Halo and Religion
I know that not all of these are entirely accurate but I think I've got something:
Master Chief = Muhammad (why? I'm not sure)
- Muhammad is referred to as "Our master and chief" in some Islamic texts.
- The faces of both Muhammad and Master Chief are never shown.
- Bungie employees with flaming heads in multiplayer.
- Recurrence of the number 7 in Halo and Islam (also in other religions, though):
- Muhammad is said to have ascended into the 7 heavens during his lifetime (from Jerusalem).
- There are 7 functional Halo rings remaining before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved
The Arbiter = Jesus
- Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" Luke 12:14
- Jesus and the Arbiter are both "crucified".
- Arbiter challenges the beliefs of the prophets and gains a following (the elites).
Elites then break away from the control of the 3 Prophets.
The Arbiter = Jesus
so, Elites/Covenant = Christians/Catholics
Earth = Jerusalem
(both are "religiously" significant areas over which there is dispute and war)
Human-Covenant War = The Crusades
- Catholics attack Muslims for access to Jerusalem, which, according to Islam, is the access point to the 7 heavens.
The Covenant attack the human colonies for access to Earth (the portal to the Ark, control center of the 7 Halo rings).
- The Covenant believe that activating the rings will bring them on a "Great Journey" to salvation.
- At the end of Halo 3, the humans leave the hillside barren to serve as a memorial.
The Second Temple is destroyed. The Western Wall is left untouched and unrepaired, as a memorial.
The Didact = God
- "God did act on the seventh day" St. Thomas Aquinas
did + act = Didact
recurrence of the number seven
343 Guilty Spark = Lucifer/Satan
- sentenced by Didact/God to be alone forever
- tempting Master Chief and Covenant to light the rings
tempting Eve to eat the apple from the tree of knowledge
In both cases, 343 Guilty Spark/Satan tempts others to do that which he cannot do, himself.
And in both cases, doing said action would be devastating to all of mankind.
Not Sure:
Cortana = Angel Gabriel (guiding Master Chief/Muhammad)
The Librarian (name of forerunner) = Mary
- relationship with Didact/God
- saved humanity (making them the "reclaimers")
What do you think?