like a fire

I don’t know if anyone else is catching this, but I thought it was interesting. Halo as a story is one of the best in video game history. It as an integrated plot-line that is not invasive yet is somewhat compelling. In the story, there are the obvious references that just can’t be coincidence.

The first is Halo itself, a religious word for the glory of the Lord resting on someone’s head. In the video game, they are worlds that are considered sacred by the highly religious alien race known as the covenant. Early in the story, you fight the covenant with little reason or question. They are trying to kill you, and you are trying to survive. As the plot evolves, you see a deeper picture of the covenant. They have prophets that are pushing the action. The first prophet you encounter is the Prophet of Regret. Later you meet more prophets, and finally the story centers on the Prophet of Truth. There is a split in the covenant due to the actions of the Prophet of Truth. So, midway in the game,  you have the old covenant and the new covenant. Interesting.

The biggest reference I have seen though comes from the Bungie site with the monument to a battle in Halo. The monument is heralded by one word - Believe. The monument is called John 1 17. John is the main character’s name, which you only find out at the very end of the game. 117 is the number of Spartan that the main character is designated. Pictured in the monument is a captured Master Chief (John) in a very Christ figure like pose. John 1:17, BTW, is “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” 

Well, maybe I am reading a lot into this. It could be that I am just so saturated in religious language and culture that I am reading all this into the game’s design. It could be a complete coincidence that the makers of Halo used all this religious vernacular by accident.

Yeah right.