Bible Examples in Pop Culture, Essay Example

Although America was founded on the tenets of religious freedom and tolerance, Christianity has had the most consistent influence on our nation.  Its traditions and teachings are found in almost every aspect of our lives and our infectious popular culture.  Below are some recent examples of that permeation.

Chagall, Marc.  White Crucifixion. 1938. Art Institute, Chicago

This painting has a clear connection to the depiction of Christ’s crucifixion in The New Testament (Luke 26 – 24:12).  However, the image of Jesus on the cross is superimposed in a collage of atrocities to help tell the story of the suffering of the Jewish people throughout the ages.  The dark scenes in the corners of the painting echo the imagery of mourning in Luke’s narrative.  White Crucifixion is a chilling retelling of the persecution of the Jews, and uses the death of Jesus to mark the beginning of that oppression.

King, Martin Luther, Jr.  “I Have a Dream.” 1963. Lincoln Memorial. March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.

In one of the most powerful orations in American History, King says of equality:  “And when this happens, . . . we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing.” In a speech that is filled with Biblical allusions, this excerpt is no exception.  It appears to borrow from Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” The verse talks about the unification of people under God’s love, and King takes the imagery and applies it to the journey for equal protection under the law.  Like God’s love, King says, America must unify and protect everyone.  Connecting politics to the duties of faith is a tactic that has been used throughout history, and this quote is another clear example.

Armageddon. Dir. Michael Bay. Perf. Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Billy Bob Thornton and Steve Buscemi. Touchtone Pictures, 1998. Film.

 In the search to find meaningful, accurate connections to the Bible in our popular culture, it is also necessary to point out the examples of lost translation. One of those errors lies in this blockbuster film.  At the beginning of the movie, a character tells his staff of asteroid-battling scientists: “In the book of Revelations, the Bible speaks of a final day on Earth, when all mankind shall perish, shall cease to exist. This day is known as Armageddon.” This is an incorrect allusion because the word “Armageddon” does not refer to a day, but to a battlefield.   The Bible states:  “And they gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place called Armageddon in Hebrew.” (Revelation 16:16).  This is a common misinterpretation, evident in a host of books, articles and films produced about the so-called “end times.”  However, as our culture continues to remain obsessed with the possibility of cataclysm, it remains a popular image.

West, Kanye. “Jesus Walks.” The College Dropout. Compact Disc, Def Jam, 2004.

As one of the more controversial artists of the day, West is constantly making headlines for his antics in addition to his clever lyrics that are full of cultural and biblical allusions.  A prime example of his Christian influence is found in this verse:

“To the hustlers, killers, murderers, drug dealers even the strippers/Jesus walks with them/To the victims of Welfare for we living in hell here hell yeah/Jesus walks with them.”  This can be easily viewed as a modern paraphrasing of a part of the Beatitudes, a set of blessings contained in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven… blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:3-6) These two verses, written two thousand years apart, both speak on the mercy of God.  Those that mankind commonly shun are promised the same universal love as any wealthy merchant, socialite or king would receive. Messages like this are designed to uplift those who may not feel that these types of rewards are attainable, and that God’s love is boundless.

Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

One of the most powerful biblical allusions lies in the connecting of a literary character to Jesus Christ.  As God’s son – and in essence, God in human form – this character goes through a series of events that set him up as a leader who makes sacrifices.  In Golding’s book, the character of Simon fits this bill.  For example, Simon takes a cue from Christ as he feeds his fellow island castaways.  “Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down to the endless, outstretched hands” (Golding 56). This scene recalls Jesus’ feeding of the multitudes.  In The Gospel of Matthew, “…He commanded the people to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks and broke, and gave to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the people.” (Matthew 8:6)  Both of these passages show how compassion must prevail among the masses, but it is really more evident in simple actions:  feed the hungry, care for the sick, etc. However, both characters get little return on their benevolent actions, and ultimately make even larger sacrifices.

In looking at these examples, it seems so odd that many people feel thatAmerica has lost its religious way, and that God is no longer a major presence on our culture.  These examples show that this idea should be seriously questioned. The truth is that God’s message of love and obedience to His laws is simply translated into language and imagery that is different from the text of the traditional Bible. It is important to understand that these new interpretations do not weaken the message.  It only makes it easier to hear, understand, and spread.

Work cited

Armegeddon. Dir. Michael Bay. Perf. Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Billy Bob Thornton, and Steve Buscemi. Touchtone Pictures, 1998. Film.

Chagall, Marc. White Crucifixion. 1938. Art Institute, Chicago

Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print

King, Martin Luther, Jr. “I Have a Dream.” 1963. Lincoln Memorial. March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.

West, Kanye. “Jesus Walks.” The College Dropout. Compact Disc, Def Jam, 2004.