User Info: Samsaric_Spiral Samsaric_Spiral 7 years ago #1



In the SMT games, the Judeo-Christian faiths seem portrayed as being extremist or one-sided. For example, in SMT II you kill YHVH on all the paths, including Law, due to extreme authoritarianism and megalomania. Moreover, SMT I seems similar to IV in that it has an implicit bias for neutrality, and the main neutral hero in I is Lao Tzu . I feel as if Kaneko and other creators of SMT series, find moral dualism and monotheism destructive due to absolutism, hence why YHVH/Ahura Mazda always seems to have an extreme plan that involves unneeded sacrifices. In SMT I, Lao Tzu explains neutrality is the best due to "balance"; it is a central tenet of Japanese Soto and Rinzae Zen, Thervadan Buddhism (called Middle-Way), and it possesses a strong parallel with the Daoist conception of Wu Wei. Moreover, in SMT IV, neutrality also seems to possess more of a preference due to spending 15 more hrs on that path, having a more complete ending, not killing Isabeau, and etc. Moreover, in SMT IV's DLC Archangel I M is alluded to be lying about the archangels. Nuking Japan was YHVH's intention all along and fits well with the previous games . In Nocturne, Lucifer is also portrayed as better than YHVH, due to him not damning the protagonist for his choice, but the Great Will or YHVH express great disapproval, even threatening to have the protagonist endlessly suffer much like Aleph in SMT II. How is this not another stab at the existence of a power-hungry, monotheistic creator God?



I do not think dismissing these criticisms on the basis it is "just a game" is valuable. When Salman Rushdie wrote Satanic Verse, criticizing many problems he saw in Islam, does it make sense to ignore the criticisms on the basis of it just being a "book" or "artwork"? Also, I do not think the games' notions of "right" or "wrong" are entirely* based off one's own perspective of what. I am not an art student, but I feel as if every piece of art is made with some biases from the creators. In SMT games, there is evident criticism against the Judeo-Christian faiths that is not fair to dismiss or ignore. It's not just a game! It is challenging our beliefs in what we find just or fair.



Here are some questions for people who don't agree:



1. If the games were NOT to have criticism against Judeo-Christian faiths, why research in-depth into it? Obviously, the developers put more research into all the theology, and they don't ever seem to portray the angels, YHVH, or any other Law-centered character as benevolent in the main series. I am ignoring DeSu:OC for now.



2. Why do the developers depict Zurvan (from Zoroastrianism) and other Zoroastrian creatures in the older Majin Tensei games the same way as YHVH and his angels? It's due to their criticism against moral dualism and monotheism, for Christianity and Islam are generally agreed to be a carbon-copy of Zoroastrianism, the first monotheistic and morally dualistic religion. They had a reason to implement these mythological figures too.



That's enough for now...



I possibly feel as if these games also possess a Shinto bias due to the fact none of the polytheistic demons possess more authority than the other, trying to control its followers, but I have not spent enough time evaluating this specific claim. I am for certain the Japanese population, on average, is not fond of Christianity, especially considering only S. Korea accepted it. Here is another topic I have a feeling will get me flamed, but this time I feel more assured in what I perceive. This deals with the themes of the SMT games, so it is not off-topic or flaming. Due to freedom of speech, I am able to express this in a civilized manner, and if this topic gets deleted, it would be bad.In the SMT games, the Judeo-Christian faiths seem portrayed as being extremist or one-sided. For example, in SMT II you killMoreover, SMT I seems similar to IV in that it has an implicit bias for neutrality, and the main neutral hero in I is. I feel as if Kaneko and other creators of SMT series, find moral dualism and monotheism destructive due to absolutism, hence why YHVH/Ahura Mazda always seems to have an extreme plan that involves unneeded sacrifices. In SMT I,Moreover, in SMT IV,Moreover, in SMT IV's DLC Archangel I. In Nocturne,I do not think dismissing these criticisms on the basis it is "just a game" is valuable. When Salman Rushdie wrote Satanic Verse, criticizing many problems he saw in Islam, does it make sense to ignore the criticisms on the basis of it just being a "book" or "artwork"? Also, I do not think the games' notions of "right" or "wrong" are entirely* based off one's own perspective of what. I am not an art student, but I feel as if every piece of art is made with some biases from the creators. In SMT games, there is evident criticism against the Judeo-Christian faiths that is not fair to dismiss or ignore. It's not just a game! It is challenging our beliefs in what we find just or fair.Here are some questions for people who don't agree:1. If the games were NOT to have criticism against Judeo-Christian faiths, why research in-depth into it? Obviously, the developers put more research into all the theology, and they don't ever seem to portray the angels, YHVH, or any other Law-centered character as benevolent in the main series. I am ignoring DeSu:OC for now.2. Why do the developers depict Zurvan (from Zoroastrianism) and other Zoroastrian creatures in the older Majin Tensei games the same way as YHVH and his angels? It's due to their criticism against moral dualism and monotheism, for Christianity and Islam are generally agreed to be a carbon-copy of Zoroastrianism, the first monotheistic and morally dualistic religion. They had a reason to implement these mythological figures too.That's enough for now...I possibly feel as if these games also possess a Shinto bias due to the fact none of the polytheistic demons possess more authority than the other, trying to control its followers, but I have not spent enough time evaluating this specific claim. I am for certain the Japanese population, on average, is not fond of Christianity, especially considering only S. Korea accepted it.