The Legend of Zelda and Christianity

Join me as I take a look at The Legend of Zelda series and its connection to Christianity. I noticed a lot of symbolize as I play Tears of the Kingdom. As I researched, I noticed the connection started with the very first game. Join me as I share what I found. #gaming #tearsofthekingdom

[@lynnmasure9047]

we need more Christian and gaming content like this

[@CountryKratos]

I plan on bringing some more when I'm able.

[@ZeldaPlot]

Since I like videos on Christianity and Zelda at the same time, KZbin makes mixes for me and recommends your video to me. It's honestly awesome that my favorite game is connected to this religion. Thank you for your superb video which talks about it through video games. 🙏❤️

[@person13257]

I hope you have a blessed day, great video.

[@moonshadowmagic7116]

Thank you for this video! A thought or two: Nintendo did take out things that might have been controversial, not just Christian symbolism, but also a bit of the OoT soundtrack, a sample that turned out to be a Muslim prayer. Instead they went with the "ancient aliens" mythology... which also is fun. What they kept are references to European legend and fairy tale; I see Sleeping Beauty, the Sword in the Stone (Arthurian), Robin Hood and Peter Pan, doubtless more. Many more. And I have no idea of how much Japanese mythology is there. And yes, the Bible and the redemption of mankind follow a pattern (or established it) of innocence, fall, struggle, outside aid that turns out to have a deep connection with the protagonist, learning and wisdom, a final contest, and a resolution-- traditionally a marriage feast, in TotK a political alliance but among friends. In Greek drama it's what defines comedy.

[@APsGTG]

You have a true light in your eyes brother in Christ. God bless you

[@CountryKratos]

Thanks, I appreciate that. God bless you as well.

[@4dojo]

In the original game Link was suppsoed to be a christian, but nintendo changed that before its release because they didnt want anything contriversial in their games. Theyve done similar things with other titles in the past as well.

[@CountryKratos]

I'd heard that before a long time ago, but I saw it again somewhere when I looked to see if anyone else had made a connection to Christianity. I'm sure they change a lot of stuff to try and please the overall market. I saw something about Captain Falcon from F-Zero is a Christian. I wonder how much of religion was censored to please the masses.

[@4dojo]

@@CountryKratos That's probably true. I guess that explains Captain Falcon's OP knee of justice. His power comes from above. 😅

[@CountryKratos]

@@4dojo 😂

[@benjaminmishler5585]

2:39 - 2:46 Breath of the Wild has a similar theme in the memory in which Zelda awakens her sealing power. Link collapses and soon dies after defending her from Guardians that are corrupted by Calamity Ganon, and wakes up 100 years later in the Shrine of RESURRECTION. One KZbinr called NintendoBlackCrisis has confirmed that Link and Zelda develop romantic feelings towards each other in Breath of the Wild. It's very similar to how Jesus Christ laid down His life and died for humanity and His church, aka the bride of Christ, out of His love for us, and rose again from the dead to defeat sin and death once and for all.

[@Smoky_Crow]

I watched a video how TOTK also symbolizes fallen angels. I recommend you search it and look into it on your own time

[@APsGTG]

Facts, it does

[@fredo3161]

Truly based. I enjoy the allusions to Christianity in these games. There's something truly special about the series that people likely often overlook.

[@John-bj1zx]

I don't personally agree with the undertones of Religion in Tears, aside from the old NES game and the shield having a Cross and the Book of Magic being refered to as a Bible because that's exactly how they were, but your points are quite interesting. It's pretty cool that two people can see a game so very differently, and in your case so very personaly for your belief and feel that it speaks to you as a Christian.

[@CountryKratos]

Yep pretty cool indeed.

[@rnnagle]

Thanks for drawing some interesting connections. I’ve felt the Lord in games before, yet many say they’re no good. It would be great if ToTK was Christ-inspired.

[@CountryKratos]

I know the original game on NES was inspired by Christianity. This one is probably just a coincidence, but it is easy to see some of the concepts in it. But there are also goddesses that were added to the series. Dragons are part of Chinese and Japanese culture. They are probably just taking from everywhere now, but I can still see the Christian elements.

[@mrcodpwns]

​@@CountryKratosIs awesome that japanese aré like the only ones that respect religions, right now if someone Is making something related to religión Is because they only wants to mock or critize (exept for blasphemous), also castlevania games characters aré actually catholics agains evil wich Is cool.

[@CountryKratos]

@@mrcodpwns yeah, most folks won’t touch it at all unless they are mocking. At least some don’t fully shy away from it.

[@justice8718]

@@CountryKratos Or they get bad vibes from demons.

[@justice8718]

@@CountryKratos Dragons are far more interesting when Christ said we would be like them (the angels) in heaven.

[@LevelRaze]

As soon as I finish the game, I'll come back to this video, first 3 minutes already got me hooked, so already looking forward to see how the rest plays out.

[@CountryKratos]

Awesome. See you back soon.

[@LevelRaze]

​@@CountryKratosAlright, just finished the game and finally watched the vid in full, amd gotta say the parallels are pretty convincing, esppecially with the final boss fight at the end, not to mention that only with the Master Sword can the darkness be sealed, similar to with the word of God and belief in him being able to set one free. I guess another similarity between Link and Jesus would be as you mentioned whereas on Jesus' travels, the devil attempted to tempt him time and time again, and I guess in a way, the Gloom Hands kinda represent the temptation trying to grab hold but ultimately being defeatdd, leading to Phantom Ganon appearing as another temptation to surrender or die, only to be defeated again by Link. Pretty sure there's a lot more that can be looked at throughout the game and previous installments to further the point but I ain't to well versed in the Bible to be able to do that affectively. Great vid, thourghly enjoyed it.

[@CountryKratos]

@@LevelRaze thanks for coming back and giving your input.

[@kenkenshiro6779]

Love your accent bro where abouts in America are you from?

[@CountryKratos]

@@kenkenshiro6779Thanks. I’m from Mississippi.

[@kenkenshiro6779]

@@CountryKratos cool, Greetings from New Zealand i am going to subscribe. I loved your video on Zelda and its Christian roots.

[@jhovanielperez4763]

Yeah I have noticed similar symbolisms throughout the Zelda series and with totk it was even more clear. I am a christian gamer myself and I find pretty cool to see another one like me! a game I recently finished is Earthbound and it also has, imo, some symbolism to christianity 🤔🤔specifically the ending and how they defeated the final boss. Huuuuge spoilers incoming, if you haven't played it please try it out blind, if you are fine with it, then you have been warned: The incarnation of evil, Giygas, and probably the most disturbing final boss I have ever seen. They fight him in the past, you realize you can't damage it with *physical* or *Psychic* attacks. The only way you can damage it, is by spamming "pray" 9 times with Paula (part of the main cast), in each pray command Paula tries to reach out for help to people she knows and knew, the game shows the people and friends; that they have come across the story, feel the necessity to pray for the safety and protection of Ness's gang. At the three final pray commands, she runs out of people to ask for help, so she just wishes even someone *unknown* helps her, you know who that unknown person is? the player, you, me, us playing the game (beautiful imo.) See that? the only way they defeat Giygas, is by joining in prayer with the world, you defeat the incarnation of evil/negativity with good/positivism. I This game became my fav game ever: fantastic world building, art and design, story line and music. God bless you mate!!

[@CountryKratos]

Thanks. I played Earthbound a long time ago. I need to go through it again. I've forgotten a lot of it.

[@ThePresidentOfNorthDakota]

Christianity & Nintendo games is nothing new for sure. The Xenoblade series for example (As well as Xenogears & Xenosaga before it, both also from Tetsuya Takahashi) has TONS of biblical parallels are references (One of the main characters in 2 literally has the Latin text for Proverbs 4:18 embroidered on her cloths). In the 3rd game, both the main characters (In both the main story, being Noah, and the DLC prequel story, being Matthew) are named after their biblical counterparts and take on similar roles to them. Could be at this all day with how much that series has, but these are just a couple of the more blatant & obvious examples.

[@CountryKratos]

Yeah, that series has all sorts of biblical and other religious aspects. I didn't know about the Latin text for Proverbs, or I forgot about it. Good references.

[@HebrewElevationChurch]

Gteat connections you've dicerned here brother 1 Corinthians 2:14-15

[@CountryKratos]

Other things I saw or forgot to add. Link is silent hero. Bible teaches Jesus went silently to the cross, like a sheep to its shearer. I've seen others mention how traveling to shrines is like going on a pilgrimage. You could add pilgrimages to multiple religions and cultures.

[@aidanhansen]

Spoiler: I'd say Zelda is probably closer to Jesus the way she sacrificed herself to save the world, and figuratively enters the tomb.

[@kevinfletcher1789]

The Baptist in me said that wasn’t much of an alter call… just kidding Jared, I love what are you doing here

[@CountryKratos]

Always something with the Baptists. 😂

[@Lloydoestuff]

thanks for ruining the game for me

[@CountryKratos]

Lol, pretty sure I gave spoilers alerts multiple times before I said any of them.

[@Lloydoestuff]

@@CountryKratos not the spoilers just the entire premise of this video

[@MegaNightcore101]

@@Lloydoestuff Fair enough, but the game definitely puts the Christian undertones, or at least esthetic, on full display compared to other post NES games. In fact, I was shocked that Nintendo of America even approved of the Demon King's design in TOTK. Given Nintendo of America's past behavior, one would think that they would never let that slide. The Zelda franchise is notorious for it's religious undertones, both for it's fictional religion to references to Christianity, Buddhism and possibly others I have missed. Christian references or parallel are the most common by design because they fit the pseudo-European world the devs used as the basis for Hyrule. To put it another way, Christianity to the devs is more like a collections of cool mythos the same way we view the religion of the Ancient Greeks or Egyptians. Typically, Nintendo of America heavily censors that, because they really shy away from any real world religions to the point of even cleaning any the religious undertones they can get their hands on if it doesn't drastically change the plot. Especially after the original OoT Gerudo are Muslims controversy. All future releases of OoT remove all overt references to Islam the same way they removed all overt references to Christianity in other Zelda titles. The only reason the Islamic references even got through the first release is because Nintendo of America didn't realize it was referencing a real religion. TOTK is actually the first Zelda game in English where there is even a reference to the Demon Tribe. All other mentions of the Demon Tribe in English simply call them monsters and remove the idea that they supposed to be apart of some grander demonic collectivism. While they do usually keep the Demon King title in English, they definitely play down the more overtly demonic undertones of said title. That aside, if you can play BOTW and TOTK in another language you should 100% do it. Nintendo of America butchered both of those games' stories to the point where they even rewrote BOTW ending. I heard the German translations are the closest to the original Japanese intent if you don't know Japanese. Plus, Ganondorf in German has way cooler lines.

[@jhovanielperez4763]

This really shouldn't ruin the game for you, there has been a lot of fiction which have used biblical inspirations. Just play the game as a *zelda game* nothing more, nothing less. Is a game about the hero of time teaming up with the incarnation of the goddess versus the demon king 🤷‍♂🤷‍♂Are you really that against christianity that you feel like the game has been ruined? smh. Don't let those 6 years of videogame development go to waste for such a thing.