Is the Green Lantern Oath a Prayer?

Religion and Comics
Is the Green Lantern Oath a Prayer?
By Hervé St-Louis
February 28, 2010 - 16:45

In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight
Let those who worship evil’s might
Beware my power, Green Lantern’s light.

The Green Lantern oath was first introduced in the early Golden Age stories of the first published Green Lantern, Alan Scott. It’s form was different than the one quote above, with It has been modified over the years. It is more streamlined and clear, than the one used by Alan Scott. Although many Green Lanterns over the years have had oaths of their own, which they recite when recharging their green lantern rings within the power battery, it is the one used by Green Lantern Hal Jordan that has remained the most used and is the best known.

Reciting the Green Lantern oath is a ritual it seems created to renew the Green Lantern to his faith, the organization he serves. This recantation of faith has many religious parallels which is why I see a link with prayer. Prayer is done to renew faith and strengthen and affirm the beliefs of the individual. The difference with the regular Green Lantern oath and a regular prayer is that the Green Lantern is not praying to a deity or ancestors, but his praying to an organization that is at once a source of power, a person and a relic. When the Green Lantern says “Beware my power, Green Lantern’s light,” he is referring partly to himself, the organization he serves, the power he wields and the Green Lantern artefact he holds in his hands to recharge his ring. It’s interesting that the term Green Lantern is so loosely defined and has so many meanings hiding the possible religious and worship behind many possible targets. At once the Green Lantern oath becomes a secular recital in a comic book that should be free from overt religions.

The Green Lantern oath is not like an anthem, although it could function like one for one reason, music. There has never been, to my knowledge a musical version of the Green Lantern oath. It is always meant to be recited almost like a poem and not an anthem. But the Green Lantern oath, just like a prayer can probably be easily adapted to music and sung.

Prayer can be personal and a communion with one’s beliefs and deity. While the Green Lantern oath is very much a communal action, it is also focused on strengthening the individual through his own power. Thus, I think rather than a prayer, the Green Lantern is closer to a psalm. The Jewish figure, David was credited with the authoring the psalms. The Psalms are much like the Green Lantern oath as they are words spoken before a war and a combat with an enemy. David’s psalms were focused on his opponents and through many of them he affirmed his conviction that he would prevail, with the help of Jehovah. David’s psalms describe his journey through valleys and locations and how he comes out of his treks protected and victorious thanks to a greater power based on his will and faith. This is much of what the Green Lantern oath does for a Green Lantern. The oat reaffirms the Green Lantern’s faith in his will power and the power emanating from his battery and ring. It announces that it will prevail against evil. The defiance and combat over evil is an important part of why I believe the Green Lantern oath is closer to a psalm than a prayer. While a prayer can be focused on things like asking for daily sustenance and courage, the psalm is an announcement to opponents to watch out for the announcer and to steer clear, much like a battle cry.

The Green Lantern oath could have been more complicated but as it is, it is the perfect length and a great piece of heroic poetry. Of all the audio versions that I have heard of the Green Lantern oath, I would argue that John Stewart’s interpretation in the Justice League cartoon series was the best. However, I am quite pleased with the one from the direct to DVD Green Lantern animated cartoon recited by all Green Lantern Corps’ member at the end of the movie. The group effect added much drama. As for the once Hal Jordan recited in the B Batman The Brave and The Bold cartoon series, it lacked grandeur and scope, as the voice felt too weak to recite such an strong statement of inner faith and will.