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This topic has moved here: Subject: Halo as a Christian Allegory
  • Subject: Halo as a Christian Allegory
Subject: Halo as a Christian Allegory
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With all due respect to you, the Holy Spirit implores me to point out to you that in the book "Contact Harvest" the prophets discover that humans are actually descendents of the Covenant's gods (the Forerunners), but the prophets covered it up for fear that knowledge of it would rip the Covenant apart. Also, the names of the prophets (Truth, Mercy and Regret) are mocked as the plot develops.

In addition, the Flood is certainly sin, and I might even go so far as demonic possession because the host knows exactly what he or she is doing as they kill their fellow soldiers. However, they simply do the bidding of the evil guest. If the humans really wanted to stop the Flood, then they would be forced to realize that the only way to do so would be to initiate the Great Journey by setting off the rings! We Christians long for the same thing by praying for the return of Christ!!! In the day of the Lord the created order will be burned over with fire and destroyed so that it may be made new! A glorious new age with Christ as the Alpha and the Omega!

Furthermore, what is the Master Chief fighting to protect? Humanity? Granted. However, in the Halo universe the humans are under a one world government with a one world military! A one world government fighting against a covenant people lead by prophets. Well, this sounds like something prophesied about in scripture. Moreover, oracles and sentinels that stand watch against the evil Flood are ignored! ("Watchman" Ezekiel 33) In Halo, man tries to overcome evil by his own strength without submitting to what is really necessary for overcoming evil. Death to self! Christ beckons us to die to ourselves so that we might truly live!

How then could Halo possibly be a "Christian Allegory" when it is based on the premise that man is divine, and therefore, inherently perfectable. Modernism has shown this for the farce that it is!! The -blam!-s, the Communists, the narcassists and so on have had their shame revealed to the world!!! Man is a fallen creature, and man deserves death for his sin! But praise be to God that He sent his only begotten Son into the world so that through Him man might be saved! Now, it is up to us whether we choose the path of repentence.

  • 12.29.2009 4:02 PM PDT

Gunzaspawn

that crusade talk is not intended to be anti-christian... it's just intended to be historical. and my two cents says that christianity is extremely amorphous after 2000 years... it has matured into something that is whatever you want it to be... it has blended with all other influences (or more accurately absorbed them) and has come out the other end as anything one sees as rightous. so yeah, its easy to make religous allegories... and of course its easy to SEE allegory of the things that you think about a lot. if its a big part of your life or thought process (like video games are to some people here) you will associate that thing with other things with which other people might not associate it... such as christianity to halo. personally, i thought the obvious stuff was obvious, and the rest was a stretch.

  • 12.30.2009 8:32 PM PDT
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I find Halo more as a warning as to what can happen when an overzealous theocracy (i.e. the Covenant) is misguided by its leaders and twists interpretations and old script to wage war upon a rival faction which does happen in the real world, even to this day. And as another person says, the UNSC is very secular, with Dr. Halsey being an example of one of the universe's atheists. Hell, the High Prophets are probably atheists seeing as they now know the truth about the religion in which they follow.

[Edited on 12.31.2009 11:40 AM PST]

  • 12.31.2009 11:35 AM PDT
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"Do not be afraid. I am peace; I am salvation."

*Redacted. See my post below.*

[Edited on 01.04.2010 3:14 PM PST]

  • 12.31.2009 11:51 AM PDT

Then as it was, then again it will be. And though the course may change sometimes, rivers always reach the sea.

Posted by: Access 240
Christians see what they want to see. End of story.


That's a bit judgmental there buddy.

  • 01.01.2010 1:00 AM PDT

Wow, great job at finding all of the links between the Bible and the Halo series. I never thought about the "It's finished." part. That was a really nice find.

  • 01.02.2010 7:35 AM PDT

Extremely well thought out dude. If this isn't what the writers intended im sure you could convince them it is

  • 01.02.2010 6:12 PM PDT

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This topic makes me cringe. It borders on a holy flame war and could still teeter over the edge. Surprised it's not locked yet.

  • 01.02.2010 6:15 PM PDT
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ODST is similar to Dante's inferno

  • 01.03.2010 8:54 PM PDT
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"Do not be afraid. I am peace; I am salvation."

Posted by: ArbiterRock3624
Posted by: Access 240
Christians see what they want to see. End of story.


That's a bit judgmental there buddy.


You're right. I'm sorry. This thread started very strongly... OP had good points and I enjoyed the discussion.

Then it resorted to a bunch of atheists using this as a means to rebuke the existence of God...

Posted by: ChaoticTiger11
I believe that God is crock. Everything he has done or whatever is impossible. I'm not a christian.


..and a bunch of Christians who probably didn't even read the post, but were simply happy to see their religion mentioned.

Posted by: ciarank7
im a christian and it makes it more interesting


So, again, my apologies.

[Edited on 01.04.2010 3:00 PM PST]

  • 01.04.2010 2:59 PM PDT

Pretty Interesting.

I think you should watch this debate below, slow start but any clever person will watch through it, and take his time out for reality and truth. Question & Answer session at the end is hilarious....felt sorry for that Renowed Christain representitive.


The Debate

  • 01.04.2010 4:31 PM PDT

I'm a beast with the BR.......

__________(''''''''| '''''''|''' ')_||___________
| ------------____.`======.-.~:______/___|=================[_]
|_|||___/ /__/~'''|_|_|_|''(0)-------------> ; ; ; ; ;

This IZ MY GUN RAWR!!!!

Dude......You....are....a....GENIUS! you have actually brought something that might 100% true halos storyline it might actually be like what you just metioned dude if I had a medal for you I'd give it to you.

  • 01.08.2010 7:39 PM PDT
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I grant that Christianity is a synergism to a certain degree; however, that is mostly as far as religious practice is concerned. Theologically, orthodoxy Christianity has remained the same since the era of the ecumenical councils, and in all honesty since Jesus the Christ himself. Therefore, the synergism does not apply to the realm of allegory, which is the area of theology.

Furthermore, the gaming industry, as of late, has branded Christianity as a militant, overzealous movement that forces its views upon others by the sword. For example, Assassins Creed. All that is shown is the practice that was misguided by a hiccup of excessive zeal in the long history of Christendom.

Charlemagne's "convert or die" was only a few decades long, and the era of the Crusades only spanned about 300 years. Moreover, the intention of the Crusaders was not to convert the Muslims. All the Crusaders wanted to do was to control the Holy Land so they could go on pilgrimages there without fear of Muslim imposition or reprisal.

In conclusion, I would like to point out that if Christianity is whatever you want it to be then I could say, "Jesus was just a man," or "Jesus was only God." Both of which were condemned as heretical by the early church. You are quite mistaken to think that Christianity is whatever you want it to be! Jesus made it abundantly clear when he said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes before the Father except through me." If Jesus was not really who he said he was, then there is no way to truly have access to the Father. If that is the case, then we are all doomed to an eternity in Hell!

  • 01.12.2010 10:31 AM PDT

I think another thing you could add to this theory is who cortana represents. She could represent the "Bride of Christ", the church. She gets stuck with gravemind (sin and death) and Master Chief rescues her out of this just as Christ has rescued the church from sin and death...

Revelation 19:7
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

  • 01.12.2010 12:06 PM PDT
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With all due respect, that is a massive stretch because Cortana was a human creation. The creation of the artificially intelligent Cortana makes humanity God. It is the same thing that I elaborated upon earlier! The expression of modern, excessive optimism of human self-sufficiency!! The very idea of artificial intelligence is extremely presumptuous!!! Moreover, it destroys the uniqueness of humanity! Cortana cannot be the "Bride of Christ" for this self-evident reason.

  • 01.13.2010 9:03 AM PDT

Wow, I like a lot of the posts I'm seeing on this thread. I want to say first and foremost that I don't intend this topic to spark any sort of "religious battle" between Christians and non-Christians in the REAL world. I'll be the first to admit that there is no way that the Halo story can fully and perfectly match up the truths of scripture (whether you hold them to be true is up to your own personal beliefs) as Night Watchman has been quick to point out. It's very possible that Bungie intended this story to say something very different about religion in general (the idea that religion when used improperly can be VERY corruptive is the most plausible of these theories in my opinion). But whether you're an atheist or not, there is absolutely no denying that the references to scripture are there and that they were no doubt intended to be there by the creators to some degree or another. What these references mean is another matter altogether, I just thought I'd put my two cents in with my article. Everybody is raised with different "world views" and mine is no doubt reflected in my writing, as your world views will no doubt be reflected in yours. Either way, I love to see the debate. After all, isn't that what these forums are all about?

P.S. As for the comment about the Chief's last words not actually being "It's finished", I acknowledge that. However, it was one of the very final things he said, and one could even see the "resurrection" promise in his true final words "Wake me when you need me". Just a thought.

[Edited on 01.15.2010 11:22 AM PST]

  • 01.15.2010 11:20 AM PDT

P.P.S. Also, there are countless amounts of evidence in the Old Testament that point to Christ even before his earthly coming. I hold (as do nearly all Christian churches) that Christ is in fact the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (check out the book of Isaiah, it's full of fulfilled prophecies) and therefore is at the center of the Biblical story. Do with that what you will.

  • 01.15.2010 11:25 AM PDT
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In respectful response to the proposal that Master Chief is an allusion to our Savior Jesus the Christ I would like to point out that the true Master said, "My kingdom is not of this world," and that is why he commanded his disciple Peter to stay his sword in Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal. Jesus said that he could have called for the aid of 10,000 angels, but he did not. Why? He did not deliver himself because he knew that he had to drink of the cup of suffering so that man might have the possibility of eternal life. Jesus was initiating the Great Journey by his suffering and dying and resurrecting. Jesus was bringing closer the Day of the Lord when creation will be burned over with fire, and all things will be made new!!! Then the believers will have transformed, glorified bodies that shall live for eternity in the presence of God our Savior! Master Chief was not willing to do what was and is absolutely necessary to rid creation of evil... the full purging! The initiation of the Great Journey!

The prophets of old were watchmen for the people of Israel, and they warned that the Day of the Lord would be terrible! People in that day were asking for it to come quickly, but the prophets rebuked them sharply saying, "You do not know what you are asking for." Nonetheless, the prophets yearned for the Day of the Lord, but with the proper understanding that all would be set right; not simply that the wicked would be punished. Just like the ancient prophets of Israel my heart is heavy for the lost and dying, the hopeless and helpless, and the niave, apathetic fool. O that they would come to repentance and enjoy freedom from sin in Christ Jesus, and become slaves of righteousness by dying to themselves! Thereby, becoming truly free!!

In closing, I cry out "maranatha" meaning Lord come quickly!!!

in Christian love,

Night Watchman

  • 01.16.2010 10:24 AM PDT
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Forerunnin' with diadact.
Robot Factory - The Leader in off-topic and general discussion forums.

Tl;dr

  • 01.16.2010 10:36 AM PDT

OH HAI THAR!

It's a good thought, but you can make up references to the bible in almost any story.

  • 01.18.2010 9:46 AM PDT

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

Not having read all the thread I don't know if the number 7 has can up or not, but that is also a very important number in the Bible. At least in Revelation, which is the only bit of the Bible I've read.

  • 01.18.2010 11:46 AM PDT
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If Revelation is indeed the only portion of scripture that you have read, then I strongly encourage you to dig deeper because all you have read is the solution to the problem; not the problem itself. The problem of sin, and moreover, the fallen nature of man is dealt with in depth throughout the rest of canonical scripture. On the whole, the Bible has an pessimism of human nature, and an optimism of God's grace. It is a sober look at human nature in one book.

In addition, the number seven appears most often in John's writings, as well as elsewhere in the Bible; however, I am not sure if it plays any significant role in Halo.

  • 01.18.2010 3:22 PM PDT
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Zarrowsmith, why are you even writing on this forum if you are so suspicious of allegory? As for me, I am writing for the sake of all humanity to point to Jesus the Christ who fulfilled prophecy, and the apostles explained this allegorically.

[Edited on 01.18.2010 3:34 PM PST]

  • 01.18.2010 3:33 PM PDT

Vrrin Vrrin, yeah here I come.

all great works of fiction incorporate somewhat of a bible storyline. like the chronicles of narnia or lord of the rings.

halo does have those characters like the MC being in the jesus character role. like aslan was or aragorn, and with the covenant enemy as a whole being satan. like the white witch or sauron.

the way halo says that the librarian MADE eden in the terminals of halo 3 was a little hard for me to cope with, seeing as how this is not the case. but i thought my way around it. seeing as how in the halo universe, its obveously insinuating our species as the protagonists, but in a different way of thinking. like god made the forerunners, and when the forerunners screwed themselves by making the flood, they found a planet that would suit a race like their own, and god made US on the planet the forerunners picked to have a remake of their species after they destroyed themselves with the halos.

this was not the way things happened, but i like the way the story writters made almost a "what if?" kind of story, like it could've been that way, with god having to remake mankind and erase the memory of the first try of the forerunners, because of their immense technology they eventually destroyed themselves. it actually ranks up even higher than the other works of fiction that i stated above in my book, but thats just me.

good job on the plot bungie!

[Edited on 01.19.2010 10:47 AM PST]

  • 01.19.2010 10:46 AM PDT

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

Well I'm not actually Christian and thought Revelation might be the most interesting part of the bible, though I do plan on reading the rest.

Throughtout Halo 7 appears a lot, and also this website.
Just two example: There are 7 Halo rings, 343 Guilty Spark: 343 is 7 cubed.

  • 01.19.2010 12:05 PM PDT