Die missiologiese waarde van die messiaanse tema in die Superman kultus

Abstract

Hierdie studie bevat 'n gedeeltelike verkenning van die oënskynlike terugkeer van die meta-narratief soos weergegee deur die superheld-genre. Die verskynsel tree op as ‘n populistiese verwerping van Postmodernisme se optimisitiese uitsprake wat verband hou met die sogenaamde dood van die meta-narrratief. Die afgelope dekade het ‘n oplewing van die messiaanse motief (alhoewel subtiel) in populêre fiksie beleef as moontlike teenreaksie op die Entzaubering (onttowering) oftewel die wegsmelting van die transedente. Veral fantasierolprente is verteenwoordigend van ’n meta-narratief. Die populêre superheld-genre in geheel verleen homself veral tot bogenoemde en die Superman-kultus spesifiek deel kenmerkende eienskappe met die messiaanse (mono) mite, wat dan ook die fokus van hierdie studie uitmaak. Die terugkeer van antieke mites in ‘n moderne gewaad kan die kloof tussen die Christelike narratief en die post-verligte mens wat eintlik anti-Christelik in sy bewussyn is, oorbrug. Die navorser argumenteer dat die Christelike narratief ‘n lewe van sy eie het en populêre uitdrukking kry in verskillende maskers. Dit gebeur egter slegs met verhale wat meer as blote mites is. Die Superman-kultus blyk ‘n estetifisering van die Messiaanse mite te wees. Alhoewel nie streng allegories nie, is dit beslis verteenwoordigend van en dra swaar aan die Christelike motief. Dit is juis wanneer die sekulêre mens in kontak met die Supermankultus kom dat die verhaal van die evangelie van 2000 jaar gelede nuwe relevansie verkry. ‘n Missiologiese metodiek kan moontlik aangewend word om die brug te vorm tussen die superheld subkultuur (moderne mites) en die historiese tog fantastiese evangelie. This study contains a partial exploration of the apparent comeback of the meta-narrative as mediated through the superhero genre. The resurgence would be significant in its refutation of Post Modernism’s optimistic claims relating to the death of the metanarrative. The alleged revival however is not primarily one of intellectual consensus, but a populist embrace of main stream narratives which capture this motive. In recent years, the rise of the superhero movie has testified to this shift. Inherent in the genre, is a mediated message which subversively contains elements of the messianic (mono) myth. The researcher argues that apologists of the gospel should embrace this newfound popularity as the Christian message is in essence a meta-narrative in its scope. Hence, the case is made that evangelism might benefit by drawing typological parallels between the person of Christ and many of the fictional superhero characters that capture the public imagination. In a similar way that the New Testament authors positioned prominent Old Testament figures as an echo of Jesus Christ, so does the opportunity present itself to utilise the same methodology in relation to well-known literary and filmic figures - with this study paying particular attention to the Superman cult. An imaginative evangelism which attempts to connect a post Christian audience with the Christ of history via a popular messianic fictional character is not entirely new, but perhaps underutilised. What makes this method particularly effective is the power that is inherent in narrative as a conveyer of higher truths. Hence this study advocates the use of the superhero narrative as a cultural bridge in the presentation of the Christian meta-narrative