Agreed - it's often the tensions between the human and mythic that generates much of the friction that drives the interesting narratives. Superman pre-Byrne was so blasted powerful and removed from humanity that he was almost impossible to relate to. And part of that, I believe, was that he was all over the map as far as traits: powerful, perfect, godlike, superb intellect, etc, etc with *zero flaws*. Byrne distilled him down to answering 'how does one handle power', and suddenly he was a much more interesting character.
Getting back to the religious studies comparison, I think that it makes perfect sense that one would find that distillation process for the characteristics as one progresses up the spiritual foodchain. There's a similar desire for clarity of facets for learning and relating.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2007-08-02 03:35 am (UTC)Getting back to the religious studies comparison, I think that it makes perfect sense that one would find that distillation process for the characteristics as one progresses up the spiritual foodchain. There's a similar desire for clarity of facets for learning and relating.