- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
[color=lime]I got this from HBO thread- I DID NOT WRITE THIS[/color]
Okay, I'm no bible scholar, but after looking at the *awsome* Halo story website for a while, it occurred to me that perhaps the name of our hero, the Master Chief, is of some significance (as all good fictional names should be). In this case, according to Fall of Reach, the master Chief's name is John 117. Hopping over to the ever-simple to navigate www.bible.org, I found the following text at John 1:17
1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but [footnote 11] grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ.
the text of the footnote follows
11tn "But" is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the implied contrast between the Mosaic law and grace through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 seems to indicate clearly that the Old Covenant (Sinai) was being contrasted with the New. In Jewish sources the Law was regarded as a gift from God (Josephus, Ant. 3.8.10 [3.223]; Pirqe Aboth 1.1; Sifre Deut 31:4 §305). Further information can be found in T. F. Glasson, Moses in the Fourth Gospel.
Looking at both texts, I believe it is safe to say that the MC is Jesus and the Covenant are, well, the Covenant (aka the Old Covenant, aka Moses).
In a very literal translation of the footnote, Humanity, through the avatar of John 117, the Master Chief (Jesus), is bringing grace and law to the universe through direct conflict with the Old Covenant of laws that were given by God (the Forerunners) to Moses (the Covenant).
Why is this significant? (the following is all speculation)
To me, it seems that the Forerunners once gave instruction to the Covenant as to how to govern the universe (or, more likely, the galaxy), but the Covenant failed to understand the laws in a manner which was acceptible to the forerunners. The Forerunners then took a more direct approach, crafting humanity into a more moral race (see all the info on the aztecs, etc. at the Halo story page, with regards to Forerunner symbology and structures), and imbuing humanity with the ability to fight the covenant, and restore morality to the galaxy. I believe that it is safe to assume that the Covenant are wholly alien to the Forerunners, but were deemed trustworthy to safeguard the galaxy from the Flood, and were elevated to hold elite (pun intended) status over the other races of the galaxy, through the use of Forerunner technology and instruction. However, the Covenant then built up a religion (focused on the Forerunners) which was too hierarchical and allowed slavery (this is almost a direct parallel of our world's actual history - Jews of old had slaves, as well as an extrememly hierarchical religious structure). In light of this development, the Forerunners created or helped create a race which could defeat the covenant and take over the governing of the galaxy with a more moral code of conduct: Humanity. Presumably, this guidance in creation is behind the scenes and under the table, as no humans (except for perhaps the Aztecs - see above) are aware of it. The close Forerunner bond to both Covenant and the Humans in this scenario explains why English is spoken by both groups, and why Cortana can interface with the Forerunner technology in the control room. It also explains how human tech can open forerunner doors (cutscene during 343 GS), and why 343 Guilty Spark speaks English (with a much wider vocabulary than any of the other characters in the game, I might add).
Anyway, now that my main point is through, I'm going to stop this post. Thanks for bearing with all of the speculation, and please follow the safety diagram whenever using a SPNKr.
-The Shrike