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Nitpick: The Vatican isn't really "science-hating". You're right that it's fundamentally a matter of Rule of Cool, though. (Although some of the portrayals of science in Jojos Bizarre Adventure, like split personality altering your facial structure because "There was a recorded case of this happening in 16-century Germany!", end up seeming just plain silly.)
edited 22nd May '11 6:15:58 PM by silver2195
Currently taking a break from the site. See my user page for more information.Science hating might not be the best description..."science that clashes what they believe in-hating" or something I guess.
As for JJBA being silly. That series runs on silly* to begin with. Look at the character designs and outfits. Or how all the girls look manlier than the men. The poses.
"Every opinion that isn't mine is subjected to Your Mileage May Vary."^^^ Sono toori!
^^ And Araki certainly white-washed the hell out of Mary Queen of Scots. Granted, people were doing that even when the crazy bitch was alive, but still.
^ -_- Never mind that a private Jesuit education will, from all accounts, give you a much better grounding in science than most North American public schools will. Honestly, every time I see outright stupidity directed at science by a Christian, they're usually an American Protestant.
edited 22nd May '11 7:38:10 PM by FurikoMaru
A True Lady's Quest - A Jojo is You!But yeah now you got me thinking on a story about a nun and a Bhikkhuni who fight crime and perform exorcisms along with consoling people and WALKING THE WORLD IN SEARCH OF TRUTH. Got to build things up though...
edited 22nd May '11 7:44:41 PM by Aondeug
If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan ChahI haven't really read through all the posts here, so these titles may have been addressed, but getting back to the original question...
Haibane Renmei is about as "Christian" (or Catholic more precisely) as a series gets without being explicitly Christian (and certainly in this case, A Be claims to not have had any particular religion in mind). As many have commented or posted on in various forums and blogs, the series comes across as a purgatory-like afterlife. And I've commented on my own blog about the strong Christian themes in the series ( http://beneaththetangles.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/orphans-that-never-knew-their-names-haibane-renmei-and-the-power-of-names/
). There's also a book specifically about Christian motifs in the show ( http://www.amazon.com/Set-Apart-Daniel-Cronquist/dp/1414112564
).
Madoka Magica has already been mentioned, but I'll reemphasize the Christian symbolism in the final episode (although it seems to fit Buddhism better - http://beneaththetangles.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/spirituality-in-the-anime-blogosphere-buddha-and-madoka/
). I definitely see the story of the gospel in episode 12 ( http://beneaththetangles.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/puella-shoujo-madoka-magica-12-the-hope-we-find/
).
If you're looking for an obviously Christian anime, there are three I know of: The Flying House, Superbook, and In the Beginning: Bible Stories. The first two are often fondly remembered by many who watched episodes in Sunday School, while the latter was created by Osamu Tezuka after being commissioned by the Vatican.
edited 24th May '11 5:34:30 AM by TWWK
I don't really consider myself a christian so I don't really know how accurate Candy Candy is in that sense. I think there are some other non-fantasy series, which aren't based on American or European literature, with christian characters.
About Superbook, I have to say it's probably the worst tv anime I've seen, although I've seen only two episodes. In both first episodes there was a very heavy handed message about non questioning obedience.
edited 23rd May '11 3:20:12 PM by harkko
Strange...I've gotten hits from here. Perhaps there's an error on your end? It might help to copy and paste. Alternately, you can go to my main page and search for Madoka Magica or Haibane Renmei from there, or just browse.
http://beneaththetangles.wordpress.com/
As for Superbook...I know a person, a non-Christian now, who enjoyed the series. I think the audience has to be kept in mind - one watching it already probably agrees with the ideas in the series. It's meant to be heavy-handed.
137? Huh, that's more than I remember....
Anyways, has anyone seen an anime where when a Church Militant shows up, his/her mercy is more emphathized rather than capacity to beat (or shoot; it seems to be popular) the hell out of "whatever that is equivalent to demon"?
Continuously reading, studying, and (hopefully) growing.I never really watched it but Xenosaga had an anime. I wonder if they had any of the religious themes of the games.
The Xenosaga games are basically an anime anyway... They did a good job of portraying Gnostic Christianity.
Also, for the guy earlier who complained nobody reads further into The Bible, the Xenosaga writers did.
That would be me. Unfortunately, I neither played the game nor knows anyting about Gnostic Christianity -__-;
Hmm, can you tell me what less famous stories were featured? Does it feature anything to do with Elijah or Samson?
edited 6th Jun '11 4:36:06 AM by dRoy
Continuously reading, studying, and (hopefully) growing.As Xenosaga is set over 4000 years in the future, it can't really tell whole stories from The Bible. It's mostly jus quotes that relate to the situation. The only people who might be up for discussing Biblical stories would be the Space Catholics but they're antagonists. (also they aren't really called that. Their real name is Ormus. But Space Catholic sounds funnier)
The story does kinda revisit Biblical Times but only insofar as it relates to the main plot of the game. See, Gnosticism, from what I know, says the Jesus and God presented in The Bible were not truly supreme beings. They are imperfect, finite beings. That's why Jesus in the Xenosaga setting is just a human being. The true miracle worker is chaos, a spiritual being made by the universe itself. He was a follower of Jesus and is also a main party member.
So yeah, the game kinda uses the Gnostic interpretation of The Bible for the basis of its plot. The Space Catholics are kinda fucked over in the end as all of Christianity is revealed to have been set up by the Big Bad for a rather complex reason. Though the game is a lot nicer than Xenogears. The Space Catholics are portrayed in a very sympathetic light and their most fanatical devotee goes out with a very effecive Alas, Poor Villain.
edited 6th Jun '11 4:54:29 AM by Nikkolas
Indeed. There is even a trope for that.
Time for my little rant; I know that it happens in Hollywood too, but why is that almost no anime associates Christianity with non-violence and forgiveness?
Continuously reading, studying, and (hopefully) growing.^^ Because they already associate their own hodgepodge of beliefs with forgiveness.
A True Lady's Quest - A Jojo is You!

Furiko: But isn't Utena supposedly about everything when it's truly about "Really cool looking shit"?
If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah