Thirteenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

The ever-growing fusion of popular culture into belief systems has produced a 21st-century boom in commercialized religious and spiritual byproducts. Subsequently, practitioners of belief systems are also simultaneously consumers of mainstream entertainment. From comic book themed sermons and graphic adaptations of the Bible, to the influences of Disney and cultural fairy tales onto cartomancy and divination decks, spiritual practices now offer a welcoming gateway for modern generations who feel affection towards pop culture fandoms. This paper explores various ways that religion and spirituality have commercialized and celebrated beloved fictional stories — especially in ways that highlight the deep fascinations contemporary audiences feel towards villains. Whether in a comic book, a Disney movie, a literary fairy tale, or biblical scripture, the pondering of ‘good’ versus ‘evil’ have never been more colorful or entertaining — especially the ‘evil’.