Chat: religion in the Supernatural universe

[oxoniensis]

One of the topics that I've been meaning for ages to have as one of our monthly chats is that of religion in the Supernatural universe.

A lot of religious elements crop up in the show - use of crucifixes, holy water, exorcism in God's name. Even the amulet around Dean's neck.

Comments

[brynwulf]

I've been finding this to be an interesting question, especially since S3 started. I actually started a similar thread on JF in spn_club HERE. Warning, as there are spoilers in the post and comments.

I'm pretty sure Kripke is leading up to something having to do with the battle of good vs. evil, but I'm hoping he doesn't stick with the modern Christian interpretation of that.

The concept of demons is not so much religious as mythical and I'd like to see some of that discussed too. Thanks for starting this topic.

[papered]

Personally, it works for me that it's a big jumble of different ideas from different religions. It makes things a little more unexpected, and there's references to all sorts of things that you learn more about while watching the episodes. :)

[lazy_daze]

Me too! SPN seems to imply that it's almost *intent* as much as actual religion/faith that matters - John doesn't seen an overly religious man, yet can bless water so it's a weapon against demons, and actually so can Dean - so it works that a mix of religions form the mythology SPN draws from, just a mix of humans idea and intent rather than sticking to a set of rules. If that makes any sense :P

[gretazreta]

What I find really fascinating about the SPN world view, is mostly in terms of a Christian world view

[mikhale]

Personally, I've always thought that SPN followed the bare bones of a Christian religion. I mean, it doesn't do the whole God-will-save-your-soul thing but it does follow it very strongly. Hell, demons and exorcisms etc.

I mean, sure, it borrows from other religions and cults but it still basically follows Christianity.

I like the way SPN handles religion. It's really hard to handle religion without either getting preachy or getting liberal (wherein you think religion is nothing more than a massive conspiracy to enslave people's minds) but Supernatural handles it deftly.

Houses of Holy swooped in, took religion by the balls and by its very essence and shoved towards our faces. Like showing us the concept of religion and not all the nuttiness that comes in its many different forms.

[montisello]

The interesting thing about some of the MOWs our boys run into, beyond the demons, is their lack of religiosity. I mean a ghost getting salted and burned is going to disappear whether its jewish, pagan, or an atheist. The only exception to this rule, that we’ve seen, is Father Gregory in HotH, who needed the last rites before he could move on. Otherwise, Sam and Dean would be scrambling to find out each MOW’s religion before they could destroy it, and confrontations with the evil sons of bitches would be like this: “The Jewish cleansing ain’t working, Sam!” - “Try the pagan ritual, Dean