Philosophy of Religion Triggered by "Godzilla, King of Monsters" (2019)

There is a line in the latest Godzilla movie that is more groan inducing than clever. It is likely more the product of an insistent producer than any self-respecting writer. A character witnesses the grandeur and power of Godzilla in the flesh and utters, “My God!” Another character in the room quickly adds, “-zilla!”

The name Godzilla actually has nothing to do with deity, but is rather a combination of the Japanese words for gorilla and whale. But the idea of deity, religion, and pagan worship are natural topics for the franchise. 2019’s film, “Godzilla, King of Monsters” addresses the topic head on. It is really no more than the story of humanity coming to terms with the true ruler of the planet, a literal god on a material scale, to be worshiped. (And in some ways—mind-numbing, boring ones—it is a lot less. More of a series of monotonous action set pieces.)

This is an interesting thing to consider. People are created to worship and serve the Creator, and in rebellion we have embraced other gods. But we modern types like to think that we don’t really engage in literal idolatry or pagan worship, right?

There are two ways that we do—or at least are in danger of doing—whether we know it or not. The first is the sort of idolatry that is seen in the movie or produced by it and stories like it. Sure, we don’t literally believe in Godzilla, but we are inspired by, informed by, allow our world-view to be shaped by, and build our fandoms around, such stories. And, before you object because you are thinking merely about the cheesy Godzilla franchise, how about super heroes? Star Wars? Star Trek? Game of Thrones? Etc.

People like to say that they don’t look to super heroes as gods the way the Romans and Greeks did their mythological idols. But I suspect we do so exactly as they did. They too probably looked to the gods and demigods more as symbolic characters and not literal deities. They too were more about the stories and the ways that those stories communicated truths.

Philosophically, it is a small step from looking to Baal (or Godzilla) for protection and help, to looking to Batman or Captain America for inspiration and a model to pattern oneself after.

The other way that idolatry is a danger today—even for people of genuine faith—is the idolatry of YHWH. That is what the Israelites fell for, and the thing that the church constantly struggles with. It is when we seek to worship and follow the God of Creation, YHWH, but only manage to devote ourselves to a version of God whole of our own making.