| In 1960s, America was facing against various problems. The crisis of the Cold War, nuclear threat, competition of military arms race, the Vietnam War, and the challenges of economy from the revived Europe and Japan. The position as a leading superpower in the world of capitalism was shaken. On the other hand, Anti-Vietnam War and all kinds of countercultural movements sprang up. As they were immature and had many negative factors, countercultural movements made the social values they were fighting against even more reasonable in one respect and another.In the beginning of 1990s, the Cold War ended. The Soviet Union disintegrated and the countries in Eastern Europe changed their social and political institutions all over. However, the bad thing is that America lost an opposite by which it used to value its moral characters in the past. Economic depression, the springing up of competitors of Europe and Japan, together with the weakening of the cushioning effect of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean drove Americans'superiority complex in the postwar time totally away. Many attributed the crisis in 1990s to the movements of 1960s and regard the dangerous situations as lost of traditional values.Whenever they are in troubles and difficulties, the American people bred up with deep Christian culture are accustomed to appeal to Messiah who would save their soul and lead them to restore happy life. In 1994, Forest Gump authored by Winston Groom, a famous novelist in America, was adapted to a movie and came onto the stage. The emerging of Forest Gump seems like a reply to the era's calling. The movie was received tremendous welcome. It quickly turned from a successful movie to a public phenomenon, with deep instructions and enlightenment. Gump's virtues just represent the traditional values of America. His success is the popular dream of returning to their happy and peaceful life in 1950s for all Americans. The pronounced tradition of Christian culture prevails in every aspect of American society. Americans are used to explain their real life in terms of Christian ideas. It is easy for us to see that the story is full of Christian color.The thesis makes a discussion of the Christian tradition in American history and regards it as core to understand the Christian way of thinking in Americans'minds, which enable us to see the religious atmosphere in the story clearly. Next, this thesis starts showing the image of Jesus Christ in Forest Gump analyzing the biblical archetype of Christ attached to Forest Gump.The analysis focuses on three major aspects, piety, enlightenment and salvation. Within the three aspects, enlightenment was analyzed through the biblical archetype of the Garden of Eden, two Edens showing the Eden in Gump's heart and the Eden of his life. By comparing Gump's life and events of 1960s and 1990s in which Gump is concerned, but from which he is detached, the effect of enlightenment is reinforced. The thesis exhibits the biblical image of Jesus Christ, which would instruct and enlighten human beings to return to the Eden in heart and start peaceful, happy and harmonious life. Through the fact that traditional values lead to the successful life, which was manifested from Gump and his life, the theme of the movie is highlighted to call people to go back to spiritual virtues, and pure inner world of heart, and then return to Eden-like life, which is harmonious, happy, peaceful and glorious. Gump is revealing from the chaotic society in 1960s, moving and inspiring American people in 1990s. He is the banner to call for the return of virtues and a shining lighthouse to inspire all human beings.
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