BELOW: Muslim villagers chant "Alla Hu Akbar" after the Muslim super-heroine Dust repels Taliban invaders from their town. Usually transliterated as "Allahu Akbar," this Arabic phrase means "God is great." This expression is commonly known as the "takbir".
Source: Young X-Men #1 (June 2008): "Final Genesis", pg. 11, panels 2-4. Written by Marc Guggenheim. Art by Ray Snyder, Yanick Paquette. See also: God; chant; gratitude to God; Muslim; Dust (Sooraya Qadir); Bakwa townspeople
BELOW: Elise Erickson writes to Thor, who she humbly worships: "Thank you for watching over us and granting us this contentment.": Elise Erickson's feelings about Thor as a genuine religious deity are further illustrated by this letter that she wrote to him. She notes the good things that have happened in her life recently - moving away from her dysfunctional family, her marriage to a "wonderful man" and generally having a good life with her husband and son. She thanks Thor for watching over her family and for "granting" her and her family "this contentment." This goes beyond simple appreciation to a super-hero for specific acts of heroism. Elise's sentiments are analogous to a prayer of gratitude a person might say, thanking God or Jesus for the blessings in their life.
Source: Marvel Double-Shot #1 (Jan. 2003): "Dear Thor...", pg. 5. Written by Marlan Harris. Art by Kia Asamiya. See also: gratitude to God; Norse/Teutonic paganism; Thor (Donald Blake); Elise Erickson
BELOW: "Oh, thank God.": Against all odds, Rick Grimes travels from Kentucky and finds his family safe and well living in a camp on the outskirts of Atlanta. Rick woke up in a coma in a hospital in the previous issue, only to find himself in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Within only a day or two, he has found his family: his wife Lori and his son Carl. Yet nearly everybody else in the country is apparently dead or has been turned into a zombie. Given the situation, Rick's quiet expression after finding his family - "Oh, thank God" - may be an actual expression of thanks to deity, rather than simply a routine profane utterance. Given the seeming improbability of Rick finding his family well and alive so quickly, one might wonder if this is an actual miracle, a sign of divine Providence, perhaps in answer to Rick's prayer on page 11 in the previous issue. The events depicted in this series are extraordinary and present genuine philosophical questions. Depending on one's perspective, one might see these events as anything from a divine miracle to evidence of God's non-existence or non-involvement with humanity.
Source: The Walking Dead #2 (Oct. 2003): "Days Gone Bye, Part 2", pg. 22, panel 3. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Tony Moore. See also: gratitude to God; miracles; family; Rick Grimes; Lori Grimes; Carl Grimes
BELOW: Rick thanks God the snow is letting up and Dale says it is about time God gave them a break: When Rick says "Thank God the snow let up," he may or may not just be using the phrase "thank God" as an expression of speech. But Dale decides to interpret the expression somewhat literally, and refers to God pointedly, saying that God has got to stop giving them such a hard time. At various times, Dale is something of the "moral center" of this group of survivors. His statement here may be light banter, but it also may stem from a genuine belief that God is in control and that God was in some way responsible for the zombie apocalypse as well as the weather.
Dale: It's a bumpy ride, but we'll be fine as long as I take it slow. We should be on the road in no time.
Rick: Thank God the snow let up, eh?
Dale: He's gotta stop sh--ting on us sometime, y'know?
Source: The Walking Dead #7 (Apr. 2004): "Miles Behind Us, Part 1", pg. 10, panels 2-4. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Charlie Adlard. See also: God; gratitude to God; Rick Grimes; Dale Horvath
BELOW: The Wasp: "Thank Heavens": The Wasp is not portrayed as particularly religious, but she appears to have at least some religious sensibility. When she finds herself alive rather than tramples because of a fortuitous gap in the ground, she spontaneously thinks "Thank Heavens the ground here is so uneven!" The phrase "Thank Heavens" or "Thank Heaven" is often used by religiously observant people as an intentional way to avoid taking the Lord's name in vain (one of the Ten Commandments). Is this why the Wasp uses this phrase? Possibly. But this may be more of a linguistic expression borne of a religious background or upbringing rather than a conscious, intentional expression of gratitude to the Divine.
Source: The Avengers (vol. 1) #3 (Jan. 1964): "The Avengers Meet... Sub-Mariner!", pg. 21, panels 4-5. Written by Stan Lee. Art by Jack Kirby, Paul Reinman. See also: gratitude to God; Heaven; The Wasp (Janet van Dyne)