Is Batman an atheist? It’s a question that many have asked over the years and DC Comics may have just answered it. When you consider the lives that heroes lead and the evil they have to face on a day to day basis, it might be easy for one to wonder why more don’t lean that way. The question of how there could be a God that would allow such suffering and pain in the world could make anyone question their beliefs. As far as Batman is concerned, perhaps that question has been answered in the latest Batman.
In Batman #53, Bruce has been serving jury duty on Mr. Freeze’s murder trial. The jurors are deadlocked and all but one is set to convict Freeze. That holdout is Bruce Wayne, not because he thinks the classic villain is innocent but because he believes that Batman has gone too far this time. Batman was overzealous and used too much force in apprehending Freeze. The problem was that Bruce somehow has to swing the other jurors to his point of view.
It is in this scenario where readers get an insight into Bruce’s spiritual life and, by extension, Batman’s. This conversation is initiated after Bruce notates another juror’s cross necklace. Bruce is asked if he believes in God and Bruce says he does. Or, rather, he used to.
Bruce then goes on to explain how, after the death of his family, he set aside belief in God and anything that his family has taught him that would “save” him. It would be very easy to read this as a clear declaration that Batman is an atheist or at least has lost his way. Many fans have interpreted the issue this way, leading to philosophical and spiritual debates as even comics can lead people to. Of course, if you read the issue there’s another interpretation that reveals itself: Bruce Wayne believes in something, he’s just lost all of his faith in those things.
As Bruce explains to the jurors, that after much soul searching, he ultimately found himself believing in something new: Batman. The whole separation of Bruce and Batman is fascinating and would take another whole article. Instead, the revelation is that for Bruce Wayne, Batman IS a form of God. This basically serves as a purpose in the story of Bruce trying to get the other jurors to understand Batman, who they ALSO might see as a form of God. Bruce however reminds (not that it should have to be reminded) that Batman is NOT God simply because, Batman does not offer solace from pain, hope eternal or comfort in loss. He simply offers relief from crime and those who perpetrate it.
“God blesses your souls with grace,” Bruce says. “Batman punches people in the face.”
Somehow, it’s enough to get the jury to acquit Freeze, but Bruce’s admission reveals that God isn’t the only thing that Bruce has lost faith in. Clearly, he’s lost faith in himself as well. This is also signified when he tells Alfred that he’s lost. In response to this declaration, in the final panel, he puts on his original suit and says “I need to remember who I am.”
It would be easy to read Bruce’s admission that he once believed in God as an admission of atheism. There are those who believe that is the case and I could see that opinion and respect those who came to it. However, another of reading into this is to see that Bruce has basically lost faith in a lot of things through his life and is just trying to find a means to go on. He is trying to re-establish who he is and how to reclaim his faith in humanity and himself. Through the victories and hardships, it would be easy to lose ones way, in all aspects, faith included.
It is not without notice that the issue closes with the Bible verse Job 1:20-21. “the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Through it all, Bruce/Batman is trying to find his path…as are we all.
Does the concept of atheism make it harder to accept Batman or is it just another part of the struggle the character deals with and is part of the psyche that is Batman? As always your thoughts are welcome.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
