Faith in Thor

Faith in Film: THOR

We are a movie-loving country. In many ways the cinema has supplanted the Bible as our reservoir for shared images and stories, familiar quotations and lessons. But what amazes me is how much religion remains deeply embedded in popular films, intentionally or otherwise, and how most of us never notice it. Take, for example, Thor. Thor is a Marvel Comics superhero based on the Scandinavian deity of the same name. The first Thor film came out in 2011, followed by a sequel, The Dark World, in 2013. Both movies exist within the larger continuity of the Avengers franchise, which currently boasts some nine films with at least three more currently in production.

With its Norse design and Viking sensibilities, one might think that Thor would draw most of its inspiration from pagan mythology. But let’s lay out the plot for a moment: the god Thor is sent to earth by his wise and mighty Allfather, where he lives out a mortal life; he suffers, serves others, finds meaning in the simple things of life, and lives in the desert with loveable outcasts; finally, when a dark power (the trickster god Loki) threatens to destroy Thor and anyone around him, a very human Thor surrenders himself, defenseless, and sacrifices his life to save others, both strangers and friends. Of course, in this selfless death he reveals his true divinity, and he rises up from the earth full of divine glory. Loki is quickly defeated by the risen Thor and earth (not to mention a few other planets in the universe) is saved! Thor then ascends into heaven, and his friends eagerly await the day when he will come again.

This, friends, is not a pagan story. Humble divinity? Dining with outcasts? A god who offers up his own life to save others, only then to rise again with death defeated? The Thor of legend never did such things; but Jesus Christ certainly has. It seems that our culture is still Christian enough that we cannot imagine godhood without the attributes of the Christ, our God made flesh. Similar themes can be found throughout the Avengers franchise: Captain America’s self-sacrifice and resurrection in his first film, for example, or Iron Man’s selfless bravery in The Avengers movie. Superheroes are saturated in mythology and religious sensibility, but since the earliest days of Superman, these modern gods have been at heart far more Judeo-Christian than pagan. As always, our God finds us in the places we least expect to find Him.