Blog Archives
Something More: Modoka > Jesus Concludes
After last week’s barrage of spiritual articles, this week has been much slower. Still, a few terrific articles were posted, as Alexander of Ashita no Anime concluded his Madoka > Jesus series.
Alexander claims that Jesus creates some kind of co-dependency as a savior, which Madoka does not. [Ashita no Anime]
He concludes by emphasizing that God is tyrannical, which Madoka is not. [Ashita no Anime]
I highly recommend you read through Alexander’s series, which is quite thought-provoking. His tone may be off-putting (I’ll admit, I didn’t comment on a number of posts because I felt too emotional to leave comments due to how Alexander references Christ at times), but it’s one that has led to some good debate. And as such, I recommend, also, that you read the comments following the entries as closely as the post themselves.
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As part of the Something More series of posts, each week Beneath the Tangles links to writings about anime and manga that involve religion and spirituality. If you’ve written such a piece or know of one, please email TWWK if you’d like it included.
Something More: Madoka v. Jesus, Kirino Acts Like a Christian, and Christ the Stampede
It was quite a week for spiritual and religion tinged articles in the anime blogosphere, headlined by Alexander’s still on-going series entitled, Madoka > Jesus. Here are his posts thus far:
- Human vs God
- The True Sacrifice
- Benevolence Given Freely
- Madoka Succeeded, Jesus Failed
- Madoka is More Plausible
Nick Calibey responded to Alexander’s post with his own article. [A Rather Silly Blog]
Stardf29 reviews episode 3 of Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet and makes connections between the importance of “thank you” and life lived less legalistically. [A Series of Miracles]
D.M. Dutcher compares Kirino’s treatment of her otakuness in Oreimo to how Christians often treat their faith. [Cacao, put down the shovel!]
In another post, he makes some great comparisons between the humorous hero, Vash the Stampede, and Christ, as well as to scenes in Trigun: Badlands Rumble and the “problem of pain. [Cacao, put down the shovel!]
Dutcher also advises Christians in his reviews of Aoi Sekai No Chuusin De and season one of Oreimo.
Japes, who guest-blogged for us earlier this week, is off and running on his own aniblog, beginning with an introduction of his theology. [Japesland]
Japes also brings his faith into a defense of Vocaloid as an artistic expression. [Japesland]
Medieval Otaku points out Christian theology and themes in his review of several manga, including Superior and Vinland Saga. [Medieval Otaku]
So…the Jesus and Buddha characters of Saint Young Men are now being used to market fashion merchandise. Interesting. [Anime News Network]
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As part of the Something More series of posts, each week Beneath the Tangles links to writings about anime and manga that involve religion and spirituality. If you’ve written such a piece or know of one, please email TWWK if you’d like it included.
Something More: Madoka > Jesus?
A prime goal of this blog is to encourage open discussion about faith, using anime as medium through we can ask questions, give answers, and promote knowledge and understanding. I’m thankful that our posts here recently had some role in encouraging Tommy of Anime Bowl to write an article about how Madoka is lacking as a Christ figure. And inspired by Tommy’s post, our old friend Alexander, who has contributed plenty to Beneath the Tangles by bring a very different viewpoint to user comments, guest posts, and cooperative posts, is beginning a week long series focusing solely on this idea: why Madoka is a better savior than Jesus.
Interesting topic, huh?
He’ll be posting daily this week. Please visit Ashita no Anime to read the first of his posts, and return throughout the week to comment on others:
Why Madoka Makes a BAD Christ Figure
One of my favorite things about blogging is connecting with anibloggers all over the country (and world!). I’ve made friends with many bloggers and become a fan of so many others. One blog I follow very closely is Anime Bowl. Run by Tommy, Anime Bowl is a unique blog that follows anime and football. He focuses particularly on anime conventions, Bleach, and the Green Bay Packers.
Tommy also writes on faith and anime from time to time (he did a wonderful guest post for us in the past). For Easter weekend, he wrote a terrific article that I want to share with you.
On Beneath the Tangles, we focus on connections between anime and Christianity. Perhaps the anime we’ve written about more than any other is Puella Magi Madoka Magica. I’ve been persistent in my comparisons between Madoka and Christ, while also sharing other connections, including those made by other bloggers on their own sites.
Art by 茶谷湊
Tommy, however, says that the analogy doesn’t work:
So for Easter Sunday, I can’t help but thinking of the parallels between Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the Easter story. On Good Friday and Holy Saturday, I struggled and struggled at fitting together the puzzle pieces. Madoka represents Jesus, Kyubey is Satan, who’s Homura? But all those comparisons break down when you look at the most important part of Easter.
He focuses on a very significant and important part, and one that’s worth pondering particularly in light of Easter. I highly encourage you to head to his site and read the complete post:
Easter: Why Madoka doesn’t measure up
What do you think? Is he right? Do we miss the point if we don’t discuss the resurrection?
Magical Girls and Good Friday
It’s Good Friday – the day we memorialize the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
For anime fans, and particularly those not of the Christian faith, it’s particularly of note that on Good Friday two years ago, the finale of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, as much a “classic” as any recent anime, aired.
The two are of course not unconnected. Spoilers follow.
Art by あぶだら１３
Something More: Medieval Maoyuu Maou Yuusha Church, The Last Temptation of Madoka, and Samurai Deeper Christ
Nami dives into the themes of redemption and Christ symbolism in Trigun. [The Budding Philosopher]
Medieval Otaku compares Demon Eyes Kyo to Christ and examines some Christian themes and symbols in Samurai Deeper Kyo. [Medieval Otaku]
D.M. Dutcher of the Cacao, put down the shovel blog continues “A Christian’s Guide to Anime and Manga,” posts providing information and recommendations, with a series of articles detailing:
- specific anime-related definitions [Part 2]
- the definitions and warnings for “moe” and “lolicon” [Part 3]
- how Christians should consider approaching anime and manga [Part 4]
JoeAnimated compares monasticism and the Middle Ages to the church guarding knowledge in episode 3 of Maoyuu Maou Yuusha. [Anime Audiolog]
Usny also mentions the Catholic Church of the Middle Ages in relation to Maoyuu Maou Yuusha, and in an aside, gives thoughts about the rise of fall of the Church’s influence [Desu ex Machina]
Jay notes a scene reminiscent of the temptation of Christ in his review of Puella Magi Madoka Magica. [Jay's Tee Vee]
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As part of the Something More series of posts, each week Beneath the Tangles links to writings about anime and manga that involve religion and spirituality. If you’ve written such a piece or know of one, please email TWWK if you’d like it included.
Top Blog Posts About Anime and Religion in 2012: #11-20
Last year, I gave my 12 favorite posts about anime and religion to end the year. And though I had to leave out a number of great article to fit within that number, I was generally happy with the list. This year, I just had to expand my list to twenty to match the volume of great content being written by anibloggers.
Art by けむけむ
Yesterday, I gave numbers 1-10; here are the remaining ten, in chronological order:
11. Oh, My Pop-Culture Jesus: Christianity in Anime
5.6.2012
written by Lady Saika of Lady Geek Girl and Friends
A particularly strange case is that of Saiyuki – the story is based on a a founding myth of Mahayana Buddhism, for cripe’s sake, and the main character is a Buddhist priest, but in the anime at least, we see statues of the Virgin Mary protecting a town from demons in a way that nothing Buddhist can.
Read also: Oh, My Pop-Culture Jesus: Let’s Make a Deal and Oh, My Pop-Culture Jesus: An Examination of Clergy in Anime
Top Blog Posts About Anime and Religion in 2012: #1-10
The end of the year means retrospection and of course, “best of” lists. During my time in the aniblogosphere, I’ve been blessed to read hundreds and hundreds of wonderful posts, and though I don’t visit aniblog sites as much now as I did in the past, I still read articles related to anime and religion each week. We present them on Fridays as part of the now-named Something More series.
Though I have a great collection of co-bloggers, I’ll leave staff-written post out the following list. Instead, the list below is of articles written by other anibloggers involving anime/manga and religion/spirituality. Numbers one through six are listed in chronological order (seven through twelve to follow tomorrow):
1. We are the pirates who don’t buy anything
1.5.2012
written by Tommy of Anime Bowl
In summary, I think that the small percentage of Christians who are anime fans and the large percentage of fansubbers who steal anime are two numbers that go hand-in-hand. Sure, there are Christians who watch fansubs, I know that I did for an arc of Bleach before giving up the crime for good. But I don’t think these statistics are any coincidence; instead, I think it’s something to ponder.
Read also: A Culture of Hate
