Murphy's death is prolonged and violent so that the audience can see RoboCop as imbued with the humanity taken from him by the inhumane actions of Boddicker's gang and OCP. Verhoeven considered it important to acknowledge the inherent darkness of humanity in order to avoid inevitable mutual destruction. He was impacted by his childhood experiences during World War II and the inhuman actions he witnessed. He believed the concept of the immaculate hero died following the war, and subsequent heroes had a dark side that they must overcome. Describing the difference between making films in Europe and America, Verhoeven said that a European "RoboCop" would explore the spiritual and psychological problems of RoboCop's condition, where the American version focuses on revenge. He also incorporated Christian mythology into the film. Murphy's brutal death is referred to as the Crucifixion of Jesus before his resurrection as RoboCop, an American Jesus who walks on water at the steel mill and wields a handgun. Verhoeven asserted he had no belief in the Resurrection of Jesus, but "I can see the value of that idea, the purity of that idea. So from an artistic point of view, it's absolutely true." The scene of RoboCop returning to Murphy's home is described as like finding the Garden of Eden or paradise.