Saturday, March 19, 2011

Ryan Ange - Why the world needs superheroes

http://www.crazynfunny.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Superman-comic-book.jpg

Ryan has put up an interesting article at his Examiner blog on Metaphysical Spirituality. He writes this time about the need for Superheroes - a topic I have mentioned here in the past. I have argued that "super human" beings - mostly men, with a few exceptions - offer terribly unreal expectations for masculinity.

Ryan argues the other side - that superheroes, Superman in particular, offer us an ideal to strive toward, a mortal 'God' with human feelings.

Seriously, though, we need to get rid of that wearing his underwear on the outside of his tights thing - that just ain't manly.

Here is a taste.

Superman has remained the brightest star in comics for over 70 years not only because he was the first and greatest superhero, but because he represents the highest human potential. Over the last 70 years institutions have changed, politics have changed, governments have changed, cultures have changed, but Superman has remained constant. He remains the idealized human being absent of any moral or spiritual flaws. Superman is human perfection incarnate and represents the evolutionary impulse in human beings to become better, more complex, more ethical, more spiritual, more loving, more compassionate, and more whole. He invites us to evolve. He invites us to become like him—to become a superhero.

Of course, we can’t match the Man of Steel’s physical superpowers (although in the future who knows?), but we can aspire to match his spiritual superpowers. To live up to our fullest human expression would indeed be superheroic. To treat one’s life with the serious care and concern necessary to develop one’s self along many of the major lines of development from moral, spiritual, emotional, cognitive, even kinesthetic, is an engagement with the world on such an intimate level that one not only transforms one’s self, but changes the world as well. What Superman suggests is fully alive human beings engaged in the world at a high level of consciousness. The world needs us to be evolutionaries.

Go read the whole post.

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