Now I just finished my homework and I couldn’t find a single historian that mentions jesus to be traced back to actually having been alive when jesus was supposed to be.
I think its your turn to not make “blatantly wrong comments treating them like they are fact” - I challenge you to do your homework.
Mild Mannered said,
May 3, 2006 @ 1:29 pm
Please find a single historian that mentions Alexander the Great to be traced back to actually having been alive when Alexander the Great was alive.
Next, please find a single historian that mentions Larry Stevens to be traced back to actually having been alive when Larry Stevens was alive.
The latter comparison is actually more valid than you might think. The Son of God descending, living and finally dying as a sacrifice for the sins of man could not possibly appear on the periphery of human historical record keeping, could it? And yet it did.
A better question might be to ask, how could such a lowly man–one who you suggest did not even exist–possibly make such an impact as to change the course of human history, such that we (you and I) are still talking about him today.
Anne Peterson - Superman Lover said,
May 9, 2006 @ 4:09 pm
Another parallel between Jesus and Superman is that they both have power, but suffer. Obviously, Jesus suffered a lot more, but one of the main themes of Superman is that he suffers behind his secret identity and can’t identify himself to the one he loves (Lois Lane) and his love for others is his “weakness”.