Comic Books and Religion

I was born Jewish and come from a Jewish family. I am not practicing though. I do like, however that comic books have a wide range of religions. Some of them are portrayed  in a very nice light. Others, I think in a sense, might be overdoing it. For example:  
 

Most comic characters don't really acknowledge any religion.   You mention Shadowcat as Jewish.  But so are Doc Samson and Thing.  Overall, I'd say it a pretty wide range of views.   
 
For every religion, we see comic characters who represent the good and the bad.  It is also important to note motive.  Magneto might be Jewish (since it isn't specifically stated anywhere, if I recall correctly) but his actions have nothing to do with any religion.  Shadowcat isn't really a practicing Jew, but it has a certain influence. 
 
I'm surprised you didn't focus on some other characters who are more openly religious.  Nightcrawler is devoutly Catholic, and nearly became a priest.  Dust is a good example; as was Arabian Knight before her.  But then there are other Muslim characters, such as the members of Desert Sword, who are far more violent.   We've also seen Christian fanatics like Reverend Stryker. 
 
But religion isn't seen in comics much, except for funerals.

Religion is such a touchy subject that no one will ever be able to present it without at least some dissent and maybe even major controversy.

I think religion can be sensitively handled( without hitting people over the head with the spiritual equivalent of a two-by-four), see "Remembrance Of Things Past" in which not only is Ben Grimm's Jewishness( both ethnically and in the religious sense) is well handled, but also a story in the Marvel Holiday edition of 2004 featuring the Fantastic Four in which young Franklin asks his parents and Uncles Ben and Johnny as to how they spend their Christmas( "Uncle Ben" of course as he's Jewish doesn't do Christmas, but Reed and Sue's responses to this question are the most intriguing- esp the part when Sue admits that she goes into St Patrick's Cathedral around Easter and Christmas to light a candle and pray for the deceased members of her family- she is obviously a Catholic- is there any other St.Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan belonging to another denomination?but the word in question is never used) Other characters such as Firebird, the aforementioned Nightcrawler and even Venom all have religious( usually Catholic) motivations without being overly preachy or holier- than -thou!

Terry

Nice topic.

I can't think of too many specific instances where religion was a major factor in a story arc (that I've read) but since religion plays a role in how people make decisions, I rather like the idea of it influencing comic book characters, so long as it handled as a character trait as opposed to a sweeping generalization.

depends on the writer, in some comics like Battle Pope....well....i think you get it

but for some instances, like nightcrawler or daredevil, when a good writer comes on board, it can really help flesh out the character

@victoriancuckoo said:

I can't think of too many specific instances where religion was a major factor in a story arc (that I've read) but since religion plays a role in how people make decisions, I rather like the idea of it influencing comic book characters, so long as it handled as a character trait as opposed to a sweeping generalization.

@SleepyDrug said:

Most comic characters don't really acknowledge any religion. You mention Shadowcat as Jewish. But so are Doc Samson and Thing. Overall, I'd say it a pretty wide range of views. For every religion, we see comic characters who represent the good and the bad. It is also important to note motive. Magneto might be Jewish (since it isn't specifically stated anywhere, if I recall correctly) but his actions have nothing to do with any religion. Shadowcat isn't really a practicing Jew, but it has a certain influence. I'm surprised you didn't focus on some other characters who are more openly religious. Nightcrawler is devoutly Catholic, and nearly became a priest. Dust is a good example; as was Arabian Knight before her. But then there are other Muslim characters, such as the members of Desert Sword, who are far more violent. We've also seen Christian fanatics like Reverend Stryker. But religion isn't seen in comics much, except for funerals.

Think the first time Marvel openly confirmed it, was a few years ago, in X-Men: Magneto Testament. Prior to that, I think most people just assumed he was Jewish, because of his status as a survivor (even though, Jews weren't the only group of people, murdered during the Holocaust. Romani, Sinti, Soviet prisoners of war, Polish and Soviet civilians, homosexuals, people with disabilities, Jehovah's Witnesses and other political and religious opponents. So, Magneto and/or his family could've just as easily been any of these things).

No, characters religons aren't brought up that often. I remember once, Spider-Man talked to Loki and admited believing in "a god" (but, leaving out which specific religion he belongs to, only that it's not Loki). Other than that, I can't think of many times, that a character's religion is adressed.

hmm- we KNOW that Matt Murdock, Frank Castle ( Daredevil and the Punisher respectively) are Catholic, as are the Invisible Woman and the Human Torch), but Spider Man?-

Terry

If you want a listing of what comic book character is a member o which religion (for instance did you know that Lois Lane is also Catholic, and J. Jonah Jameson's realigion is "hates Spider-man"?) then take a look at some of the lists they have at 
 
The Religious Affiliation of Comic Book Characters

 
http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/comic_book_religion.html

If anyone is interested in comics with some religious themed stories I have a few ideas:

-Daredevil: Born Again:Daredevil fall to insanity and destitution at the hands of the Kingpin, as well as his subsequent struggle to build a new life for himself. Major interest: This story-arc is where we are introduced to Daredevil being a Catholic.

-Daredevil: Guardian Devil: Daredevil suddenly takes care for an infant that may be either the Messiah or the Antichrist.

Static: Louder Than A Bomb: A three-issue story about Static putting himself between Dakota's African-American and Jewish communities when Commando X instigates a riot.

Religion in comics annoys when me they turn the old religions of myth into "regular" superheros. Thor was just as much a god as those three middle east ones are. Heck, why not make Jesus into the first mutant?

Religion, its something that has to be handled carefully. Its abused worse than drugs

Religion does have to be handled carefully in comics. Fortunately there are atheist comic book characters too to balance things out

@COBRAMORPH said:

Religion in comics annoys when me they turn the old religions of myth into "regular" superheros. Thor was just as much a god as those three middle east ones are. Heck, why not make Jesus into the first mutant?

because the first mutant, or at least one I can remember that precedes Jesus, already exists. Heck, I think there's at least 5 characters in Marvel who are mutants that precede Jesus chronologically

Also, I love the idea of turning the myths and religions of old into super heroes/ super powered people. It kinda fits with the whole "any sufficiently advanced technology will seem like magic" or the "any advanced alien species will appear as gods to less advanced sapient species" thing.