This week, I wanted to explore religion created in TV shows and movies. Recently, or at least since i have been taking my intro to religious studies class, i have been thinking about the place of religion in everything and its meaning. From movies like "Happy Feet" to shows like "Supernatural," significance is given to everything. I just wanted to apply the definition of a religion to these created religions and see how it compares, and where it falls in relationship to our own past and present society.

First movie is "Happy Feet." In this movie, Mumble challenges the Great Gwen who controls the fish. While this on top looks a lot like many religions, the Great Gwen is only responsible for the harvest of fish each year. In the movie, they never go into it enough to establish how much of the culture the Great Gwen controls, but on the surface, the only thing Gwen governs is the fish through their behavior. You act correctly, you don't have to search far and wide for fish. Eh, sounds a lot like a recent Psalm we read, I have never seen a just man forsaken. His kin will never look for bread if they are just.

The next show is Charmed. Yes, i kind of like this show, but it involves a completely different type of religious aspects. In this show, instead of having a true overarching power which, if obeyed, everything will be good, there is a constant battle of good and evil going on. These three ladies fight evil to try and create a world without it. There are higher powers involved, but their direct actions create the world they live in. Also, supernatural powers are a blessing here, instead of meaning someone is a witch or evil. Also, within this show, instead of creating a whole new religion, this show builds off of existing religions. In the episode i am watching while writing this early in the morning, it has to do with the existence of the Chinese zodiac and its influence on the people. It is the circle of life, and the demons want to take control of that power, so naturally, the charmed ones have to stop them.

The third show i have to go into, as i am a big fan is SUPERNATURAL!!! This is the third type of religion integrated into the televised world. Sam and Dean have to follow the grand design. They fight demons, escaped souls, ghosts, crazy people, all to prevent the end of the world where demons take over. This is neither the creation of a new religion, but the expansion of a religion. The difference between this show and Charmed is that here, while they are fighting demons, everything they do is part of a grand design. Angels, prophets, and everything you else come to see them, to help guide them to a world without demons. They help to make the world better, but its still following plan laid out for them.

So, looking at these three shows, we have the creation of a new religion, and the expansion of religion where in one case, they define how and when the world changes, and in the other, have to follow a set plan where failure means the end of the earth. In so many places, religion appears. As seen in Happy Feet, in the creation of a new society, almost always, a new religion accompanies. Between religious connotations in shows, and new religions, its all about progression of the greater good. Whether fighting for it, or living in the correct manner we continuous live in a world where fact and fiction effect us, and is interspersed within society. Now, if reading this, i would love a post that includes more shows and movies that either create a religion, or significantly expand on an existing one, as i am will have a follow up post next week referencing this and the shows/movies you bring up. But also, how do you think religion on TV has influenced your perspective on religion in general? Has episodes of supernatural made you less susceptible to the influence of religion because that is a very probable chance that supernatural is entirely created for the entertainment of the viewers and not as a realistic view of our world? Just a little food for thought.