Marvel has decided to open this years' series of comic films with an introduction to Thor. I had the opportunity to see the film this past Saturday. What would've been more befitting is if I had seen the film on Thursday instead - given that Thursday is Thor's Day.
Although I've never been an avid comic reader, I have always had an affinity for super-heros. The theologian in me appreciates an illustration of evil in epic proportions. The elevation of evil on such a grand scale requires an epic hero and this is the function of the super-hero. The super-hero has been endowed with phenomenal power as a means to combat an all encompassing evil that threatens the well-being of the whole human race for eternity - if left unchecked. This is really no different, however, than the stories of mythology found in antiquity. Mythological heros, like their modern counterparts, both take on a soteriological quality. By taking on the role as savior, the very fate of mankind depends on the outcome of armageddon like battles that only true heros can reign in victory and defeat the forces of evil.
Through the power of cinema, if we allow ourselves to be carried away with illusion of film, we can indulge in an escape and envision ourselves as a super-hero fighting and conquering evil. When Thor is used as the instrument of this fantasy fulfillment, we find ourselves not only fighting evil through the use of a hammer but we find ourselves involved in a fantasy that has real world roots as well.
Long before there was a Marvel Comics, there was the god of Thunder in Norse mythology. Merrill Kaplan, assistant professor of Folklore and Scandinavian Studies at The Ohio State University, explains that her students sometimes carry a look of confusion when they realize that Marvel Thor is not the same as the one that we have from mythology. It's also true, as well, that Marvel movie Thor may not be identical to the Marvel comic book Thor that you grew up reading. I think that we have all come to and have accepted this realization; movies rarely, if ever, stay true to literary canon. With this in mind, it should not surprise us that the hero in film does not stay true to his mythological archetype. Cinematic Thor, for example, has blond hair and a neatly short trimmed beard that are more at home in Hollywood than the rustic red haired and thick bearded Thor found in Norse mythology. The Cinematic Thor has also reached a proportion that outmatches his mythical counterpart. Movie Thor does not require a belt nor glove to endow him with the strength to pick up his hammer unlike the mythical Thor that requires these items.
Regardless of how movie Thor stacks up against the mythological version, one thing has remained a constant. Thor in any variety is a hero. Both in film and mythology, Thor protects the Earth and saves us from the giants of evil. Thor has great strength that is a differentiating factor that we can never imitate. His heart that he has in all he does, however, is a quality that we can aspire to have in spite of our many limitations. It is in our similarities that we want to identify with Thor. We want to be strong like a Norris mythical god and we want to be exalted the way Thor is when he saves the day. We want to be loved the way Thor is when he receives pagan homage. The Thor of mythology, for example, was praised by pagans that asked for success in battle. Similarly, we may want others to submit to our authority and ask for our approval concerning a variety of matters. The Thor in mythology had places and people named after him. At the same time, how much do we long for recognition and acknowledgement from others? The Thor in mythology even found his way in prose by being the subject matter in poetry of the era. In the same way, how many of us seek a celebrity status or hold a desire to see our mention immortalized in history books?
As much as we long to identify with Thor through his strengths, we perhaps may identify with him more readily through his weaknesses. The Thor that I found in the movie was an immature man that had not yet learned to harness his strength through the power of his intellect. It took the wisdom and love of a father that would teach this god a lesson that only a king could teach. We are by no means a mythological god but how well do we identify with the role of a son that is lovingly disciplined by and through the love of a Father (Hebrews 12:6)?
In the movie, Thor is a savior that is full of pride and vanity. Thor's father strips him of his deistic power so that he can learn humility and perhaps develop compassion for those that he is predestined to protect. In reality, our Father who art in Heaven has given us Christ crucified. The Father sent the Son, not as a punishment for any wrong doing on the Son's part, but to endure punishment for the sins incurred on our part. Thor had to satisfy the wrath of a god for his wrong doings. He had to suffer loss in order to be made worthy. In Christ, we are adopted as sons because Christ endured the wrath of God on our behalf. As new creatures in Christ, we loose our pride and vanity - not to be worthy but because He is worthy!
With Thor, we are presented with action packed scenes full of stunts and feats as our hero fights Frost Giants. This, however, plays as more of a backdrop for another theme that permeates throughout the movie. Given that the focus of the film includes the dynamics between a father and a son and includes jealousy that an inferior brother has for his superior sibling as well as an all out effort for reconciliation for all parties involved, etc, Thor is about family. It is this familial theme that is perhaps more endearing to us than our desire to envision ourselves as superheros fighting to save the day. It is the family that everyone in all cultures and in all eras that unites all of humanity. In the beginning, starting with the book of Genesis, we start with the making of the family. As with all families, at some point in time we encounter discontent, pride and a lack of faith. In Thor, the burden of reconciliation to restore the family rests on Thor's mighty shoulders. In reality, we are too weak to reconcile matters on our own part. In reality, we have to become less so that He may be more. In reality, it is not our deeds that reconcile us unto God but it is by His grace that we are saved through our faith that we have in Him that saves us. It is only through Christ crucified that we are reconciled unto God.
If the burdens of this world overwhelm you and you lack the power of Thor to overcome your battles, rest in Christ for He is the true vine and we are the branch (John 15:5). It is only through Christ will we be reconciled unto God and be a part of an eternal family that has been restored according to His glory, according to His will that rests in His good pleasure. Take comfort in that our restoration does not rest in winning epic battles found in a tale of Thor wielding a hammer. We are, instead, made worthy and restored through the blood of the Lamb and it is with His sword we fight the good battle and are made victors through Christ.
Through the power of cinema, if we allow ourselves to be carried away with illusion of film, we can indulge in an escape and envision ourselves as a super-hero fighting and conquering evil. When Thor is used as the instrument of this fantasy fulfillment, we find ourselves not only fighting evil through the use of a hammer but we find ourselves involved in a fantasy that has real world roots as well.
Long before there was a Marvel Comics, there was the god of Thunder in Norse mythology. Merrill Kaplan, assistant professor of Folklore and Scandinavian Studies at The Ohio State University, explains that her students sometimes carry a look of confusion when they realize that Marvel Thor is not the same as the one that we have from mythology. It's also true, as well, that Marvel movie Thor may not be identical to the Marvel comic book Thor that you grew up reading. I think that we have all come to and have accepted this realization; movies rarely, if ever, stay true to literary canon. With this in mind, it should not surprise us that the hero in film does not stay true to his mythological archetype. Cinematic Thor, for example, has blond hair and a neatly short trimmed beard that are more at home in Hollywood than the rustic red haired and thick bearded Thor found in Norse mythology. The Cinematic Thor has also reached a proportion that outmatches his mythical counterpart. Movie Thor does not require a belt nor glove to endow him with the strength to pick up his hammer unlike the mythical Thor that requires these items.
Regardless of how movie Thor stacks up against the mythological version, one thing has remained a constant. Thor in any variety is a hero. Both in film and mythology, Thor protects the Earth and saves us from the giants of evil. Thor has great strength that is a differentiating factor that we can never imitate. His heart that he has in all he does, however, is a quality that we can aspire to have in spite of our many limitations. It is in our similarities that we want to identify with Thor. We want to be strong like a Norris mythical god and we want to be exalted the way Thor is when he saves the day. We want to be loved the way Thor is when he receives pagan homage. The Thor of mythology, for example, was praised by pagans that asked for success in battle. Similarly, we may want others to submit to our authority and ask for our approval concerning a variety of matters. The Thor in mythology had places and people named after him. At the same time, how much do we long for recognition and acknowledgement from others? The Thor in mythology even found his way in prose by being the subject matter in poetry of the era. In the same way, how many of us seek a celebrity status or hold a desire to see our mention immortalized in history books?
As much as we long to identify with Thor through his strengths, we perhaps may identify with him more readily through his weaknesses. The Thor that I found in the movie was an immature man that had not yet learned to harness his strength through the power of his intellect. It took the wisdom and love of a father that would teach this god a lesson that only a king could teach. We are by no means a mythological god but how well do we identify with the role of a son that is lovingly disciplined by and through the love of a Father (Hebrews 12:6)?
In the movie, Thor is a savior that is full of pride and vanity. Thor's father strips him of his deistic power so that he can learn humility and perhaps develop compassion for those that he is predestined to protect. In reality, our Father who art in Heaven has given us Christ crucified. The Father sent the Son, not as a punishment for any wrong doing on the Son's part, but to endure punishment for the sins incurred on our part. Thor had to satisfy the wrath of a god for his wrong doings. He had to suffer loss in order to be made worthy. In Christ, we are adopted as sons because Christ endured the wrath of God on our behalf. As new creatures in Christ, we loose our pride and vanity - not to be worthy but because He is worthy!
With Thor, we are presented with action packed scenes full of stunts and feats as our hero fights Frost Giants. This, however, plays as more of a backdrop for another theme that permeates throughout the movie. Given that the focus of the film includes the dynamics between a father and a son and includes jealousy that an inferior brother has for his superior sibling as well as an all out effort for reconciliation for all parties involved, etc, Thor is about family. It is this familial theme that is perhaps more endearing to us than our desire to envision ourselves as superheros fighting to save the day. It is the family that everyone in all cultures and in all eras that unites all of humanity. In the beginning, starting with the book of Genesis, we start with the making of the family. As with all families, at some point in time we encounter discontent, pride and a lack of faith. In Thor, the burden of reconciliation to restore the family rests on Thor's mighty shoulders. In reality, we are too weak to reconcile matters on our own part. In reality, we have to become less so that He may be more. In reality, it is not our deeds that reconcile us unto God but it is by His grace that we are saved through our faith that we have in Him that saves us. It is only through Christ crucified that we are reconciled unto God.
If the burdens of this world overwhelm you and you lack the power of Thor to overcome your battles, rest in Christ for He is the true vine and we are the branch (John 15:5). It is only through Christ will we be reconciled unto God and be a part of an eternal family that has been restored according to His glory, according to His will that rests in His good pleasure. Take comfort in that our restoration does not rest in winning epic battles found in a tale of Thor wielding a hammer. We are, instead, made worthy and restored through the blood of the Lamb and it is with His sword we fight the good battle and are made victors through Christ.
May it all be for His glory,
Wade C. Davis
