Thor is NOT a god!
April 18, 2011 at 6:30 pm 25 comments
Salaams (Peace),
I don’t usually get a chance to watch tv. So I missed the new Thor trailer. If you’ve been stuck in Muslim Mommydom like I have then you might not even know who Thor is. Thor is the latest of the Marvel comic heroes to come to “life” on the big screen. In the latest Thor trailer, Marvel proclaims that “There are many superheroes, but only one is a god.” The commercial ends with Thor asked the question, “who are you really?”
The answer according to the poster and trailer is that Thor is a god. On one of the movie posters, the word GOD is centered across his face. With the tag line again…”only one is a god.” As a Muslim mom, I have accepted that my beliefs do not reflect the beliefs of the majority of Americans. As such, my children are exposed daily to ideas and values that are vastly different from mine. I do my best to shelter them and teach them values that reflect our Islamic beliefs.
But seriously, isn’t this blasphemy? Shouldn’t we as Muslims, Christians and Jews all agree on this point. This is not entertainment. This is an attempt to personify god. To take what is basically “shirk” or idolatry and make it cool and heroic. There used to be a time in America when to say “goddammit” was a bad word. Because it was considered a terrible blasphemy. People would tell children, “don’t take the Lord’s name in vain.” Christians would say, “we don’t have false or idol gods.” Does anyone remember that?
The truth is in this country we have all become so relaxed. We allow these small blasphemies without raising an eyebrow, much less a protest. Small shirk (idolatry) leads to big shirk. And if we don’t teach our kids to reverence God, how will they learn it.
When my children ask me about God. I teach them that He is not black or white. I teach them that He is not human at all. I teach them that God is not anything they could EVER imagine, because He is not like anything they have ever seen or known. I teach them that we are all His creation and He is our creator. I teach them that to make pictures or images of Him is blasphemy. Blasphemy because He is so superior to us that we could never get it right and any attempt would be insulting. I teach them that God is worthy of all praise and glory and should be reverenced in the most special way. Certainly not in a way that Thor deserves!
Truthfully, I don’t think that my kids will grow up and start worshiping idols because they watched Thor. However, I want my kids to grow up with such a reverence for God, that they look with disdain and disgust at anything that blasphemes God in anyway. It’s my job to teach them this disdain. It’s the most important part of what I teach them.
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1.
Stephen | April 20, 2011 at 9:44 am
Did you know that before there was the prophet Muhammad, before Jesus, before Jehovah and Allah were established as deities, that the Greeks and Romans had a rich pantheon of gods and goddesses? In fact, our planets are named after many of the major Roman ones. And alongside them, were the Norse people…who had another rich pantheon…with Odin…Loki…and THOR, among others.
And before them, the Egyptians had theirs. Really, why don’t you take the time to educate yourself about historical cultures before you brand other culture’s beliefs as ‘false’.
2.
saffiyah | April 20, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Actually according to my beliefs, before there were Greeks and Romans and Norsemen there was Adam. Who was the first man created by the one God. And that is the God that I believe in today. He actually precedes all of these other traditions that according to my faith is false. But I respect your right to believe what you want. I just have no interest in seeing this movie.
3.
Ron | April 20, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Teach your children what you want them to know & believe – it’s not only your right, but your responsibility as a parent and I would not seek to gainsay your teaching of Mohammed & Allah.
That said – I also do not believe as you do. In fact, i am one of those poor, beknighted souls who – seeking a faith that spoke to me personally – reached back to the gods of my ancestors, and that includes Thor.
I have my own problems with this movie – like you, I too believe that my Gods are so superior to us that we (and the makers of the movie) could never get them right.
But I believe that they WILL make him heroic, and compared to how it could turn out, that would be a much smaller blasphemy-from-ignorance.
And in any case, I recognize that they are telling a story – and I also realize that my faith is strong enough to weather the telling, for I know that I find my comfort & solace in the truth.
Is it a blasphemy? Yes.
Do I fear it to the point of ‘needing’ to shut it down? No.
So now the question is: Do you?
– Ron
4.
saffiyah | April 20, 2011 at 5:37 pm
To answer your question; do I feel the need to shut down the movie? No. I also don’t want to offend you if you feel the title blasphemes your religion. I just want to encourage those who follow the monotheist faiths not to support this movie with their money.
5.
Ron | April 20, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Excellent – you never quite got around to that point in the post.
Good on you.
(I’m also not offended – from my point of view, you cannot harm my faith, offer me no physical threat and otherwise just don’t know any better and I’m not about to hold that against you – I was just making a point)
– Ron
6.
Ron | April 20, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Oh, and BTW?
I actually find the title of your post to be a greater blasphemy than their imperfect attempt at a portrayal of Thor.
I don’t feel the need to shut you down over yours, either.
– Ron
7.
Lady T | April 21, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Before even Adam there was the one true God (ALLAH). The one true God the God of the Christians, Muslims, Jews, Sabiens and all those who believe in the one God the creator of all that is in the heavens and on earth.
I am sorry to announce, but Thor along with Zeus and the rest are not God, it is impossible for them to be God because they would have to fight for power, besides the fact their power is limited according to the beliefs of those who believe in them..
Also I choose not to look at the trailer simply because I do not want to promote this movie more than it has already been promoted. And I do agree this is blasphemy.
My intention is not to offend anyone, but to provoke and inspire thought and understanding in “myth”ological Gods
8.
Anonymous | April 29, 2011 at 12:06 am
It depends on how you define god. If you see the only possible god as the only true God — Allah, Jehovah, whatever you want to call Him, the Creator of our universe — then you’re right; Thor is not God.
On the other hand, ancient cultures often didn’t think of their gods as all-powerful, or creators of life. Gods like Thor, Loki, and most of the Greek gods were simply being higher (often literally) and more powerful than us mortal humans (traits that hold true in this new movie). In that sense, Thor is a god.
He’s just a god that doesn’t exist. Thor is a god in the sense that the book I haven’t gotten around to writing is still a book. If I think about it, I think of a book. If I make a movie about it, I make a movie about a book. It’s just that the book doesn’t exist in real life. Similarly, if we talk about Thor, we talk of a god that doesn’t exist. If we make a movie about Thor, we make a movie about a god — a god who doesn’t exist in real life.
I also think that most Americans, including those making the movie, acknowledge that Thor doesn’t really exist, and I don’t think that they are deliberately supporting belief in the Norse gods. I personally am a Christian, a believer in the one true God — and an avid Thor fan, of both the Marvel and the mythological variety (in that order, I’ll admit.) I don’t see any contradiction there, for the simple reason that Thor is fictional.
That said, I haven’t really countered your main point, just your title. Having gods in popular culture could and probably would, at least to some extent, create a lack of reverence for the true God, and that would be a problem. But the creators of the Thor movie seem (and I can only judge from previews) to be treating Thor as an advanced alien rather than as a god. His hammer is radioactive, the rainbow bridge is an inter-dimensional portal, and He says himself: “Your ancestors call it magic. You call it science.”
I don’t think that Muslims, Christians, or anyone else, has anything to fear from this movie.
9.
jim | May 3, 2011 at 8:48 am
I just view the film as a work of fiction.Several days of the week are named after these Norse deities: Tyr’s Day, Wotan’s Day,
Thor’s Day, and Freya’s day.
In the Thor comic book, there was a villain called the Crusader who tried to kill Thor because he was angry that some people were worshipping Thor instead of Christ. Thor himself asked not to be worshipped, that that had passed with the ancient Norse period.
10.
jim | May 4, 2011 at 1:22 am
Saffiyah: while I respect your beliefs, you should also realize that there are others who sincerely disagree. Most Christians (with the exception of certain sects such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, for example), believe that the resurrected man Jesus (Yeshua ben Yosef) is indeed God, and that He is more than a regular prophet.
That said, however, it’s up for God to judge such matters. I’m personally a Christian, but I would never look down upon, or oppress, say, polytheists such as Hindus, Japanese Shintoists, animists, or neo-pagans (who worship Greco-Roman or Norse-Viking deities, for example). Nor would I mistreat Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons, just because I disagree with them on certain things.
11.
Mikhail | May 11, 2011 at 12:06 am
Hey guys,
Why are the responses like “Nor would I shut it down”, or “Nor would I mistreat Jews, Muslims, Sikhs…”
When did the original poster ever insinuate these things? She just feels monotheists should not spend their money on the movie. Chill out and don’t make it a bigger deal than it is.
12.
jim | May 11, 2011 at 4:56 am
Mikhail: Fair enough. I realize that she didn’t insinuate such things; I’m just pointing out though, that there are some religious people (of whatever faith) who would look down upon and mistreat others simply because of differences of theological opinion.
13.
Thize | June 22, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Are you dump? Thor is the god of Thunder. AND HE IS REAL!
14.
Thorhild | June 22, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Of course, HE is and I do not want anybody to insult my gods, either.
15.
hyrr | June 23, 2011 at 10:40 am
What do you say to other movies like “Bruce Almighty”? Shouldn´t that be blasphemic?
You´d better teach yourself DISGain to your inner circle of Fundamentalism and respecting gods. As I respect your god as YOUR god, you should respect mine as MINE.
In fact, if you argue with “Thor is not existing” than for me: “Your allmighty Allah is NOT existing for me and that includes nonbelieve in Muhammeds visions and no worth of Koran and Shariah…
It is my assignment to teach my kids in finding their own belief and making sure my kids have a freedom of choice. I will not calling after them “what I think is good for you”. And I will teach them to help ignorant people to extend their knowlewdge.
16.
chaotickimchijim | June 24, 2011 at 3:53 am
I don’t have a problem with people not wanting to see “Thor” for religious reasons or otherwise, but where do we draw the line? Should some students be allowed to opt out of taking English classes because there are usually segments in which Greco-Roman mythology is taught?
Like it or not, Greco-Roman mythology (as well as the King James Bible, and Norse-Viking myth to a lesser extent) is part of the English language and literature.
I read about a case in Winnipeg, Canada in which a group of Muslim immigrants didn’t want their kids to take mandatory music and art classes, due to their interpretation of the Quran and the Hadiths. Should they be allowed to do that? Don’t immigrants have a certain responsibilty to assimilate when they move to a new country and culture?
17.
Henry | September 17, 2011 at 9:04 am
Hmm. I think that you are – perhaps unintentionally – trying to put your personal faith and views on everyone else.
Obviously today’s “big three” among the religions are Christianity, Muslim, and Jewish.
But still quite a few people worship other religions;
Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism etc. and many more.
The Heathen/Pagan/Asatru/Odinism is a very old religion from the people of the north of Europe, and Thor is one of their gods.
I completely agree that the film “Thor” is some ridiculous sort of comic film which is not even accurate to the god Thor at all.
But certainly it’s not blasphemy to anyone else’s religion as there is no connection between the bi three and Thor.
18.
Leo | September 28, 2011 at 12:30 pm
There are actually many different gods. Allah is the moon good “al Ilah” that is much much older than the Koran. He married the sun goddess and had children with her. But when Islam rose people decided to solely praise the god of the moon “Allah” in Arabia as he suddenly wanted to be the only one they adored. This is his message in the Koran. And it worked. The fellow gods of his pantheon, his own family even, were forgotten. But that does not mean they do not exist.
In the North there were many other gods when Mohammed was alive…in America, too…in Japan…everywhere in the world. Thor is just one of the major Norse gods. But he never prohibited humans to pray to other gods. He rather lives in a family, he has a father, sons, and a wife. An all of them are gods.
Everybody is free to decide whether to pray to a lonesome moon good or a family god.
19.
Thomas | December 9, 2011 at 4:18 pm
why would i want to believe in the myths of semetic peoples when my ancestors have a rich history of their own. Hail THOR!
20.
chaotickimchijim | December 10, 2011 at 5:55 am
Thomas: if you’re a white Scandinavian guy, then Christianity is probably part of your heritage as well though, isn’t it?
I recall the 1980′s film “Adventures in Babystting.” There’s a small girl who loves Thor, and dresses like the comic-book version of that Norse deity. Her brother teases her though, and says, “Thor is a homo!” She retorts, “No, he’s not!” tries to strike him with “Mjolnir” (Thor’s hammer).
Later, they mean a blond mechanic (Vincent d’Onofrio, who also played Gomer Pyle in “Full Metal Jacket”, and the farmer in the first “Men In Black” who gts killed and possessed by the alien creatures), and shje mistakes him for Thor. Amusing film!
21.
Henry | December 10, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Well said Thomas!
Hail THOR!
22.
Thomas | December 10, 2011 at 2:35 pm
well chaotickimchijim im not sure where you were going with the whole adventures in babysitting thing, but i often find people who don’t understand a subject very well tend to get off subject. I am in fact a “White scandinavian guy” and indeed christianity is a part of my heritage. It was a little over a thousand yrs ago when christian “powers” ( i.e. the pope, certian kings and the like ) decided that if you were not a christian then you had to die.., and proceeded to rape, murder, and destroy pagan shrines all over northern europe. ,and ” converted” my ancestors. A very similar mindset to Radical Islamists of today.
23.
Thomas | December 10, 2011 at 4:44 pm
The Challenge of Thor : by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I am the God Thor! I am the war God! I am the Thunderer! Here in my Northland, my fastness, and fortress. Reign i forever! Here amid iceburgs rule i the nations! This is my Hammer! Moilner the mighty! Demons and sorcerers cannot withstand it! These are the gauntlets, wherewith i wield it, and hurl it far off. This is my girdle, whenever i brace it, strength is redoubled! The light thou beholdest, stream through the heavens. In flashes of crimson, is but my beard blown by the night wind, Affrighting the nations!!! Jove is my brother, Mine eyes are the lightning. The wheels of my chariot roll in the thunder. The blows of my Hammer ring in the Earthquake! Force rules the world still. Has ruled it, shall ruled it. Meakness is weakness. Strength is triumphant, over the whole earth. Still is it THOR’S day! Thou are a god too, o galilean. And thus single handed unto combat! Gauntlet or gospel,……Here i Defy thee!!!!
24.
Thomas | December 10, 2011 at 5:04 pm
Hail Thunor, God of my people. There are many thousands of us yet who still stand with thee. Bless us with your mighty power, and protect us from evil men, and evil spirits! heal the earth mighty Redbeard, for monothestic men have damaged her for centuries. They have forgotten that she is the mother of us all! Destroy our enemies, and keep us under your mighty protection. Hail to thee destroyer of demons!………so mote it be, Holy Redbeard!
25.
chaotickimchijim | December 11, 2011 at 8:46 am
Thomas: I realize that Christians were aggessive towards the polytheist pagans in both Southern and Northern Europe, just as Muslims were aggressive towards the Hindus in India during the Mughal invasions and conquests.
However, Jesus never mandated forcing religion on anyone. He said that if his followers went to a town to talk about him, and the townspeople were rude or dismissive, then the disciples should simply “shake the dust off their sandals” as they left the town.
Likewise, the Quran says, “There shall be no compulsion in religion” and “Unto me my religion, and unto you, yours”, yet some Muslims believe that Islam (not just Islam, but radical fundamentalist Islam) should be forced upon everyone, and that those who disagree are kuffars (infidels) who should be killed or at best treated as “dhimmis” (second-class citizens).
Personally, I believe in secularism and freedom of religion. If there is a God, then what humans think about He/She/It is beside the point; it seems clear to me that we will be judged primarily by how we treat others. If someone wants to be an atheist or agnostic that’s fine to…hell, if someone wants to worship Gene Simmons and the other members of KISS (and many metalheads in fact do), then I’m not going to slag them for it, though I may disagree with “KISStianity”
I was/am a fan of the Thor comic book, and I was glad when Thor kicked the ass of the Crusader.