History Main / Theotech

* In ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', the title mecha are named after Eve from the Bible, and the antagonists are {{Eldritch Abomination}}s named after angels from Hebrew folklore (but they are not actual angels). Other oddities include a supercomputer named MAGI, an alien artifact named the Lance of Longinus, and the implication that the Bible was actually an [[AncientAstronauts alien technical manual]] (making Christianity in-universe an example of CargoCult). In ''End of Evangelion'', a group of aerial Evas form a diagram of the Sephirot in the sky using InstantRunes.
* ''Anime/GenesisOfAquarion'' has antagonists called Shadow Angels who live in Atlantis (which is [[Series/StargateAtlantis located in Antarctica]]) and feed captured humans to their "Tree of Life."
* ''Anime/RahXephon'' has the lost continent of Mu as the main antagonist, and Rah Xephon was an attempt to create an artificial god.

* ''Rim'' by Alexander Besher has some of your standard cyberpunk trappings, such as a big popular virtual world and independent contractors, but the whole thing is inundated with New Age Retro Hippie stuff, borrowed metaphysical concepts and symbolism, and at least one case of a businessman reincarnating into a pink monkey so that the protagonist can slay an indestructible super-zombie in cyberspace who represents corruption. Think ''Literature/SnowCrash'' on too much pot and too many liberal arts degrees.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* The short story ''A Word For Heathens'' by Creator/PeterWatts [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this on purpose. It's set in a theocratic dystopia where the DoomTroops of the CorruptChurch that rules everything have had devices surgically implanted in their brains that cause them to be in a constant state of religious righteousness; in other words, they constantly feel as if they are the hand of God, doing God's will. Since the story is narrated in the first person perspective, everything that happens is described in religious ways, since the main character is in the thrall of artificially-induced religiosity.

** The imagery of the [[Series/BattlestarGalactica2003 reimagined series]], however, was far more akin to ancient Greek theology, even showing them having household idols named after the Greek gods and goddesses. In contrast, the Cylons had adopted a mystical, almost Judeo-Christian view of a "one true God." (Well, most of them. Some of them were atheista; the model Ones - the "Cavil" model - especially seemed to lean that way). Baltar was changed from the [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader]] {{expy}} of the original series to an atheist who became a sort of prophet/messiah, spreading the word of the Cylon God (who seems to (1) be real but (2) hate being called "God" and (3) not really have much of a problem with people worshiping other gods) to the humans.

* [[http://www.seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=theotech Theotech Generator]] at the Seventh Sactum.

** In [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist the 2003 anime version]], the Gate of Truth is visually changed to resemble the classic sculpture "The Gates of Hell" (which means it is now made of writhing human figures and inhabited by demonic creatures).

The subgenre is particularly popular with {{anime}}, {{manga}}, EasternRPG, and the like, probably for much the same reasons as the CreepyCoolCrosses trope exists.

** The imagery of the [[Series/BattlestarGalactica2003 reimagined series]], however, was far more akin to ancient Greek theology, even showing them having household idols named after the Greek gods and goddesses. In contrast, the Cylons had adopted a mystical, almost Judeo-Christian view of a "one true God." (Well, most of them. Some of them were atheista; the model Ones - the "Cavil" model - especially seemed to lean that way). Baltar was changed from the [[StarWars Darth Vader]] {{expy}} of the original series to an atheist who became a sort of prophet/messiah, spreading the word of the Cylon God (who seems to (1) be real but (2) hate being called "God" and (3) not really have much of a problem with people worshiping other gods) to the humans.

* The imagery of the [[Series/BattlestarGalactica2003 reimagined series]], however, was far more akin to ancient Greek theology, even showing them having household idols named after the Greek gods and goddesses. In contrast, the Cylons had adopted a mystical, almost Judeo-Christian view of a "one true God." (Well, most of them. Some of them were atheista; the model Ones - the "Cavil" model - especially seemed to lean that way). Baltar was changed from the [[StarWars Darth Vader]] {{expy}} of the original series to an atheist who became a sort of prophet/messiah, spreading the word of the Cylon God (who seems to (1) be real but (2) hate being called "God" and (3) not really have much of a problem with people worshiping other gods) to the humans.

* ''Rim'' by Alexander Besher has some of your standard cyberpunk trappings, such as a big popular virtual world and independent contractors, but the whole thing is inundated with New Age Retro Hippie stuff, borrowed metaphysical concepts and symbolism, and at least one case of a businessman reincarnating into a pink monkey so that the protagonist can slay an indestructible super-zombie in cyberspace who represents corruption. Think ''Snow Crash'' on too much pot and too many liberal arts degrees.

[[/folder]]

* Although the characters had a lot of Greek names, the original ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|1978}}'' borrowed heavily from {{UsefulNotes/Mormonism}}, and some of it thinly veiled, at that (The Mormon God hails from a planet called Kolob, the Colonials originated from a planet called Kobol; the LDS church is presided over by a President and a quorum of 12 Apostles, the Galacticans by a Commander and a quorum of 12 Colonial tribal elders, etc.). Hardly surprising, as series creator Glen Larson is a member of the LDS church and drew on what he knew.
** The imagery of the [[Series/BattlestarGalactica2003 reimagined series]], however, was far more akin to ancient Greek theology, even showing them having household idols named after the Greek gods and goddesses. In contrast, the Cylons had adopted a mystical, almost Judeo-Christian view of a "one true God." (Well, most of them. Some of them were atheist; the model Ones - the "Cavil" model - especially seemed to lean that way.) Baltar was changed from the [[StarWars Darth Vader]] {{expy}} of the original series to an atheist who became a sort of prophet/messiah, spreading the word of the Cylon God (who seems to (1) be real but (2) hate being called "God" and (3) not really have much of a problem with people worshiping other gods) to the humans.

* ''{{Xenogears}}'' has technology and characters with names like Deus (an artificial god) and Abel (a past life of the main character).
** ''{{Xenosaga}}'' follows the same formula, with antagonists called Gnosis (incorporeal creatures that turn their victims into salt) and characters with names like Nephilim (a mysterious girl who characters see in visions) and Albedo (an ArtificialHuman).

* Much of the storyline of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' was heavily influenced by the religion of the planet Bajor which [=DS9=] orbited. They even considered Commander Sisko to be an emissary of their gods.

** The imagery of the [[Series/BattlestarGalactica2003 reimagined series]], however, was far more akin to ancient Greek theology, even showing them having household idols named after the Greek gods and goddesses. In contrast, the Cylons had adopted a mystical, almost Judeo-Christian view of a "one true God." (Well, most of them. Some of them were atheist; the model Ones - the "Cavil" model - especially seemed to lean that way.) Baltar was changed from the [[StarWars Darth Vader]] {{expy}} of the original series to an atheist who became a sort of prophet/messiah, spreading the word of the Cylon God to the humans.

* Although the characters had a lot of Greek names, the original ''[[Series/BattlestarGalacticaClassic Battlestar Galactica]]'' borrowed heavily from {{UsefulNotes/Mormonism}}, and some of it thinly veiled, at that (The Mormon God hails from a planet called Kolob, the Colonials originated from a planet called Kobol; the LDS church is presided over by a President and a quorum of 12 Apostles, the Galacticans by a Commander and a quorum of 12 Colonial tribal elders, etc.). Hardly surprising, as series creator Glen Larson is a member of the LDS church and drew on what he knew.
** The imagery of the [[Series/BattlestarGalacticaReimagined reimagined series]], however, was far more akin to ancient Greek theology, even showing them having household idols named after the Greek gods and goddesses. In contrast, the Cylons had adopted a mystical, almost Judeo-Christian view of a "one true God." (Well, most of them. Some of them were atheist; the model Ones - the "Cavil" model - especially seemed to lean that way.) Baltar was changed from the [[StarWars Darth Vader]] {{expy}} of the original series to an atheist who became a sort of prophet/messiah, spreading the word of the Cylon God to the humans.

* ''{{Warhammer 40000}}'' has demons from hell and medieval inquisitors as some of its factions, borrowing heavily from Christian theology (especially Catholicism).

* ''GenesisOfAquarion'' has antagonists called Shadow Angels who live in Atlantis (which is [[Series/StargateAtlantis located in Antarctica]]) and feed captured humans to their "Tree of Life."

* In ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', the title mecha are named after Eve from the Bible, and the antagonists are {{Eldritch Abomination}}s named after angels from Hebrew folklore (but they are not actual angels). Other oddities include a supercomputer named MAGI, an alien artifact named the Lance of Longinus, and the implication that the Bible was actually an [[AncientAstronauts alien technical manual]] (making Christianity in-universe an example of CargoCult).
** In the ''EndOfEvangelion'', a group of aerial Evas form a diagram of the Sephirot in the sky using InstantRunes.

* ''RahXephon'' has the lost continent of Mu as the main antagonist, and Rah Xephon was an attempt to create an artificial god.

* One of the main characters of ''Manga/{{NEEDLESS}}'' is a lecherous clone of Jesus named ''Adam'' Blade, who opposes the ''666'' Organization alongside his companion ''Eve''.

* Much of the storyline of ''StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' was heavily influenced by the religion of the planet Bajor which [=DS9=] orbited. They even considered Commander Sisko to be an emissary of their gods.

* The short story ''A Word For Heathens'' by PeterWatts [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this on purpose. It's set in a theocratic dystopia where the DoomTroops of the CorruptChurch that rules everything have had devices surgically implanted in their brains that cause them to be in a constant state of religious righteousness; in other words, they constantly feel as if they are the hand of God, doing God's will. Since the story is narrated in the first person perspective, everything that happens is described in religious ways, since the main character is in the thrall of artificially-induced religiosity.

A ScienceFiction subgenre that borrows the [[FauxSymbolism aesthetics, symbolism and terminology]] of religion, the occult, and NewAge conspiracy theories. It doesn't serve any purpose aside from RuleOfCool, with little or no relation to actual religion or magic.

* ''GenesisOfAquarion'' has antagonists called Shadow Angels who live in Atlantis (which is [[StargateAtlantis located in Antarctica]]) and feed captured humans to their "Tree of Life."

* In ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', the titular mecha are named after Eve from the Bible, and the antagonists are EldritchAbominations named after angels from Hebrew folklore (but they are not actual angels). Other oddities include a supercomputer named MAGI, an alien artifact named the Lance of Longinus, and the implication that the Bible was actually an [[AncientAstronauts alien technical manual]] (making Christianity in-universe an example of CargoCult).

* ''RahXephon'' has the lost continent of Mu as the main antagonist, and the titular mecha was an attempt to create an artificial god.

* In ''NeonGenesisEvangelion'', the titular mecha are named after Eve from the Bible, and the antagonists are EldritchAbominations named after angels from Hebrew folklore (but they are not actual angels). Other oddities include a supercomputer named MAGI, an alien artifact named the Lance of Longinus, and the implication that the Bible was actually an [[AncientAstronauts alien technical manual]] (making Christianity in-universe an example of CargoCult).

* ''FullmetalAlchemist'' involves an extradimensional portal known as the Gate of Truth, which is emblazoned with the Arber Sephirotheca and implied to house {{God}} itself, though Christianity itself is implied to be a dead religion due to the proliferation of Alchemy allowing anyone to perform seeming miracles.
** In the 2003 anime adaption, the Gate of Truth is visually changed to resemble the classic sculpture "The Gates of Hell" (which means it is now made of writhing human figures and inhabited by demonic creatures).