- XpinktaintX
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- Noble Heroic Member
Posted by: jack0fhearts
Posted by: XpinktaintX
Christian themes and names have certainly been part of the inspiration that created Halo. This has been known for years, first with the name "Halo" being associated with Christian figureheads,
I don't mean to sound snide, but Christians didn't invent or conceptualize Halos. Even in Greek mythology, Heroes and Gods are depicted with rays of light (the origins of a halo) coming from their head. Ancient Sumerians also had "angels," who are generically seen with halos. Just because the games and the Halo Array are named "Halo" does not exclusively put a Christian element to the game. While many Christians may be able to find "parallels," they are not explicitly laid out in a "This is a Christian game." Halo is about as much a Christian allegory as Mass Effect, which goes in pretty deep to Ashley William's faith in what is assumed is the Christian God.
Again, with what you outlined (the Ark and the Flood,) it seems to be more a prod at the theme and a "Here is the reality behind those stories." Keep in mind that Noah and his flood aren't the only "world flood" stories; everyone from that region (and even more,) have world flood stories; the Greeks, the Mesopotamians, the Native Americans, etc.
Indeed. As I said, games take inspiration from religion, history, lore, and anything else to highten the interest and depth in the Universes created. If you read the rest of my post, you'd also realize that I don't believe Halo to take its religious allegory from Christianity, alone. There's evidence of inspirations from Norse and Greek/Roman mythology, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
As such, interpretations are many.
For example:
I can argue that the Gravemind is a symbol of God - a timeless, all-knowing being, and the master of the the Flood, who, through the actions of the Flood, forced the Forerunners, who represent Noah, to create the Ark and the Halo Rings, with which to use in order to overcome the Flood and begin life anew through assembled DNA.
Many years later, the Covenant, symbols of the Christian faith, terrorize the galaxy in an effort to launch the ancient Halo Rings and begin their Great Journey. Given the information I have amassed above, and the realization that the Covenant faith is built on false promises, our hero, the Master Chief, known as the "Demon" to the Covenant steps forward, as a symbol of knowledge in the face of their rightious genocide, in order to stop their efforts and save mankind from their extremist actions in the name of faith, and from the notion that humanity can only be saved by removing humanity.
A lonshot, indeed, but one someone could interpret as anti-religion symbolism. See, religious allegory is like a holy book - they're both written from a number of perspectives, taking different inspirations. As a result, both are open to interpretation, as we practice the ability to simply take what we want from them. In truth, well, there is no truth - only perspective.
[Edited on 08.18.2011 1:29 PM PDT]