[EVA]Jesus, Jesus Everywhere

[Rachel K. Clark]

Peter Svensson wrote:

> You've got the hang of it. "[EVA]Topic Was [EVA] Previous Topic" is the
> format we use for when a topic completely changes.

Since this is an NGE-exclusive ML, why is [EVA} put in front?

>>How is Rei 3 a crone? Surely she would object to this!
>
> Association with death, end of the menstrual cycle. Of course, I really
> don't want to explore the topic of Rei's menstrual cycles in detail. Girls
> are icky. ;)

End of the menstrual cycle? If there was anything in the show about Rei's 
menses,
either I missed it, or I thought the line was too ambiguous to make any sort 
of
commitment to its meaning.

> If we're going there, we could argue that Sachiel also is a Christ figure.

But of course!

------

Chris Kim wrote:

<< Gnosticsm is the only tradition I know of that uses both Christian and 
Kabbalistic
sources extensively.  Thus, when you get the Kabbalic/Gnostic tree of life, 
plus the
Christian/Gnostic crucifixion imagery, I assume they are drawing on 
Gnosticism,
instead of going to the trouble of investigating both Jewish mysticism and 
Christianity. >>

I would need to investigate myself to comment further.

Within the internal universe of the show, Seele -- our local religious 
zealots -- may be, ultimately, traceable, to the Essene Brotherhood, who are 
most commonly credited with the authoring of the Dead Sea Scrolls. For 
whatever that is worth.

<<   Basically:
  Kabbalism:Judaism::Gnosticism:Christianity
  Gnosticism - Christian influence = Kabbalism >>

There is "Christian Kabbalism", as well.

<< Certainly, Christian phraseology and imagery were widely used in Eva, but 
because of the statements made by the aformentioned person who worked on the 
series, I would think that their use was asthetic, and thus carries no "deep 
literary significance". >>

The following summarizes my own approach:

***
Hexon.Arq: I'll be perfectly honest and say that I am one of those people 
who believe that the lack of substance in the religious symbolism is part 
truth, part blatant falsehood. Things like cross-explosions and esoteric 
names may fit the description of frivolous window dressing, but other 
occurrences simply make too much sense to be dumb luck.

Reichu: Pedantry aside, I think that the religious symbolism used in NGE 
should be viewed within the context of the show itself and how it oftentimes 
reinforces some of the themes and ideas being presented. Some of the 
references are empty and just there to "look cool", but others do, like 
Hexon.Arq says, have more "substance" to them...
***

According to M, Anno did say that the religious and philosophical references 
were employed to provide "a coherent setting for the story" -- that side of 
things shouldn't be brushed aside. There's a fine line, but it's there. This 
page provides a lucid example of "don'ts": 
http://www.crossroad.to/text/responses/Evangelion.htm

[BTW, was the "Top Runner" interview ever translated?]

<< Are you going to reply to the other half of my comments?  I would like to 
know what your basis for your MMC claims were.>>

What other half? I only saw the rest of my post quoted.

-----

RJN wrote:

<< Is there symbolic signifigance to Shinji letting Misato's cross float
away during the pseudo-sexual melding-with-Rei Complimentation scene
in EoE? >>

If there is, I have no idea what. It's a rather complicated little symbol, 
IMO. I'm still boggling over the bottom line: What it meant to its original 
owner.

<< Of course it turns up at the end, on the beach...>>

Nailed to a post. :makes spooky sound: There's another creepy thing about 
that shot, too:
http://animenation.net/forums/showpost.php?p=5793250&postcount=185

>> Yui BTW is John the Baptist ;

Carl was right. Humor IS a difficult concept. :sobs:

--Reichu