The Messiah Protocol

Why is there so much Jesus imagery in superhero films? Why do directors or writers see this as necessary for the plot? We've all seen it in Superman, Spider man, Watchmen and many other superhero films, and yet some people can get so irritated by this (I'm looking at you Doug Walker). Me personally, I've never noticed until it was brought up, and I don't know if it was intentional or subconscious, but I believe it almost serves the plot. This is my theory I like to call: The Messiah Protocol.

A messiah is, according to most religious article's, a savior or liberator of a group of people. It appeared in the Hebrew Bible as a person anointed by god to be a leader, usually of the line of David. This has translated into other religions with Christianity (Jesus Christ), Islam (Mahdi), Judaism (Cyrus the Great) and many others. It is said the Messiah will come at the end of days(Apocalypse, judgement Day, etc.) to defeat the Anti-Christ.

 The state of the world is seen as hopelessly flawed beyond normal human powers of correction, and divine intervention through a specially selected and supported human is seen as necessary.

Understanding this we can see why Jesus imagery is commonly associated with a lot of Superhero's. They are humans or beings whom, by divine intervention or otherwise, will use the gift's that are bestowed upon them to save mankind. Like most who have claimed to be the Messiah or actually were the Messiah, they will be persecuted, hated and looked down upon by the very people he was sent to save, he will sustain heavy loss and pain to achieve his goal and in some cases die as a martyr for the evil in the world. They then returns in their purest form of good to finally finish their duty that took them so long to perform. It is for these reasons I see the likes of Superman, Spider man, The Doctor, The Avatar and so many others you could fill this in, who exhibit certain qualities of the selfless martyr and strong willed being. So I list the certain qualities universally accepted as being associated with the Messiah:

• Selfless
• Martyr
• Strong willed
• Pure
• Good
• Determined

Seeing these, do you know of any others in fiction or elsewhere who support these traits. I also provide this list of abilities usually associated with the Messiah:

• Strength in mind or body
• Intellect
• Multilingual
• Above average Human abilities (Strength, Speed, Stamina)
• Low-Medium level manipulation/control of outcomes of events due to intervention
• Regenerative or the ability to come back to life (albeit in a short space of seconds or over many years)
• Healing of others Physically or mentally

This whole idea is a representative of the theory of Multi-verse. The fact that there are multiple universes comprised of similar principles of the universe: Time, Matter, Space, Energy. I also find intriguing Fictional Realism.  

The view that because fictions exist, fictional characters exist as well. There are fictional entities, in the same sense in which, setting aside philosophical disputes, there are people, Mondays, numbers and planets.

And my theory of the Messiah in fiction revolves to a protocol. Where choice and morality exists, as part of protocol, a Messiah must too exist as a balance or factor of an equation. There too must exist the Anti-Christ, also to balance the universal equation of morality and choice.

So understanding why it is necessary, how is it done and identified? The character of Superman was written by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who were Jewish. Beings like Hercules or Samson inspired the creation, but I dare say a bit of the Jewish religion came through in the form of a prophet like Moses, as both share origins somewhat similar to each other. 

This is all of course theory and opinion. People of Atheism/Agnostic or people of religion or faith may choose to believe in something, just as long as they believe and do good by it. I would like to hear your opinion of this theory and your ideas of the likes of the Messiah in fiction. Please do so by comments on the blog, Facebook or Twitter.