In response to incessant rocket fire from Gaza, Israel retaliated with a military offensive. Since then, dozens of Israelis and more than 600 Palestinians have been killed (BBC, July 23, 2014). Reacting to the carnage, “The UN’s top human rights official has condemned Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip, saying that war crimes may have been committed… She also condemned Hamas for ‘indiscriminate attacks’ on Israel” (ibid.). However, the EU has offered another perspective.

On July 25, the movie Hercules will be released nationwide, yet another example of America’s fascination with Greek and Roman gods and mythology. Besides the Hercules movies, Hollywood recently produced a remake of the 1981 movie Clash of the Titans, as well as the Percy Jackson movie series—all to profit from American interest in pagan deities. Why are these movies—and the books and other media on which they are based—so successful? Why does our society find more connection with ancient Greek mythology than with biblical Christianity?