Holy Theology, Batman!

Mood:  energized




Today has been pretty amazing.  Jeff and I don't have Malcolm this weekend (boooooooooooo), but we did have a pretty awesome day date.  This week I read about the Ames Public Library book sale, and since Jeff and I are both nerds we figured it'd be worth checking out.  So when I woke up this morning our plan was to go look at some books, and hit up The Dark Knight Rises as Jeff loves Batman.  

I also plotted to get Jeff into Hobby Lobby for some crafting supplies, but that was way easy.  Next time I'll go for something a little harder....perhaps a suuuuuuuuuuuuuper girly movie or  the ballet (though he has already agreed to that as well.....). 


Anyway. The book sale was okay.  It was fun because I love hanging out with Jeff, but it wasn't impressive.  It was only fiction and I did pick up some pretty sweet books...a book for Malcolm titled No Zombies Allowed and an autographed (I think this one was on the sale table by accident!) copy of Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi.  All in all it was definitely something I'm glad we did.  Since we had time before the movie, we stopped in at Hobby Lobby and I cannot wait to post pics of the finished crafts.  Then it was off to the movies.


If you read this blog and you know me you'll know my knowledge of Batman is...limited to say the least.  I honestly know nothing more than the following:  Adam West, Robin, the batmobile, Bruce Wayne, and he's an orphan.  Oh...and he was once played by George Clooney opposite Alicia Silverstone and those particular portrayals upset fans.  I have seen (though not the entire movie straight through) The Dark Knight.  Can I just say that I love Aaron Eckhart and whoa Heath Ledger....serious talent.  Anyway.  So I did see it.  And it was phenomenal.  I was pretty psyched to see the last of the trilogy (even though I've only seen the 2nd installment....) and it did not disappoint.  I'm not a movie critic, but go see it.  Drop what you're doing...well finish this post first...and go see this movie!  

Earlier this morning Jeff and I had a conversation about theology, apocalyptic literature, and pop culture.  In seminary I once wrote a paper about the book of Revelation and the South Park Movie:  Bigger, Longer, and Uncut.  I wish I had the paper and could recall all the details, but I'll settle for what I remember.  We were asked to write a paper explaining the book...and what it meant for it's time in context...to a layperson with no theological training.  Read "do not use fancy seminarian jargon."  I remember that I used the South Park movie and that I got an A...but I don't recall much else.  As I sat and watched Christian Bale (drooooool) brood around as Batman, I was struck by how much theology one can find in this movie.  In all superhero movies actually.  Sometimes with all the pomp and circumstance regarding religions it's easy to forget how easily it all boils down.  And when reduced to the basics all major religions can be summed up as follows:


Do the next right thing.  Put one foot in front of the other.  Stand for good, especially if it means standing alone.  Have faith that ANYTHING is possible, and be selfless.  


That's one of the things I admire about superheros...Batman included.  They conceal identities and not just because spandex is awesome.  As Bruce Wayne puts it "anybody can be a hero..."


In a world where up feels like down and it can be hard to gain perspective...it's important to remember that there ARE good people.  We may not have a caped billionaire patrolling 5th Ave. but that doesn't mean we can't fight the good fight.

On a day when all I wanted out of life was a smile on my face and a new book for cheap, I got so much more.  I was reminded that humanity isn't a lost cause.  Sure, there are plenty of things that just make no sense to me and I feel like we live in a time where nothing is sacred, but I have faith that things will get better.  If for no other reason than this, as individuals we DO make a difference.  And it can be monumental.