The Christian narrative goes something like this:
Sin entered the world with Adam and Eve.
Four thousand years later that sin was paid for, and mankind redeemed, by the blood sacrifice of Jesus.
It’s all perfectly pleasant (unless you happened to be on the receiving end of Yahweh’s wrath in the 4,000-year interim), but did it really happen?
Fundamentalist Christians will blithely state (with zero justification) that it’s all historical fact.
Moderate Christians who (ironically) know their bible better than their fundy cousins, are more hesitant to do so.
That raises a problem though.
If it didn’t really happen, then what … ?
Is it just an elaborate metaphor? Is the mere story of Jesus’ sacrifice so iconic that it merits all this attention?
Surely not. As a sacrificial story, it’s far from impressive.
Despite Mel Gibson’s special effects budget, Jesus’ suffering was no worse than any other enemies of the Roman Empire.
And unlike his fellow crucifees, Jesus got to go home afterwards, as if nothing had happened! Some sacrifice.
If you really want to talk sacrifice, and I mean sacrifice with genuine human consequences, then I’ve got some stories much more worthy of analysis from the pulpit.
C
asablanca [1942]
Stuck in an African backwater, Rick is given the opportunity to keep his long-lost love or contribute to the war effort. It tears him up inside but he chooses to give up both the girl and his sacred neutrality.
I’m fine, I’ve just got something in my eye.
Donnie Darko [2001]
To save Gretchen, Donnie has to give up his own life. But with time spinning around like a psychotic 4-year-old he has to do it before she ever actually meets him.
So she never knows what he does for her.
And finally …
The Dark Knight [2008]
Gotham needs its hero, but Batman will have to be that hero without any recognition. Worse, he’ll be hated and feared by the people he’s helping. He knows this, and he goes ahead and does it anyway.
I love this last one. It kind of makes Jesus’ constant demands to be revered and worshipped seem a little pathetic, doesn’t it?
6 comments:
What about Bring It On? Torrens gives up the national cheerleading championship trophy for the sake of a fair competition.
:)
To be honest, Batman, especially in Dark Knight, shat me up the wall. Just take the goddamn girl AND do the rescuing and stop being such a whiny little bitch.
Iron Man showed the world how to be a hero AND have fun at the same time. That's the kind of figure I would look up to.
I think it's interesting that, in the four stories you recount here, (and there are many many others) it seems it's impossible to save someone without sacrifice. It's inherent in our mythos that help comes with sacrifice. We don't as a society, tend to respect the win win situation.
Rob, just a question dude, are you insane? Who doesn't think the Bat Man is the shizzle?
I think the most pertinent and thought provoking story of our times is of course Cars. Lightning McQueen's sacrafice of the race to his arch rival, is so.....so....I'm not crying....it's just been raining on my face....
Anyway, back to the 'story' at hand - there's better stories with less plot holes than the zombie Jesus - but none as much fun to take the mickey out of.
Hmmm, perhaps I was a tad negative and misrepresentative. there. I loved Batman Begins, and of course Adam West.
For crying out loud, July was your last post !!!
I look back with nostalgia to the days of lively daily christian baiting and debating.
Come on Matt !
Post !
You have an interested ( if small ) audience !
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