Abstract
The Day the Earth Stood Still is a unique film for its time. From a secular point of view, it was one of the first to not portray aliens as the enemy. From a spiritual point of view, it has many similarities to the gospel accounts of the public life and teachings of Jesus. This essay will consider the religious significance of this film (both in its historical context and the present), comparing it to similar works and contrasting it with the beliefs of a number of New Age movements. The main character, Klaatu, will then be considered as a possible archetype of the 'Alien Messiah.'
Recommended Citation
Etherden, Matthew
(2005)
""The Day the Earth Stood Still”: 1950's Sci-Fi, Religion and the Alien Messiah,"
Journal of Religion & Film: Vol. 9:
Iss.
2, Article 1.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol9/iss2/1