# The Religious Affiliation of Comic Book Characters **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 16, 2006, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573 "2006-03-16T05:58:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/1 "2006-03-16T05:58:21Z")
[The Religious Affiliation of Comic Book Characters](http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/comic_book_religion.html) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/2 "2006-03-16T06:16:25Z")
I like how all the atheists are villains. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/3 "2006-03-16T06:35:39Z")
Not all, though. There are a bunch of atheist/agnostic superheroes on that list. From what I can see, you’ve got: Mastadon Black Widow Blackhawk Arsenic The Savage Dragon The Atheist (duh) Booster Gold Starman Colossus Green Arrow Mr. Terrific Pete Wisdom the second Flash the Hulk ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/4 "2006-03-16T06:44:11Z")
Dr. Leslie Thompkins apparently counts as a “goddess worshipper” because she referred to God as a “she” once. And “pro-abortion activist” is a religion now, I guess. And, oddly enough, there are about equal numbers of voodoo-practicing heroes and villains. And they had Wolverine turn to christianity in the first X-Men series? I missed _that_ on. (Saw him playing pool in a bar on Christmas eve in _X-Men Evolution_, though.) ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/5 "2006-03-16T15:32:20Z")
I think religion doesn’t mean quite the same thing after you’ve met several deities, championed another, done battle with a few more, and seen the up-close-and-personal handiwork of _The_ God. It’s so much that the villains are atheist. They just don’t want to _admit_ theres anything more powerful than themselves. 😃 it would get in the way of all the fun. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/6 "2006-03-16T15:40:59Z")
So “hates Spider-Man” is a Religious Affiliation? Ooooooookkkkaaaaaayyyyy… ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/7 "2006-03-16T15:50:19Z")
The way J.J. does it? Oh yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/8 "2006-03-16T15:58:37Z")
I just love the fact that Jimmie Olsen(Superman’s Pal) is Lutheran. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/9 "2006-03-16T16:02:33Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I like how all the atheists are villains. :rolleyes: With all due respect, did you even _read_ the list? Talk about demonstrably false. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/10 "2006-03-16T16:22:16Z")
I haven’t looked at this but it’s getting a lot of pans in the comics fan community, largely because the operating assumption seems to be that bad guys are atheists unless there’s textual support to the contrary and heroes are religious unless there’s textual support to the contrary. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/11 "2006-03-16T16:39:50Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > With all due respect, did you even _read_ the list? Talk about demonstrably false. Yes, I did read the list but I must have searched wrong or something. There was no category for atheists in the religious groupings and the only atheists I saw were villains. I tried to find hero atheists and I don’t know why I missed them. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/12 "2006-03-16T18:42:10Z")
Oliver Queen is an agnostic/liberal Marxist communist? The only correct part of that is “liberal”. Dude died and went to live in Heaven, and his best friend used to be the embodiment of God’s wrath. That might not make you a part of a particular religion or denomination, but I think it would rule out agnosticism. He might have socialist leanings, but that’s not the same as being a communist. What kind of list leaves off Battle Pope, anyway? 😉 Also, some of the claims they make have very little evidence backing them up. Check out the reference for Booster Gold. All they have is one person claiming he’s an athiest on a webboard somewhere. Even better, Death of the Endless gets tagged pan-denominational/Mormon because one of the real people her look is purportedly based upon is Mormon. Guess we better call all the comic artists ever and start determining the religions of the models they used! Hates Spider-Man, GLBT, pro-abortion activist and yoga are all listed as religions. And where can I sign up to be chief priest of the Deviants? ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/13 "2006-03-16T19:31:45Z")
OK, Superman as Methodist I can see. But the thing is, Superman is studiously unaffiliated (or worships Rao, depending on the period). Also, don’t you know that “Kent” is as likely an alteration of “Cohen” as an English Methodist name? Jonathan Kent was quite possibly of Jewish extraction. And Peter Parker–Protesant? As if! ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/14 "2006-03-16T20:01:55Z")
I think I’ll go join the church of “fundamentalist Enviromentists” ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/15 "2006-03-16T20:07:17Z")
> [@Taber](#): > > I think I’ll go join the church of “fundamentalist Enviromentists” Of course! I’m completely convinced that the environment exists. I’ve seen it with my own eyes! ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/16 "2006-03-16T20:18:39Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > OK, Superman as Methodist I can see. But the thing is, Superman is studiously unaffiliated (or worships Rao, depending on the period). Also, don’t you know that “Kent” is as likely an alteration of “Cohen” as an English Methodist name? Jonathan Kent was quite possibly of Jewish extraction. > > And Peter Parker–Protesant? As if! Not sure if this is a whoosh or not but my understanding was that Keny was used as an “everyman” sort of Midwestern name for Superman. Spiderman strikes me as probably being Catholic rather than anything else. His parents were Richard Parker and Mary Fitzpatrick-Parker. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/17 "2006-03-16T20:26:59Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Not sure if this is a whoosh or not but my understanding was that Keny was used as an “everyman” sort of Midwestern name for Superman. > > Spiderman strikes me as probably being Catholic rather than anything else. His parents were Richard Parker and Mary Fitzpatrick-Parker. You can’t determine the religious affiliation of anyone just by their last name. And re" Remy LeBeau, what the hell is a “Cajun Catholic”? Roman, Greek Orthodox, sure, but not Cajun. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/18 "2006-03-16T20:33:29Z")
> [@Sean Factotum](#): > > You can’t determine the religious affiliation of anyone just by their last name. And re" Remy LeBeau, what the hell is a “Cajun Catholic”? Roman, Greek Orthodox, sure, but not Cajun. They’re the ones with the extra-spicy communion hosts. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/19 "2006-03-16T20:38:57Z")
If this guy is just mining random internet chatter, then I have to say: I think I started the “Clark Kent is Methodist” meme, largely out of comparison to Bob Dole. Whatever. Clark Kent & Peter Parker’s religious affiliations are officially undefined. Not atheist, not agnostic, not generically Protestant, but \*\*_undefined._ \*\* And they were written by Jews. (OK, I’m not sure about Ditko, but Siegel, Schuster, Lee–all Jews.) Some people! ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573/20 "2006-03-16T20:53:21Z")
They were indeed written by Jews (except for Ditko who was a Catholic) but they wanted them to appeal to the majority of likely readers so they tended to make them more Protestant-like (if that makes any sense). Aunt May appears to be some sort of Christian and, given Peter’s last name and his Mother’s name I doubt he is Jewish. Certain characters in the Marvel Universe are overtly Jewish such as Ben Grimm and Moon Kinght (or at least he was…I think!). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-religious-affiliation-of-comic-book-characters/348573.md?page=2)