Supernatural & Religion
Implications:
"Supernatural takes its spiritual elements seriously, although they are employed (some will say distorted) in heightened, melodramatic ways, while employing humor to keep the proceeds from becoming ludicrously portentous. The show includes an impressive array of biblical references, names, and symbols, usually in ways that point to a Judeo-Christian understanding of the stories." (Karnick, 2009)
The television series uses many religious symbols in order to fight off monsters and especially the demons. The Winchesters use the Holy Bible, Holy Water, Crucifixes, and exorcisms in order to weaken the demons, so they can send them back to Hell. These religious symbols, that are sacred to so many individuals are being thrown around a TV show from episode to episode.
There was one episode in particular where Sam and Dean were fighting a group of demons in a cop station and they needed holy water in order to fight off the demons. In order to do so they put Rosary Beads and a Cross in the toilet to create the Holy Water. Although, the purpose was to kill a demon and protect themselves and other humans, this can be seen as disrespectful by religious viewers who view these symbol as sacred and meaningful.
This photo shows a demon being dunked in a toilet bowl full of Holy Water.
The clip below provides an example of an exorcism as Cas has been taken over by Crowley and Sam is trying to release Car from the demons control.
Supernatural has a large audience and fanbase, however there are individuals of the religious community who do not enjoy the show or the way religion is portrayed throughout the series.
"Supernatural deals with God but it deals with Him in the wrong form. It deals with a god that exists as a single person that knows nothing of grace, forgiveness or love. The show speaks of an unitarian, one-dimensional, god....This show presents a God who has no paid recompense for his people and has no concern for their fate. Further than this, there is absolutely no mention of the Holy Spirit" (Morris, 2013)
"Those who have watched the show from an insider’s perspective may not like the idea of two young men using Christian symbols to kill demons since the Winchester brothers are not exactly religious people or the image of a “perfect and pure” Christian, but rather demons themselves (in the case of Sam). Those who use an outsider’s perspective may be less offended, but should not expect to learn completely accurate religious symbols" (Garlow, 2013)