Ok, so i couldn’t sleep. I often have boughts with insomnia. Since I can’t get to sleep, I’ll throw out an idea that I had recently. I plan on doing some research into it when I get the time (or maybe for my master’s thesis?). I thought you might find it interesting. It’s really quite simple, and I’m sure that I’m not the first person to think of it, but here it is: Is the rise in popularity of Superheroes proportionate to the decline of traditional religious values. In other words, are superheroes (Superman, Spiderman, Wonderwoman, etc.) becoming more popular because less people believe in a monotheistic diety? My theory is that superheroes were created as a socially acceptable way of expressing the need for the supernatural. Humans seem to need a higher power. In previous times, this need found its release via traditional religions, in modern cultures, however, the role of religion is vastly diminished. Because of this, modern societies struggle with the idea of anything supernatural. Superheroes are a means by which to express this supernatural yearning without tying one down to a particular religious system.

This is in no way a rant against comic books or superheroes, I myself am a major comic book geek. I admit that. Of course, I’m already married, so it’s a lot safer. I apologize if that quick quip isn’t very well constructed, but its late, and, even though I can’t sleep, i’m still tired :P In my next post on this topic I’ll go into more details. I know you can’t wait. lol.