# Does Batman or Jesus seem more real to you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 18, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338 "2015-03-18T23:32:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/1 "2015-03-18T23:32:44Z")
Pick one. It’s that simple. Explain your choice, if you wish. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/2 "2015-03-18T23:37:24Z")
Although a man of many talents, Batman has not supernatural powers. So he is much more realistic that Mr. Christ. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/3 "2015-03-18T23:41:37Z")
It really depends on whether the Jesus we’re talking about is “literal Bible” Jesus, or historical “just a guy” Jesus. If the former, Batman. The latter, Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/4 "2015-03-18T23:43:57Z")
Jesus. But considering the neighborhood, I ain’t expecting Him to do well overall. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/5 "2015-03-18T23:51:58Z")
Both of these are fictional. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/6 "2015-03-18T23:52:29Z")
I didn’t vote, but I laughed at the addition of “The” in the poll options. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/7 "2015-03-18T23:54:14Z")
Jesus, in that I think it likely that there was a figure - possibly multiple figures - on whom the mythology was built upon. The ‘legend’ reply to C.S. Louis’ ‘lord, liar or lunatic’ options. Like Robin Hood or King Arthur, if you like, maybe there was someone in history they were based even if you don’t believe in the associated legends. Batman is just pure fiction, although the fiction (Zorro) that inspired him was himself partly inspired by a [real person.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaquin_Murrieta) ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/8 "2015-03-19T00:03:31Z")
I’m the first? [Batman and Jesus are the same person](https://simondrax.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/gilbertpoi_sf.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/9 "2015-03-19T00:52:52Z")
There was a preacher named Jesus in the holy land, though he certainly didn’t have supernatural powers (and IIRC, never claimedthem). So he’s a real historical figure. Batman is completely fictional. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/10 "2015-03-19T01:14:37Z")
I really enjoy both their stories. About a month ago I was watching Cecil B. DeMille’s 1927 version of _King of Kings_. The Ukulele Lady walked in and said “Why the FUCK are you watching THIS?” I said “Good story!” I feel that same way about _Batman: the Animated Series_. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/11 "2015-03-19T01:18:17Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > There was a preacher named Jesus in the holy land, though he certainly didn’t have supernatural powers (and IIRC, never claimedthem). So he’s a real historical figure. I very seriously doubt this. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/12 "2015-03-19T01:44:44Z")
To be fair, if we’re talking about Frank Miller’s “the goddamn” Batman, then I might have to vote for Batman just based on coolness factor. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/13 "2015-03-19T01:54:48Z")
I see no historical record of Batman. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/14 "2015-03-19T01:57:49Z")
At least Batman has a credible back-story, the Jesus story really had no motivation or believable foes. [that is, unless you mean **the** Jesus](http://mr.comingsoon.it/imgdb/PrimoPiano/33989_ppl.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/15 "2015-03-19T02:10:29Z")
The Flash and Green Arrow 😉 ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/16 "2015-03-19T02:15:28Z")
Jesus, hands down. But many of the stories about him are more than a tad unrealistic. I hear he chased the snakes out of Ireland! Oh? nevermind then. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/17 "2015-03-19T02:27:11Z")
I do not doubt there a historical figure who was the basis of Jesus; Batman is fiction whole (not Turin) cloth. The answer to the question: “Which set of stories associated with each character seems more compatible with reality?” would be different, in my personal opinion. But that is not what was asked. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/18 "2015-03-19T03:06:21Z")
I equate Jesus with King Arthur or Robin Hood, in that there is some suggestion they may have been based on real people, but there’s a fairly convincing argument that they’re entirely mythical. Batman has documented proof he’s made up. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/19 "2015-03-19T03:37:30Z")
Neither. One is exactly as fictional as the other. But if it were within my power to make one and only one of them real, I would make Batman real, because people would not be such self-righteous pricks about him like they are about that Jesus fellow. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338/20 "2015-03-19T03:44:15Z")
Maybe we should ask which is more realistic? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-batman-or-jesus-seem-more-real-to-you/715338.md?page=2)