Superman Spirituality: Is Hollywood Manipulating Christians?

RELIGION NEWS SERVICE
By Jonathan Merritt

HOLLYWOOD---A father figure from another world sends his only begotten son to Earth who, at 33 years old, must sacrifice himself to save the human race. Is this the narrative of Jesus and the Christian gospel? No. It’s the storyline from this week’s blockbuster, “Man of Steel.” Is Hollywood manipulating Christians to turn a buck? On the one hand, there is much to applaud in Hollywood’s effort to explore religious themes through film and television. Too much of it is merely mindless entertainment without any redemptive elements to speak of. The more art produced that expresses the good, true, and beautiful, the better. And yet, the whole ordeal makes me a little uncomfortable because it represents another step forward in the commodification of Christianity. [link] (A&O Rating: ★★)