A recent debate hosted on Capturing Christianity featured a lively exchange between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox thinkers on the controversial question: Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God? One of the most notable moments came when Dr. Trent Dougherty presented an analogy drawn from the Superman mythos to support the claim that they do.

Dougherty’s argument hinged on the idea that just as Lois Lane can refer to Clark Kent and Superman, despite holding seemingly contradictory conceptions of them, so too can Christians and Muslims refer to the same God, despite differing theological understandings. According to him, these different attributes don’t necessarily mean the referents are different entities.

But is this analogy valid? When tested under theological scrutiny, it quickly begins to unravel. Warren McGrew, on his “Idol Killer” YouTube channel, made the following valid points about this argument, and I wanted to summarize them for you. 

The Superman Analogy and Its Theological Implications

Let’s first break down Dougherty’s line of reasoning using the Superman/Clark Kent example:

  • Lois Lane holds two seemingly incompatible beliefs about the same individual: that Clark Kent is a mild-mannered reporter and that Superman is a super-powered hero.
  • Nevertheless, unbeknownst to her, they are the same “Kal-El”.
  • Therefore, conflicting conceptions do not necessarily imply two separate referents.

This is meant to suggest that the Christian God and the Islamic God may, in fact, be the same deity, even if worshipers have dramatically different conceptions.

However, this analogy only works under a very specific condition: intentional deception. Lois Lane’s dual reference to Clark and Superman is possible precisely because Superman actively hides his identity. The coherence of her mistaken reference depends on Superman’s deliberate obfuscation.

This poses a major theological problem.

The Clark Kent Analogy Fails in Christian Theology

Let’s lay out a syllogism to explain why this analogy is incompatible with Christian theology:

1. If a person (Kal-El) presents themselves under two radically different identities while intentionally concealing their unity, another person (Lois Lane) may refer to them as the same being due to the deception.
2. The analogy between Clark Kent and Superman relies on this intentional concealment.
3. The God of the Bible is truth, does not lie (Titus 1:2), and is not the author of confusion or deception (1 Cor. 14:33).
4. The God described in the Qur’an, by contrast, is explicitly called “the best of deceivers” (Qur’an 3:54, using the term makr, implying stratagem or deception).

Conclusion: Applying the Clark Kent analogy to the God of the Bible requires a view of God that allows intentional deception, which contradicts Christian theology. Thus, the analogy fails.

The Bizarro Superman Analogy: A Better Fit

Rather than Clark Kent, a more fitting parallel would be Bizarro Superman, a figure with similar traits to Superman, but who is, in fact, his mirror opposite. Consider the following syllogism:

1. If two beings claim to be the same but possess irreconcilable attributes (truth vs. falsehood, crucified vs. not crucified, Father vs. not Father), then they are not the same being.
2. The God of Christianity is the Father, incarnate in Christ, crucified and risen. The God of Islam is not a father, denies the Son, and asserts Christ was not crucified.

 Conclusion: The two are fundamentally different in nature, character, and action, like Superman and Bizarro. They cannot be the same being.

Referential Flexibility or Theological Confusion?

Proponents of the “same God” thesis often appeal to referential flexibility, the philosophical notion that people can refer to the same object or person under different conceptions. However, this breaks down in theology, where worship involves fidelity to divine self-revelation, rather than mere name-calling.

Jesus said plainly:

“Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” – John 5:23

Rejecting the Son is not a mistaken detail; it is a rejection of the identity and nature of God as revealed in Christ. That is not merely a matter of ignorance. Islam doesn’t innocently misunderstand the Christian God. It systematically rejects the essential tenets of Christian revelation:

  • Denial of the Trinity
  • Denial of the divine Sonship of Christ
  • Denial of the crucifixion and resurrection

In this way, Islam stands in conscious contradiction to the God revealed in Scripture.

The Hidden Problem: Begging the Question

The Superman analogy subtly begs the question. It presumes the very conclusion it’s supposed to prove, that Yahweh and Allah are the same being. But if that’s the question under debate, it cannot be baked into the premise.

The analogy is only useful if we already accept that Clark Kent is Superman. However, in the case of Yahweh and Allah, the identities themselves are what are being disputed. So using this analogy to “prove” they are the same is circular reasoning.

Worship is About Revelation, Not Mere Reference

Worship is not merely about calling on a higher power or assigning a label. It’s about rightly responding to the God who has revealed Himself. In Christian theology, God is not a vague metaphysical force; He is the personal, triune God revealed in Scripture and ultimately in Jesus Christ.

You cannot:

  • Deny the Fatherhood of God,
  • Deny that Jesus is the eternal Son,
  • Deny the crucifixion and resurrection,

… and still claim to worship the same God that Christians do.

Conclusion: A Truly Bizarro View

In summary, the Superman analogy falls apart under theological scrutiny. It relies on an image of God that permits deception, something the Bible explicitly denies. Worse, it confuses referential error with deliberate rejection.

To say that Christians and Muslims worship the same God is not merely inaccurate; it obscures the heart of the Gospel. Islam doesn’t simply misunderstand who God is; it intentionally redefines Him. Therefore, those who equate the God of Islam with the God of Christianity are not just confused, they’re embracing a truly Bizarro theology.

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