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This topic has moved here: Subject: God (or something like Him), as seen in halo.
  • Subject: God (or something like Him), as seen in halo.
Subject: God (or something like Him), as seen in halo.

I'll have you know
that I've become
Indestructible!

Foreword
If you know me, you know my ideas follow a central theme: Biblical elements in halo.
This thread is no different.
If you do not think Biblical elements and themes are present in halo, don't bother addressing me about the apologetics behind such a mindset. Chances are I won't give you more than 1 rebuttal.

So if you want to discuss this but you don't think halo has the Biblical under/over-tones, take it with a grain of salt, or maybe a handfull.

I am not addressing whether or not Halo has been influenced by the Bible. I am addressing a single Biblical theme and its relevance to the story. Argue for or against that theme, but not the apologetics behind the allegorical school of thought.

Like the title suggests, forget about Noah for a second. I'm thinking of the other Ark, the Ark of the Covenant. Now before you get all huffy and scream "Come on! Ark! Flood!!! It's Noah's ARK!!!", please restrain yourself. I'm not saying there isn't a parrallel to Noah, the ark and the Great Flood. I'm suggesting a dual meaning. If this theory is going to make any sense to you, you're going to have to Noah and his gopher-wood box on the back burner.

This is, among other things, about God's Ark of the Covenant, sin, Salvation and [a] savior(s).

This thread is building off of my Mediator thread. I recommend checkin' it out (if you haven't already) before reading this.

Where to start?
Let's get Biblical!
*ahem*

You've heard it a million times. Noah's Ark saved 8 people and a ton of animals from the flood, then God made a Covenant to never destroy with such a flood again.
Hold the phone-
The flood are constantly being let loose in halo. Obviously, this school of thought isn't holding water.

Consider the flood as sin, and the Ark as the Ark of the Covenant.
Have you been reading up on scripture?
Ok, well, then have you seen Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark?

When God made His first Covenant with the Jews, He gave Moses plans, copies of a Covenant to come. One of the plans God showed Moses was the Ark of the Covenant. A 4x2 foot box made of Acacia wood covered in gold.
The physical contents was a jar of manna, Aaron's staff, and the stone tablets of the Covenant.

Supernaturally, God was in that box. Well, if you want to get theological, -no-, I'll with-hold theology for now.
The Ark of the Covenant practically housed God and His Glory. How does this tie into halo? I'm getting to that.

So, Moses' first encounter with God. He's walkin' around and -boom!-, he sees a burning bush that starts talking to him.
Long story short, God says His name is "I AM WHAT I AM". In Hebrew, it is YHWH, or "Yahweh", though some scholars say it could be pronounced "Hawah", which sounds like breathing, the proof of "I am". According to deep analysis of the texts of Exodus, it is quite clear that God, YHWH, is the epitome of sentience/sapience. I AM is the ultimate statement of self awareness. Self awareness being the cornerstone of sapience (often confused with "Sentience" in science fiction).

Back to the Ark.
One time there was this guy named Uzzah who grabbed the Ark to keep it from falling. But when he layed his hand on it he immediately died.

Also, there were high priests who would offer sacrifices every year on the Ark. If the priest had defiled himself in anyway in his preparation for the sacrifice, he'd die in the presence of the Ark.
The priests were so serious about it they'd wear bells, and also a rope around their foot.
If other priests heard the bells suddenly stop, they wouldn't enter the Ark's presence, that'd kill them, too. They'd grab the rope and yank the ex-High priest from under the heavy curtain.

That is the power of not being properly prepared for the The I AM.

What about Halo?

Remember Cortana's words on high charity?
[b]"there's something inside the ship, a presence that's fighting back. For a Covenant construct it's unusually formidable.


I think it's funny how she didn't call that Presence an A.I.
No, she did compare it to Covenant A.I.'s, but she didn't call it an A.I.
She didn't even call it covenant.
I'm willing to put money on it being a home-grown, original Forerunner intellegince, artificial or otherwise.

I'm also willing to bet that the Ark [of the Covenant parallel] is on that forerunner ship, or at least IS the ship.


Cortana:
They've been using the Forerunner ship's engines as an energy source for the city.

Psalms 132:8
Arise, O LORD, and enter your sanctuary,
along with the ark, the symbol of your power.

Also, consider the Halo 3 trailer...
Revelations 11:19
19Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
Sound like the trailer?

Ok, so what's going to happen?
How can this tie together?

The Ark of the Covenant holds God's Presence, God is "I AM", the ultimate Self Aware.
The formidable presence is going to be with that ship on its return (yes, I say return) to Earth.
That ship is very likely to be or to hold the Ark, the Ark of the Covenant.

What do the halos do?
Kill flood.
No, barbarian. It wipes the galexy clean of all sentient (sapient?) life.

I feel that this Presence will do one (or two) of two things.
1)It will do important talking about the Ark and how to use it
AND/OR
2) it will make a very intimate contact with the Chief.
Shut up. So I said "Intimate"
Boo-ha-plasmapunch. Grow up.

I believe the chief's suit is the way it is for a reason.
It uses covenant technology, taken from Forerunner relics.
The moniters recognize the chief's suit as being forerunner, but totally throw out those Covenant copy-cats.

The chief has shielding for a reason.
The chief's suit can house an A.I., and now with halo 2 and the advent of the Mk 6 armor, can broadcast an A.I. without a physical chip.

That last little bit will be important in the confrontation at the Ark, when Salvation is dealt.

I believe that the seven halos send out pulse that is much like EMP, only for the self aware mind. USB, short for "Ultra Sapient Blast!!!".

If the [remaining] halos go off, the hole galaxy will echo "I AM".

[Edited on 7/8/2006]

  • 07.07.2006 8:52 PM PDT
Subject: Forget Noah, this is God's Ark

Gamertag: CPO Fraser

Space for Rent

AHHH! your sig is causing lag!! help!!!

  • 07.07.2006 8:53 PM PDT

I'll have you know
that I've become
Indestructible!

I've been getting that.
Sorry, I'll change it.

  • 07.07.2006 8:54 PM PDT
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well you definitely put some thought into this

i like

  • 07.07.2006 9:00 PM PDT
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"You must face the truth squarely and without flinching from duty. Our enemies are mortal no longer. Mercy for such as they is a chimera, self-deception is its only ally. Dedicate this weapon, given unto your hand at the behest of the Emperor, to their destruction. Regard its function as your only duty: you live only to bring cleansing fire."

finally, i was never able to word it as you have. bravo.

i too think the same thing

[Edited on 7/7/2006]

  • 07.07.2006 9:02 PM PDT
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I have to admit, you lost me at points, and it is a little confusing the first time through. Overall though I like it, and it seems to be a very interesting theory, though so deep most would drown in it.

It does seem very interesting though, and I have to applaud the good thought and intelligence of the post.

  • 07.07.2006 9:03 PM PDT
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"You must face the truth squarely and without flinching from duty. Our enemies are mortal no longer. Mercy for such as they is a chimera, self-deception is its only ally. Dedicate this weapon, given unto your hand at the behest of the Emperor, to their destruction. Regard its function as your only duty: you live only to bring cleansing fire."

i beleive most of the halo story is derived from REVELATION. so many connections are found in that chapter.

  • 07.07.2006 9:06 PM PDT
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I'm not even going to read it, but I can tell you did your research.

  • 07.07.2006 9:07 PM PDT
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Forget God and forget the Bible and forget the whole damn religion -blam!-...IT IS A F-ING GAME!!!! What is wrong with you people, you guys are acting like we should worship this game or something....damn religious nerds...

Edit...But I guess people have their own views...and I should respect that....

[Edited on 7/7/2006]

  • 07.07.2006 9:07 PM PDT

(10:19:49 PM) Scruss: oh and pezza, i saw what you did to that cat
(10:20:17 PM) Pezza: You were the one with the video camera breathing heavily. Of course you saw.

Very thought out, I good read. I agree with quite a few of your points.

  • 07.07.2006 9:09 PM PDT
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Posted by: IceWeasel
Let's get biblical!
That's it, I'm not gonna bother to read your post if you're gonna go all-out with an attitude similar to "Barney & Friends."

[Edited on 7/7/2006]

  • 07.07.2006 9:11 PM PDT
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That is interesting... very interesting. I also thought of Halo as biblical, but it wouldn't have sounded half as good as you've explained it.

  • 07.07.2006 9:12 PM PDT
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Topic creator is to be commended. It's a good theory. Perhaps one of the few that actually uses logic and evidence without assuming everything.

  • 07.07.2006 9:15 PM PDT
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Waterwarrior:

You should relax a bit. The game has religious ties and hints in it. All people are doing it discovering them and trying to figure out whats going on in Bungies head.

Anyway, very, very well thought out post. An interesting read and it makes a lot of sense :)

  • 07.07.2006 9:16 PM PDT
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Kickass post. Good job, Ice, as usual. Gives me some ideas....

  • 07.07.2006 9:31 PM PDT
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Yeah, that's good. I'd thought of the Ark meaning the Ark of the Covenant, but the thing about the presence is really good.

  • 07.07.2006 9:34 PM PDT
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Posted by: ExoByte
Waterwarrior:

You should relax a bit. The game has religious ties and hints in it. All people are doing it discovering them and trying to figure out whats going on in Bungies head.

Anyway, very, very well thought out post. An interesting read and it makes a lot of sense :)


Relax? I am relaxed didn't you read my edit...signifying I did wrong...?!?!

  • 07.07.2006 9:35 PM PDT
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This is part of the reason I don't look forward to Halo 3...too much Christianity. Not everybody in the whole damn world is a Christian.

  • 07.07.2006 9:38 PM PDT

Don’t get mad if I flame you because you cannot spell, or because my three year old has better grammar and etiquette than you.

I hope there isn’t a religious tie in.

But then again religious people look for meaning in everything. Sure there are influences, you just have to look hard enough and stretch things a bit, but you can always find one.

For instance, I like to view Halo as a slander on religion. I see the prophets leading their followers to a meaningless death. It’s really how religion is played out these days. Everyone always thinks theirs is the right one, and slanders the others. Who is to say whose is right NOBODY has proof of anything.

I say just be a good person and live a good life, and don’t force your views and opinions on others, respect other peoples opinions and beliefs.

Oh and I do get to make this soapbox reply because you posted this in a public forum.


  • 07.07.2006 9:41 PM PDT
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Posted by: Vitamin Zawaz
This is part of the reason I don't look forward to Halo 3...too much Christianity. Not everybody in the whole damn world is a Christian.



Exactly too many religiouse people that want to tie everything to religion...but we still have to respect them...even though I hate them...not because they believe...but because they like to tie everything to religion....!

  • 07.07.2006 9:42 PM PDT
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Posted by: Waterwarrior
Posted by: Vitamin Zawaz
This is part of the reason I don't look forward to Halo 3...too much Christianity. Not everybody in the whole damn world is a Christian.



Exactly too many religiouse people that want to tie everything to religion...but we still have to respect them...even though I hate them...not because they believe...but because they like to tie everything to religion....!

Well, for one thing, Bungie has admitted that there is plenty of Biblical allegory in Halo. In fact, I believe I read someone from Bungie stating Halo can be taken as Biblical allegory.

Even so, why is this so maddening to you? So what? You don't have to see it that way, and you don't have to read any of the threads that tie Halo to the Bible. If you don't believe the Bible, at least you can appreciate it as an amalmagation of stories and myths to be drawn from. No one is asking you to convert to Christianity by playing Halo 3.

  • 07.07.2006 9:51 PM PDT

Good job, this is what I was thinking, the other Ark isn't as interesting and its too obvious.

  • 07.07.2006 9:57 PM PDT
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Posted by: Zerodev
Posted by: Waterwarrior
Posted by: Vitamin Zawaz
This is part of the reason I don't look forward to Halo 3...too much Christianity. Not everybody in the whole damn world is a Christian.



Exactly too many religiouse people that want to tie everything to religion...but we still have to respect them...even though I hate them...not because they believe...but because they like to tie everything to religion....!

Well, for one thing, Bungie has admitted that there is plenty of Biblical allegory in Halo. In fact, I believe I read someone from Bungie stating Halo can be taken as Biblical allegory.

Even so, why is this so maddening to you? So what? You don't have to see it that way, and you don't have to read any of the threads that tie Halo to the Bible. If you don't believe the Bible, at least you can appreciate it as an amalmagation of stories and myths to be drawn from. No one is asking you to convert to Christianity by playing Halo 3.


This is exactly what gets me mad...I said even though I might hate or disagree with them...I still respect them...don't you understand that? Or are you just trying to pick an arguement?!

  • 07.07.2006 9:57 PM PDT
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"You must face the truth squarely and without flinching from duty. Our enemies are mortal no longer. Mercy for such as they is a chimera, self-deception is its only ally. Dedicate this weapon, given unto your hand at the behest of the Emperor, to their destruction. Regard its function as your only duty: you live only to bring cleansing fire."

Posted by: Vitamin Zawaz
Posted by: IceWeasel
Let's get biblical!
That's it, I'm not gonna bother to read your post if you're gonna go all-out with an attitude similar to "Barney & Friends" and "Mr. Rogers."


Mr. Rogers would kick your ass any day... if he were alive

  • 07.07.2006 9:59 PM PDT
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Posted by: Ikwa
Posted by: Vitamin Zawaz
Posted by: IceWeasel
Let's get biblical!
That's it, I'm not gonna bother to read your post if you're gonna go all-out with an attitude similar to "Barney & Friends" and "Mr. Rogers."


Mr. Rogers would kick your ass any day... if he were alive


Yea Mr. Rogers is pretty cool...wait...was pretty cool *makes sad face*...

  • 07.07.2006 10:01 PM PDT