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New book studies Zelda from a Christian perspective photo

Author Jonny Walls is soon to publish a new book that studies The Legend of Zelda from a Christian perspective. The Legend of Zelda and Theology aims to show how the fiction of Zelda all points to and relates to God -- that's the Christian God Yahweh, not any of the 10,000 other ones. 

"The Legend of Zelda is the Beatles of video games. I wasn't just playing a game -- I was living out an ancient mythology ... discovering lost lands, solving riddles, avoiding traps and wiping out evil. I had no idea a game was capable of such potency," the author told Christian Post 

"I want to dispel misconceptions about Christianity. The idea is about coming about something like Zelda, which is very popular, and having it lead into Christianity. Those who don’t know can get a genuine, unskewed, accurate representation of the faith in open dialogue. Everything isn’t as scary or oppressive as it sometimes seems. I hope that some people read this and become interested in playing Zelda."

It's an interesting idea for a book, certainly. The Zelda series definitely has a grand, theological atmosphere to it, like everything that happens means a lot more than we mortals ever get to understand. While I'd personally consider Zelda's story as factually credible as anything in the Bible, seeing the most influential literary work ever written compared to a favorite game series is definitely worth checking out.

The Legend of Zelda Video Games from a Christian Perspective [Acton Institute Powerblog]








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99 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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next 50 comments

Captain of the Zanarkand Abes's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:07
Captain of the Zanarkand Abes
Wow it took me awhile to relate Noah's ark flooding to hyrule flooding.
catsithx's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:09
catsithx
Wow I actually might pick this one up and see what's the hoopla behind it. Still something for me to look over over the long month of January.
josmeister's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:13
josmeister
As an actual Christian, I'm totally into this. I mean, I wouldn't think of God whilst playing Zelda, but it's the first step in what seems like quite the extreme Christian praising videogames instead of saying pokemons are the devil and that sorta stuff.
MeisterLi's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:15
MeisterLi
1. Buy book digitally
2. Remove crappy DRM
3. Search-Replace "God" and "Jesus" with "Allah" and "Mohammed"
4. Make money out of a useless idea. Twice! :D
flintmech's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:19
flintmech
Well this is just stupid.
SithZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:19
SithZombie
Interesting, I'll check it out.
MountainGorilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:21
MountainGorilla
From a secular perspective, this most interests me as a piece of games criticism -- someone actually doing a literary (and hopefully mechanical) analysis of a videogame and getting it published. Authors can make whatever they want out of a game so long as it's sensibly backed up, and I hope we keep seeing more books like this.
Epic-Kx's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:22
Epic-Kx
I'm interested, to say the least. Sounds like a decent read by a guy who loves Zelda's lore who's also a christian.

Better than the 'DEM DAYUM VIDJAGAEMZ ARE THE DEVILS WORKOUT DURR' shit I hear at church...
Martin Montiel's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:26
Martin Montiel
Lolwut srsly? Well its better then pokemon being the devil.
Gwendolyn's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:32
Gwendolyn
Sorry, but years into the religion and being forced BS until I was old enough have made me completely indifferent (even resentful) of anyone trying to slap Christianity (or any religion, but that's the one I grew up with) on anything I find dear (or not dear). It doesn't help that I've seen this tried before even if it made no sense and was just meant as a method to brainwash kids and shape them into mindless sheep.

...I'm certainly not a morning person, I just wrote a freaking paragraph whining about religion. Pay no attention, people. If people like to match Zelda's events with Christian Bible events that's ok.
slackguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:34
slackguy
I'm a Christian, but this is ridiculous.

Anyway, Jim, I find it a bit lame you suggest Zelda to be as factually credible as the Bible. Suggests you never did any study of history.
Chongomaster's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:35
Chongomaster
I'd be interested to what similarities LoZ has to biblical mythology because the only one's I can think of are flooding of Hyrule with Noah's Ark and the Triforce/3 godesses with the Holy Trinity.
Abnegation's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:37
Abnegation
"The idea is about coming about something like Zelda, which is very popular, and having it lead into Christianity."

I come about Zelda games all the time.
ariwl1's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:37
ariwl1
I've always found it interesting how the older Zelda games had Link carrying a shield with a cross on it. When you consider that very few people in Japan are Christians it's interesting how before Hyrule had any sort of regular theology that Link may have been portrayed as a Christian himself. There's even some official artwork for A Link to the Past with Link praying in front of a cross. No really, look:

http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/a/ab/LinkPraying.png

This art only appeared in two Japanese game guides, but the fact that it exists at all is curious enough on its own.
RenegadePanda's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:38
RenegadePanda
You could study any game from the perspective of any religion with enough determination and writing ability.
Noir's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:40
Noir
This sounds like a silly idea, but I'm interested in it. I pretty much hate Christianity, but I'm curious of how it can be compared to Zelda. Christian overtones in Zelda never occurred to me until I heard all of the Goddess praising hoopla in Skyward Sword honestly.

Next time: Your Metroid goddess and how you can please her!
esin's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:42
esin
>Take a Japanese game with a Shinto symbol right on the cover.
>Claim it points to Christianity.

Really?
arkane9's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:42
arkane9
Hyrulelujah?
flintmech's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:43
flintmech
stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid
Sanic's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:43
Sanic
Huh, sounds neat I guess, personally won't read the book.

However it is nice to get a positive viewpoint from the demographic that seems to demonize videogames the most.
ParkourDog's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:54
ParkourDog
but wii-motion-plus fucked it all imo
Chris Carter's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:55
Chris Carter
What Renegade said. I'm Christian, but this is exploitation.

You can say the Goonies are a Christian metaphor because they save the town from the sins the town itself created (the villain family). One Eyed Willie Moses. LOL BOOK DEAL.
aminoaccident's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:58
aminoaccident
I'm a Christian and I'm not seeing the connections outside of the flood, which exists in most world religious texts.
KtMack23's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 11:58
KtMack23
FUCK SOPA
doewnskitty's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:03
doewnskitty
I'm just not really understanding the statement how it's the "Beatles of videogames." Comparisons like that never make sense to me.
Killerguy3's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:09
Killerguy3
What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may Chuck Norris have mercy on your soul.
Casey Baker's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:10
Casey Baker
Lol....Zelda and Christianity?

Zelda already has a theological bent, and sorry Christians - but Link believes in polytheism. Remember the Goddesses? Uh dur? Din, Farore and Nayru? Who - you know, created everything?

...And are generally considered female?

Yeah. Christians, you and your 'generally considered' Monotheistic Patriarchal Wrathful "God" lose hard again.
William Desmond Gafford's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:11
William Desmond Gafford
That's nice, but ... Why?
Cess007's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:19
Cess007
I was about to point the same that @CaseyBaker

I don't know what he will write; but Zelda has a polytheism and mainly female teology. Something that christian mythology ain't too fond to.
Retrofraction's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:31
Retrofraction
strange
pocky's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:31
pocky
Taking a non-Christian work and try to make it fit into a Christian perspective?

Listen, I'm all for God and the Bible, but if you need this book in order to let your kids play Wii, then you can go fuck yourself.
Aurvant's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:37
Aurvant
This is a post in which to discuss the authors attempt to make parallels between Christianity and the Legend of Zelda series. It is not, however, the proper place to include your anti-Christianity nonsense across the comment section.

However, as this is the internet, do feel free to continue to litter my screen with your tired ramblings and asinine criticisms against a faith that has heard all of it before.

If you don't like Christianity that's fine, but Destructoid is about dem vidyagamez. So, shut the fuck up and play them.
VGFreak1225's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:38
VGFreak1225
The source makes it sound like he's just writing about similar themes and lessons found in the Bible and Zelda mythology...Sounds like a potentially interesting subject for a book if you ask me. Heck, if someone can relate Taoism to Winnie the Pooh, maybe Zelda and Jesus could work as well.
THISISSPATA's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:42
THISISSPATA
"You could study any game from the perspective of any religion with enough determination and writing ability"
Yes because you can relate a my little pony game to satanism

@ cess007 christian theology isn't fond of women huh? Okay that's wrong it says in the Christian bible that women are to be honored and respected more so than men and since when are the christians the ones to hate videogames last time I checked it was the catholics who did that
I'm a christian I go to church and there has NEVER been any talk of any videogames being evil
Epic-Kx's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:47
Epic-Kx
Remember that Zelda artwork that had Link's shield with a Cross on it?
GoofierBrute's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:48
GoofierBrute
Normally, this the part where I get angry and say how the idea of religion is shit, or comparing it to one of my favorite franchises is stupid, but you know what? This book isn't made for someone like me, so why throw a hissy fit about it? It's like a vegan being upset at a steak restaurant because they serve meat.
flintmech's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:52
flintmech
>21st century
>believing in invisible sky wizards
D Sane's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:58
D Sane
He lost me at "the Beatles of video games."
Matthew Blake's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 12:59
Matthew Blake
So... wait... a series that centers around three powerful goddesses helps prove the existence of a singular (typically masculine) god? Wat.
Tony Ponce's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 13:04
Tony Ponce
@Matthew Blake

The Trinity: three parts of a singular entity.
Scissors's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 13:04
Scissors
Pretty much what Gwen said, I'm not going to talk bad about Christianity because my family and some of my friend are highly religious, but I couldn't care less about this. Also what Renegade Panda said you can pretty much compare anything with anything with enough determination. Pass for me, I hope that Japanese artbook makes it to the states.
LittleMy's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 13:08
LittleMy
"The Legend of Zelda is the Beatles of video games."

Confirmed: The Legend of Zelda is more popular than Jesus.
Maniac's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 13:14
Maniac
@THISISSPATA

Uh no. The Bible never states that "women are to be honored and respected more so than men". Try actually reading it instead of repeating the same washed lies so-called 'Christians' love to claim as "Bible sayings".
BrainWasherAttendent's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 13:27
BrainWasherAttendent
I'm fine with this as long as Christians admit that their whole mythology is based on the precession of the equinox and the sine wave that is responsible for all fairy tales, legends, religions and science itself.

As Above, So Below.
Coboler's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 13:29
Coboler
Keep your God out of my video games!
Nitex's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 13:31
Nitex
Fucking christianity why can't they all just kill each other? Oh wait they do... On a different note I guess i can see the relation, I mean a talking red boat is equally as believable as a Zeus rip off of a god.
vrplumber's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 13:32
vrplumber
I guess the Triforce could be the Holy Trinity?
Bunny Raider's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 13:35
Bunny Raider
Christians need to stop shoe horning their sky wizard into things they ought not, like my video games.
Zantetsuken's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 13:36
Zantetsuken
@THISISSPATA

1 Corinthians 11:3, 1 Corinthians 14:34 - 35, Ephesians 5:22 - 25, Colossians 3:18, 1 Timothy 2:9 - 15, Romans 7:2 and Titus 2:3 - 5 (to name a few) say otherwise.

My personal favourite though is Job 25:4 which states that every man who is born from a women is unclean.
hardy83's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2011 13:36
hardy83
Yup, cause a country that's mostly Shinto and Buddist would make games focused on Christianity....Man Christians can be self absorbed sometimes.
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