What Dark Souls Stole From The Bible

[@loftknight]

“I got an English degree and now it’s your problem.” Thank you :^)

[@ox3ee]

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, he sent his one and only son so that whoever believes in him won't die, but have eternal life." Jesus does love you, and you can always turn to him and he'll take care of you during tough times, God bless yall, peace out ✝️🙏🏻

[@kadachi2959]

​@@ox3ee a message of unending love comming from Godhead? amazing!

[@ox3ee]

@kadachi2959 Jesus loves you, God bless you in Jesus's name, amen ✝️🙏🏻🫶

[@jmgonzales7701]

I was confused, the old testament is a western literature? isn't western suppose to be European?

[@Shegetz]

​@@jmgonzales7701yes, he is wrong

[@josiahtodaro7102]

I'm a pastor who loves Dark Souls & every Fromsoft game. Thank you for the well-made analysis & helping me make another connection as to why I adore their storytelling so much. You earned my sub. Keep up the good work.

[@eldiandevil]

As a pastor, what kind of penance would there be for someone like the loathsome dung eater?

[@alchemicalalek7535]

How amazing is that!

[@freedomgoddess]

​@alchemicalalek7535 awfully common these days for the clergy to be hip with the kids. ...it's not always a good thing, in case what i'm saying is not obvious. prime examples: the entite protestant and catholic branches.

[@migamaos3953]

@@freedomgoddess”entire protestant and Catholic branches” Protestantism isn’t a branch moron you have no clue what you’re talking about

[@isaiahxp9185]

L comment. How many millennials and gen x are already the clergy? Sure the mainstream Church inc. in the states is pretty corny at times, especially when they try to be “hip”. But some of them are actually the same age as us, and are just as “hip” or lame as the rest of us.

[@SerSerington]

Achilles crying and putting sand on his head in anguish pretty much describes my first playthrough.

[@ElrondMcBong.]

first game in my life that made me actually hit my desk HARD with my fist and yell "god dammit!" lol. yes it was the capra demon.

[@saint037]

​@@ElrondMcBong.prep time couldn't save Batman from the Capra demon

[@ox3ee]

John 14:6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " Jesus does love yall, and he'll get you through dark places. God bless yall in Jesus's name, amen ✝️🙏🏻🫶

[@israelboakes2686]

You too John

[@DaniloCatania-vm7nb]

Losing Solair is akin to Achilles losing Patroclus

[@scragglie]

Christianity + Dark Souls = my existence in a nutshell.

[@shut]

same here bro

[@thedoctorofcringe05]

Same

[@testiculartorsion3489]

Same

[@chrislevack405]

Ew

[@JasonAlikakosFitness]

Same

[@A_guy_in_the_comments]

I am a backsliding Christian and started playing Dark Souls again plenty of days ago and suddenly there is this video and I feel the urge to try to get back up. God is truly great and God bless you creator and you all!❤️

[@flameon9822]

Jesus loves you he always will be there for you

[@A_guy_in_the_comments]

@@flameon9822 of course brother! Thank you and God bless you!❤️❤️❤️

[@flameon9822]

@@A_guy_in_the_comments Same to you amen

[@israelboakes2686]

Bless you brother

[@A_guy_in_the_comments]

@@israelboakes2686 Thank you, God bless you too Brother!

[@hatedfollower]

Bro, wtf is this professional video?! I hope you get a lot of recognition from this. This is an amazing video

[@perelium-x]

Wait isn't playing dark souls, elden ring, sekiro etc a sin? You bow before idols to save your progress, you cast spells, perform magick, use amulets and all sort of stuff? I just want to know...

[@Anti-Alphabet_Mafia]

​@@perelium-xNo because you're not worshipping the game. Although playing games like these does open portals in your home, it's not really a sin.

[@perelium-x]

@Anti-Alphabet_Mafia "Does open portals in your home" said dumbledor calmly. 🤣 You're ok with that lmaooo

[@ox3ee]

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, he sent his one and only son so that whoever believes in him won't die, but have eternal life." Jesus does love you, and you can always turn to him and he'll take care of you during tough times, God bless yall, peace out ✝️🙏🏻

[@Nika_DaReal_SunGod]

@@perelium-xobviously playing a video game isn’t actual witch craft nor is any worship happening. That’s like saying reading a book or watching tv is sin. Can be, if not done in moderation and your life and mind fall to sin from over indulgence, but no, playing vidya won’t send ya to hell.

[@calebhalverson6718]

As a story obsessed, homeschooled, book devouring, Christian who loves dark souls, this video struck a wonderful chord in my brain. I'm going to have to binge your videos now. This is extremely well written and presented

[@jmgonzales7701]

I was confused, the old testament is a western literature? isn't western suppose to be European?

[@lukebentze4948]

The fact that we don’t get a glimpse of Abraham’s motivation and moment of faith until the book of Hebrews in the 1st century AD. 11:19 “Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.” We went around 1500 years of history and literature before knowing how Abraham reconciled God’s command with God’s promise.

[@vonmusel6158]

amazing. he truly lived by faith in the Lord

[@HarryStylezz]

​The lives of the faithful interest me so much - how did they live and reason? ​@vonmusel6158

[@israelboakes2686]

You said that very well thanks. It was beautiful to read

[@benconnolly9883]

I thought 11:19 was referring to a timestamp in the video, but it's the verse number 😂 I'm dumb

[@hollowraven04]

I thought the same lol​@@benconnolly9883

[@Gandwarf213]

Fellow homeschooled Christian here. Thanks for making this! I think you make excellent points about narrative structure here and I love to see games that follow this kind of style, that let you discover and process.

[@leightonholley4342]

14:43 it’s distinct from those “learn to read books” because the purpose of the Bible isn’t to learn to read. The purpose of reading the Bible is to learn about our Creator. That the reason why the characters internal thoughts are left empty, the stories are written so we will respond to them with our own thoughts, not so that we take someone else’s thoughts and make them our own. It is this way so that we can talk with God, not to live vicariously.

[@devotedandfree]

Amen brother

[@saxonisrael8398]

Great insight young man!

[@DiluviumEyesofThunder]

It is a learn to read book. Words sure, but also intention, history, motivation, and the deepest and darkest parts of human lived experience. Those learn to read books are but a candle flame where the bible is a sun.

[@leightonholley4342]

@@DiluviumEyesofThunder Oh definitely, using the Bible to learn to read is an excellent decision. What better book is there to learn to read with than the book our creator wants us to understand more than any other. I am using that phrase (learn to read book) to denote books like hungry hungry caterpillar, cat in the hat, or Ms. Spider. Books, designed above all other things, to be incredibly simple for first time readers.

[@voltekthecyborg7898]

The Bible is to A: Learn about Our Creator, and B: To learn of the amazing gift of grace that God gave us, in the form of His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not die, but have everlasting life.

[@saintpoli6800]

I love the Christian influence each FromSoft game has to be honest. Yeah it’s fantasy, but when you play you can’t help but see those elements of Christ. Great video as well

[@ianwilliams2632]

Each DS game feels to me like the answer to the question "What if the medieval west had Shinto beliefs?". The most Christian aspect of them is Miyazaki's insistence on making every church evil and corrupt lmao

[@jaykelley103]

​@@ianwilliams2632i agree with the first part of your comment, but the part where you hate on OP's faith was mad uncalled for tbh.

[@alexm6715]

@@ianwilliams2632The churches in dark souls have nothing to do with Christ or Christianity. “Churches” in Dark Souls are used interchangeably with temples.

[@marsoblivi0n945]

@@jaykelley103except it’s not disrespectful. I’m a man of faith and see organized religion and churches to be evil and spread evil behaviors amongst most it’s followers without them ever thinking twice. A good church that’s actually spreading true gospel & love is rare and the except to the rule.

[@zemestukami4189]

@@marsoblivi0n945 yeah casue all are sinners but doesnt mean the church is wrong lol its the poeple

[@sengan2475]

Christ is king. Don't you dare go hollow brothers

[@indecay8756]

is he one of the four kings or what? I thought their names were unknown

[@yeoldebanjo5470]

Christ is King.

[@jonmann4980]

Chris is King, Jesus is Lord

[@jackalkhan5676]

Christ is gay

[@jonmann4980]

@@jackalkhan5676 bait used to be believable.

[@1Capybara24]

The mistery of the Bible is very simple actually: it is not a book to talk/teach about the world; it is not a book to tell/teach about knowledge or science; it is not a book to tell about anything besides this: it talks about mankind and its relationship with God. It talks about the deepest misteries of our human heart and its aspirations to perfection, as well as our weaknesses that make us fall over and over again. God is the light that represents hope. Those who loses hope, become damned (like the hollows in Dark Souls, who have no more will for living and seek for nothing anymore). When Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life" (hope. what gives us hope is "fide"/faith followed by "caritas"/chartity, wich also means "action": not only having hope and faith, but also act on it, even when you have no clue as for why this is like this), he meant that we should seek him, we should seek God. Jesus also said "He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" means that when we have hope, we have the means to live, the means to change, the means to become perfect, as long as we keep loyal to hope, because once you abandon hope, there is nothing left anymore (the whole world, the whole universe are nothing when you have no hope, and hope is in God).

[@TomHawks-k8l]

Its actually more literal then that. Wraiths are real.

[@rushpatriot2866]

​@@TomHawks-k8lyeah modern age christians especially in church have failed to understand some important details in the Bible because they want to say it's a metaphor and it's never literal when in fact most of the time it is. Because of this the majority of Christians are ignorant of where we are in the timeline and what's to come next.

[@deadboltzz5199]

John 3:16

[@ragingbox3843]

Excellently stated. You a real 1 fs

[@JuzniVuk]

​@@TomHawks-k8l Could u elaborate?

[@sinexus]

Fellow English degree here! Incredible application of a concept I've been thinking about for a long time to a game I've been thinking about for a long time. You came up on my autoplay while I was in the shower, right after a Jacob Geller video, and I assumed you were another big video essayist like him with hundreds of thousands of subscribers and views. 2K???? Dude, you deserve so many more eyes on your work! Keep it up man. Good stuff.

[@info_mercial]

Thank you for the kind words! I appreciate it

[@jmgonzales7701]

I was confused, the old testament is a western literature? isn't western suppose to be European?

[@matoosrodrigo]

As a Christian, i love souls like games. Since Christ saved my life from depression and suicide, i was able to enjoy life and find porpuse in writing and drawing. My first souls game was Elden Ring and then Bloodborne, now im trying to Platinum all of the series! God is my inspiration for drawing and writing and I believe He showed me these great series of games to inspire me as well! Thx for this video, you won a sub!

[@TheHammerofDissidence]

Play Sekiro at some point!

[@matoosrodrigo]

@TheHammerofDissidence Thx for the suggestion! Im trying to platinum sekiro atm and it's been a tough journey but im halfway there at least lol!

[@Anti-Alphabet_Mafia]

What's your favorite game out of the franchise? Mine is Bloodborne.

[@dbyspae122]

@@Anti-Alphabet_MafiaI know you didn’t ask me but honestly probably Elden ring because I love exploring

[@Anti-Alphabet_Mafia]

@@dbyspae122 It's cool. Elden Ring is good too.

[@Zoesie.]

This goes so hard after studying Fear and Trembling by Kierkegaard

[@Richythebee]

Your video is short, but just the right size of an elegant meditation. I'm an English professor, and I love the Soulsbourne series; Erich Auerbach was a great choice of a lens through which to see this connection. Bravo!

[@babytime1]

15:34 Nah dude, thank you for making it man.

[@JudgeSOG]

The more you read the Bible You’ll find so much knowledge and sayings people have taken from the Bible throughout the world it really shows how timeless the Bible is and it’s everlasting wisdom

[@warriorofthelord4142]

Yet people are doing their best yo discard it as Fairytales

[@jae7044]

The people who wrote the bible stole all of the wisdom from other religions. It wasn't written in a vacuum

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

Yes and no... Of one religion.

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

​@@warriorofthelord4142 The theology is a false truth but the physiology is there. To claim one's God is real?... Then I will test thyn God. Of eternities and infinities beyond. It's about time a true God stood before me. But if thyn world was only lying to me? Then Fate is sealed upon this Star. Forgiven but infinite worlds have already spoken before the word of man who claims of Gods to me.

[@nazubaba1435]

@@warriorofthelord4142 Fairy tales have good stories and ideas. The bible has good stories and lessons to learn just like any mythology and religions around the world.

[@Jonus0196]

Just perfection, keep doing more content from the Bible + Dark Souls/Video Games pls!

[@SomeoneIsAlwaysMovingOnTheSurf]

The Bible and Halo would be very nice!

[@walter1383]

Wholesome profile pic OP.

[@Yeruba-al]

Elden ring was the first souls like I actually beat. I remember feeling like I wasn’t a part of the “real” story but was finding out what happened as an afterthought. The essence of showing not telling.

[@WouShmou]

And Dark Souls is this times 100. In Elden Ring, the shattering happened some time ago, but you're still interacting with the world as it was before. You're fighting the actual demigods, you're talking to Ranni, Rykard, Malenia and other sons and daughters of Marika in real time. You're as close to ground zero as it can be. In Dark Souls, however: bosses don't speak, every major player is either long dead or a shell of it's former self, the world is on the brink of extinction and 99% of it's inhabitants have gone completely hollow. It really feels like you're playing the very end of a very lengthy story that you took no part in whatsoever.

[@Yeruba-al]

@ no doubt. Soulslikes are basically all I play anymore. Few exceptions. I quit gaming for about 7 years when I had kids. I was so done with all the garbage collect-a-thon hold-your-hand games. Elden Ring was the first one I actually got through so it hit hardest. But it wasn’t the last. I have since played every soulslikes I can get my hands on. I’m working on the surge two right now. The gameplay what makes souls like stand out. The storytelling is what makes from software the best.

[@Emarq31]

Elden Ring is not a "souls-like". It is made by Fromsoftware, which is makes it a Soulsborne game. "Souls-like" refers to mere imitations of what Fromsoftware does, hence the "Souls-LIKE" title people give it.

[@Yeruba-al]

@@Emarq31okay dude. You knew what I meant. Thanks for being contrarian. You are so smart.

[@babykiller122]

@@Emarq31wow… this changes everything!

[@freshboy3968]

_By Jesus-flavour you came, by Jesus-flavour you'll return_

[@1wrisks]

Underrated 😂

[@warriorofthelord4142]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Amazing!

[@brunogonzalez5830]

I just noticed you have a relatively small channel so I let you know that this got recommended to my main feed. Anyways, Bible and Soulbourne games is a perfect combination for me 😊

[@Yeruba-al]

Are there really other Christian souls fans out there???? I thought I was alone…

[@brunogonzalez5830]

you are not alone 🙏

[@tokezombie]

@@Yeruba-alyour not alone !

[@Yeruba-al]

@ that makes me so happy. Thank you!

[@DanielCurrit]

Yes! Where is the Christian soulsborne community?

[@norman1646]

As a Christian and Dark souls fan. This was very interesting, good video! God bless!

[@apophisstr6719]

I think From peaked at Dark Souls 1 in terms of dialogue writing, I could still remember every single line of dialogue in that game after so many years.

[@chaytonharmon2037]

Agreed

[@nipdaboi]

"Be without fear in the face of your enemies" "Be brave and upright, that God may love thee" "Speak the truth, always, even if it leads to your death" "Safeguard the helpless, and do no wrong"

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

I have my criticism of that religion... Son of El. But the religion itself by man?... ... ... Forgiven but I know God understands my eternal wrath. In benevolence, I hold my judgment. Walk in enlightenment, souls of free will. I am not religious... If anything, I'm not even a part of this world. That much is true because "I" am not of mankind.

[@Yhurgis]

Possibly my favorite dark souls commentary. Might try to start reading the Bible again. I just always knew a lot of the stories already but I wanna look at it this way.

[@howardparkes8787]

go for it!

[@BGID7]

Do it

[@ew4219]

this vast infinitely powerful God sent His own son to die for us after stopping Abraham. All that to spend a perfect eternity with us, with no sickness and pain. even knowing we'd reject and spit on Him. Praise God for saving us! \o/ Great video btw

[@ianwilliams2632]

Judging by the way the narrative switches between using the Elohic and Priestly names for god, it's likely the original story had Abraham sacrificing Isaac ("you have not withheld your son from me" is a survivor of that), and someone later redacted it. Jesus' blood just added further misery to a miserable culture.

[@ludwikzamenhof3674]

@@ianwilliams2632 The documentary hypothesis (that there were multiple different authors of the Torah) is really shaky tbh even from a secular perspective. Like the whole rest of the Torah is basically instructions on animal sacrifices so idk why it couldn't be the narrative on why they Israelites were commanded to do it.

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

Humanity and their religions... ... ... Oh well. The Star will test Mankind inevitably if they survive. Lord of the Cosmos, this world is not the only one who spoke of Gods to me.

[@seto13378]

Hello, Baby Christian here( started believung in Jesus just a year ago). I love this video. You pointed out wonderfully how in the bible, they don´t know much, especially in the Old Testament. One reason is, as you said, that the information is/ may not be imprtant for the moment. I would also say that it´s this way for the reader to reflect on why certain people did something and to ask oneself "Would I have done the same thing?" or " Why would he do that?!"(Just as you also mentioned). I am also glad to see bible apreciation here :D . Another reason why God specifically doesn´t tell all is because of faith. If Abraham knew that he didn´t need to sacrifice his son, would He have gone on the journey ? Would he listen to God if he knew why or what it meant? God tested Abrahams faith and he was rewarded for trusting God. I just want to say two things: 1. THANK YOU FOR THIS CAPTIVATING AND INFORMATIVE VIDEO!!! 2. Jesus loves you. Most of you have probably read this phrase at any time and it is probably confusing. "Why would I care?" "Does it even matter?" . I´d say yes it does. But I´m just a stranger on the internet, so I´ll give you my reason for believing and following Jesus Christ: It was my sense of worthlessness that was washed away and my struggle in this life that was shattered by the Bible and eventually by God himself. I still struggle, ofc, that´s not the point. But I have a reason to live, a reason to suffer, not because God just says that we should suffer, it´s because this very suffering is bringing us closer to Him and is all for our own good. We grow through pain, we learn by our mistakes, we see things differently because of pain and agony. Our existence isn´t worthless. That´s what I believe. Not because I thought for myself what gives me a worth, it is God in the bible who told me that He really wanted me to be here in this life. And I believe that. I hope you all see your worth too, though I hope you don´t let your worth become subjective,but objective,and that is through the God who loved us so much that He sent his only Son to die, just like Abraham. And just like with Abraham, it was with a purpose. As God blessed Abraham for believing in Him, he will bless those who put their trust in Him. Not with riches or a good life, it is with eternal life and the essence of good which is God himself. I am no pastor, nor am I anyone special when it comes to talents or anything, atleast I don´t know any yet. It´s probably better that I don´t know any because I would probably become arrogant or prideful in that subject then, maybe even just a bit ,and that wouldn´t be any good xD. I hope atleast that my message could arrive where it should and that it would touch the hearts of those who need it. Alas, I pray you could enjoy the peace I have only through the Grace of God, by which He sacrificed Christ for us, to make us able to live with Him together. Sin separated us from God, Jesus united us; if we believe in Him. And you can in this moment. But even if not, read the bible, it is important.It´s crucial for all. God bless you all, thanks for being patient in reading this (>.

[@felixgrunig]

@seto13378 "Stumbled" across this video, and was interesting to watch, though I have left video games for the Lord's sake behind. You wrote beautifully brother, glad to see the Lord has thought you these things. I think you are wiser than I was at your age, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ I am privilged to know Him for more than 10 years. Be encouraged, may He increase your understanding and grant you wisdom in all things, in all humility with love and peace. Kind regards from Germany.

[@TheStarshipGarage]

Welcome to the faith, brother. Glad to see your zeal for the Lord.

[@seto13378]

@@felixgrunig Thank you for the words brother. I am nowhere near a point where I could call myself wise,but nontheless I am grateful to read that. Bless you my brother,I pray that you may always be blessed by the Lord in all things,wether good or bad,for you are with Him. Schöne Grüße aus Deutschland von mir ebenfalls xD

[@seto13378]

@@TheStarshipGarage Glad to see you here too brother . God bless you!

[@felixgrunig]

@seto13378 Der Herr hat auch Humor :). Grüße aus Reinbek bei Hamburg.

[@benheigh9386]

Thank you for putting out a video that brings together two of the largest inspirations in what seems to be many of our lives. It's incredibly validating

[@its_w4yne]

Hope this explodes, that analysis is on point! Greetings to the christian Souls community

[@dexi600]

this video made me want more of it, which in its own way, is suspenseful itself. Excellent video, truly, what a joy to listen to

[@flashfourthshot2714]

Very interesting take on Dark Souls, one that I doubt many creators would even want to approach in the first place

[@nubius]

Yeah, @2:51 it's a pretty big claim, but I'm here to listen. After watching: Absolutely fantastic. Thank you for taking the time to make an honest meditation about literary suspension and properly connecting the dots between the Miyazaki interview and the story telling of Dark Souls 1 (and most modern souls games.) Easy sub, and I hope to see more of your works in the future.

[@TheBatman39]

I saw the title, and i knew immediately this video was going to be special.

[@kurenian]

I think there is a difference between lack of detail leading to self-theorizing and headcanons and lack of detail as still leading to central themes. The Bible is meant to illuminate the character of God and the Old Testament was originally oral. There are definitive things you learn about the character of God from the Bible, it’s not 100% up to interpretation. not quite the same as fiction made deliberately to not have one right answer. In DS1 at least, it’s not clear whether linking the fire is the “good” or “bad” ending. The Bible has other ways of saying something important, such as repetition and poetic devices, in addition to direct narrative. And God is clear that He will never ask for a child sacrifice from Abraham, unlike the other Canaanite gods Abraham would have been familiar with, when he offers up a ram in Isaac’s place. That much is clear. But it’s an interesting comparison, even if DS and the Bible are two different genres.

[@christopherlyndsay8611]

Closer to the Old Testament’s conception things would have been much more definitive but nowadays certain meanings have been lost to time that make things more ambiguous. Also side not the amount of oral puns in the original language is brilliant

[@Nobrezmil]

given kaathe's original japanese dialogue about gwyn delaying the logic of the world, fire fading and dark remaining, its clear that maintaining something that shouldve been gone for 1000 years by DS1's events is bad, while snuffing it out and letting the world follow its natural order is the good ending

[@kurenian]

@@Nobrezmil This is true if A. you assume Kaathe is telling the truth and B. One assumes that just because something is "natural" automatically means it is "good." There are many horrible aspects of the Dark (Manus, the Church of the Deep, Dark Fog's item description, Nashandra, the Pus of Man, the hand dudes in Profaned Capital) that in my view at least reveal that From wanted us to think a little more about the human condition rather than just saying that "Dark good fire bad." The Fire Keeper ending in DS3 implies that Fire always follows Dark, so what is "natural" really? That's not to say there's no statements of morality- Kaathe's dialogue certainly implies that From wants us to think of the Age of Dark is slightly better than the Age of Fire, and Alsana is an example of overcoming the inherent negativity of the Dark. But that is more so up to player interpretation, not a clear Y/N statement from on high. Different from the Bible's message which has clear and direct spiritual implications.

[@Nobrezmil]

@@kurenian (sorry if this comes out in multiple little "sections", its cuz youtube is shadowbanning my comment for some reason) kaathe has no reason to lie to us, for his jpn title isnt "primordial serpent", its simply "world serpent", and he is an advocate of the logic of the world, fire fades and dark remains, a same logic that aldia speaks of in his japanese line, but to refer to GWYN'S world logic, his fanfiction basically, fire being preserved again and again, and the fire keeper ending from 3 doesnt really say that fire follows dark its a bunch of confusion due to localization, but pretty much, this is what she says in the original japanese: "はじまりの火が、消えていきます すぐに暗闇が訪れるでしょう …そして、いつかきっと暗闇に、小さな火たちが現れます 王たちの継いだ残り火が 灰の方、まだ私の声が、聞こえていらっしゃいますか？" "The First Flame is going out. Darkness will visit shortly… And then, in time, small flames shall appear in the darkness. The embers that were inherited by the Kings." The thing here isnt that the first flame will simply come to pop up in existence once more. The issue here is, idk if you noticed, but each dark souls game has a "Firelinking System", a set of trials layed out for one in order to prepare oneself to head to the First Flame and link the Fire. In Ds3's case, this is a bit different, for instead of killing lords of cinder and replacing them in a line of succession like ds1 and 2, we simply inherit a "shard" of the First Flame in exchange for our soul, a shard that we see in actual lords of cinder like yhorm, aldrich, ludleth (his body being embered) and abyss watchers. After this, we then go to be entombed in the cemetery of ash, meaning, all of the graves in Firelink Shrine, cemetery, and the boss room of oceiros, are all housing past lords of cinder or ashen ones yet to awaken. No one is called back from the dead as many suppose, and they only are called in an emergency case, as the narrator in the original jpn of ds3 cinematic says: "Yes, indeed. That there is Lothric. The place where the homelands of the Kings of Kindling who have linked the fire drift to. That is why the pilgrims head north. And then, they know the meaning of the prophecy: “Fire darkens, and the Kings are throneless.”" "そうさね そこはロスリック 火を継いだ、薪の王たちの故郷が、流れ着く場所さね だから巡礼者たちは北に向かい そして、予言の意味を知るのさ "火は陰り" "王たちに玉座なし"" pretty much, these lords of cinder, when not needed for emergencies, act as "backup batteries" for the first flame. since they still will have the first flame shard in them even in an age of dark, this means that if put they are reunited, the first flame can be brought back once more, thus ending the age of dark. THAT is why the fire keeper says what she does in her ending dialogue, those shards are the embers inherited by the lords of cinder, or as JPN puts it, kings of kindling

[@Nobrezmil]

@@kurenian the reason why i pretty much simplified to dark being good and fire being bad is because of the consequences that we see to both ds2 and ds3 if the first flame doesnt go out to the world itself. as ds2 implied and ds3 later on confirms, parts of other lands such as lordran suddenly were being teleported to another place alongside the first flame due to the STAGNATED time in the fire's location (as solaire implies in his japanese dialogue in 1, about ONLY lordran having stagnated, not convoluted time), that place being Drangleic, and ds3 later on showing this once more but in a more desastrous effect akin to a black hole, lands from outside the "time bubble" which causes stagnation being dragged to the location of the first flame, hence why we see for instance irithyll in the lothric region, or darkroot garden that eventually became farron, or earthen peak in the dreg heap

[@mercianthane2503]

The Bible is basically my favorite book. I know, it's more a collection of books, and each one has a different style. But the Bible shaped my taste in literature, and this is why I can't just buy any book that exists, it doesn't work like that. If the prose does not match with something I'm familiar, I immediately discard it.

[@imdefinitelynotjesus]

Good work using that degree, this was absolutely fantastic.

[@Ace_Bandido808]

Dark souls made me get into the bible because of how similar it was.

[@DragonKing-te9wy]

Woah! I did not realize stuff like this was happening - that is so cool! What specifically about Dark Souls brought you to the bible?

[@Ace_Bandido808]

@DragonKing-te9wy The lore, how things seem simple but are much much deeper than it initially is. For example, how in the game you see a body or maybe an action done by an npc. But you don't really know what's happening until you put everything together. In Genesis, when Jacob wrestles with an angel, he asks for his name. The angel then says, "Why do you ask for my name?" And leaves without further explanation. This doesn't make any sense by itself. But it says that Jacob was named Israel because he wrestled with God and prevailed. That's when you realize it was Jesus who he was wrestling with, but he couldn't reveal who he was cause it was not the time for it yet.

[@DragonKing-te9wy]

@Ace_Bandido808 I see. That makes a lot of sense, now that I think about it, that kind of deeper meaning is what has drawn me into my most enjoyed stories.

[@lukedifonzo4443]

@@Ace_Bandido808beautiful you noticed that the Angel of the Lord is pre-incarcerate Jesus

[@nilan3294]

@Ace_Bandido808 great observation. This is probably the best argument for the Trinity and most Christians aren't even aware of it. Anytime the Old Testament mentions THE Angel of the Lord, it's a reference to God the Son. The word for Angel in ancient Hebrew was "mlakim" and it just meant messenger, so the original text doesn't even say Jacob was wrestling an angel, just a messenger. If you pay close attention to when Moses is given the 10 commandments in the burning bush, you can see that in the beginning of the conversation, the One in the bush is the Angel of the Lord, but a few lines later it says "The LORD said to Moses" (once again equating the two of them).

[@Crimsonlupus]

This is a great video, I used to always be super frustrated with how the Bible is so damn vague, but now I totally get it, this video actually helped me remember this book was not written with the same intention or style like a lot of content is made now days. You get what’s necessary, and there’s something beautiful in the obscurity, you feel connected because it allows you to almost be there.

[@therageknight8546]

Good video. The one thing I would say is that “we” in the way most people understand themselves, shouldn’t come at the Bible with the expectation that it’s catered to us, and that the alleged ambiguity exists for us to insert ourselves into it. A core theme of the Bible is that objectivity, especially in perception and morality exists and comes from God, not us. When we read the Bible, we must do so with the openness to allow God to change us for the better. He created the universe with perfect knowledge of every pair of our DNA, and he knows exactly what’s best for us and he wants us to have it, so we must listen to HIM, not force his words in the Bible to bow down to us.

[@Mr.Wonderfool]

This is honestly probably the best video on KZbin that I've watched all year. And I watch a lot of KZbin. I think you really tapped into something here that hasn't really been touched on before. I'm not sure how to explain it. But thank you for making this. I'm going to be thinking about this video for a very long time.

[@nickman8423]

As a theologian this caught me by surprise, kudos, you actually pointed an essential component of a game that I always approached superficially.

[@kasundilakna9803]

Great to see the communion of Christ and the community of dark souls meet.

[@christianbehl]

This is one of those random videos that show up in your feed that you start watching and turns out to be so good that you have to stop what you're doing and finish it. The algorithm has sent people your way, deservingly. Thanks for the upload!

[@onova-ytb]

this is one of the best videos that i've ever watched in this plataform, nice work!

[@timdiggity]

Incredible video. Here before 1 million subscribers Also, I had no idea there was a Gears of War 3 trailer with a Sun Kil Moon song in it, that’s amazing

[@ivanaznar6495]

Your way of introducing subjects, and how you make every point of what you're saying, makes me understand that you know how to tell, and have interesting stuff to tell. Gained a sub immediately

[@Karan-Aujla]

Well put my dear friend. May you have forever winds in your sails, and wine in your cup.

[@amatsu-ryu4067]

I'm currently going through the beginning stages of writing my first novel and this sounds like a very interesting way to tell a story. I've been fascinated with the way Dark Souls handles it's world-building and narrative ever since I finished my first playthrough of DS1, and I always loved the mystique of ancient texts and poetry. I'd love to try and draw inspiration from both someday.

[@TalesofDawnandDusk]

Excellent analysis that incorporates your deep held love and appreciation. Might I also point out, as someone who makes videos on 1000 year old Japanese folktales, that the Japanese literary tradition and language are extremely contextually heavy. They leave lots unsaid that doesn't need to be explicitly stated. I was just reading Paradise Lost and it seems that most Western European retellings of the Biblical account include much of that grandiose, vaulted, hyper descriptive language that characterizes the Greco-Roman tradition. Perhaps it took a Japanese perspective, one whose entire language and culture is built on linguistic ambiguity, to recenter the Bible's own ambiguity and open our eyes to something that was right in front of our noses the whole time.

[@briancall5819]

Finding a connection between ancient Biblical ideas and traditional Japanese ones. Wild.

[@Anti-Alphabet_Mafia]

I don't think it took a Japanese perspective to understand what the Bible is trying to say. Biblical scholars have known this stuff for the longest time. People usually think that just because we're living in the future compared to the people from the past, that we're smarter than they were. They could memorize whole books. We can barley even memorize 1 or 2.

[@TalesofDawnandDusk]

@@Anti-Alphabet_Mafia Of course people in the West have understood what the message of the Bible is for centuries. I'm not saying that Dark Souls, Miyazaki or Japanese literary devices revealed new Biblical secrets that we didn't know about. What they do reinform to us though is that the art of leaving things unstated is a very powerful literary tool that almost no significant work of Western literature has employed to the degree that Dark Souls or traditional Japanese literature has. Western works have borrowed much more heavily from the techniques of the Greeks and Romans with their very descriptive and detailed depictions. Again, Paradise Lost, the Divine Comedy, the works of the Romantics, even the writing from the early 20th century still remains comparatively much more detailed than the Bible or traditional Japanese works. Those are all great works, and deep descriptiveness is just as excellent of a literary device as deliberate ambiguity, they each just have different strengths and uses. It's not that a Japanese perspective teaches new doctrine, but it does help the West understand more clearly another, very emotionally resonant way that those doctrines can be communicated.

[@Anti-Alphabet_Mafia]

@TalesofDawnandDusk Yeah. I agree with that.

[@Verulam1626]

To combine the old and new testaments as if they are the same kind of narrative, story, and matter of writing is a great misunderstanding. You simply cannot speak of the Bible and it's canon as some kind of homogenous form of literature.

[@angledcoathanger]

I really thought this would be a ridiculous reach, but as soon as you explained it, it made total intuitive sense

[@scary7172]

I'm a homeschooled christian too, building a game, wanted the narrative to have this certain feel too but I couldn't describe it. What you talk about in this video is exactly what I'm trying to do and you expand on it. Thank you for making this video. Easy sub. ❤

[@I.Am.Will.]

I'm an Orthodox Catechumen taking my classes right now, and I just learned today some of the reasons behind why God has held onto the divine mysteries as opposed to revealing them to us. Then, this video popped up on my home, and my curiosity was piqued. The Father's of the church have many supplemental writings on the Scriptures, I suggest getting an Orthodox Study Bible and reading it next time you plan on reading through it(the bible). ☦️

[@sengan2475]

I think you'd benefit from reading/watching Dr. Scott Hahn. God bless

[@JAGomez]

Bruh these video essays! Back to back fire He dont miss

[@Goodmorningdread]

Awesome vid. Touches on basically everything thats been occupying my thoughts recently. Dark souls ineffable vibes, literary suspense, and the story of isaac (kierkegaard). I’ll add that Auerbach book to the pile of books i buy but never read.

[@jonmann4980]

W relaxing commentary, W topic, W content creator. Subscribed

[@HeartM1]

Hey man just wanna say I'm gonna use some of your observations in an essay for my english class at a bible college! I also see that there's an insane level of Biblical connections in Dark Souls. It's probably one of my favorite games. I really appreciate the acknowledgement that Video Games and the Bible can be studied on an academic level because it seems as though that's sorely lost inside of our modern day culture. It may not mean much but I believe the stories in the Bible and this game has actually helped me in my walk with Christ. I'm praying for you man, keep making excellent videos like this.

[@Eilfylijokul]

It was really pondering the ending of dark souls and coming to the conclusion that linking the fire and embracing the fundamental disparity in which the world has its being that helped me in embracing Christ too.

[@dvminika4379]

you finally named a feeling I am experiencing while playing fromsoft games! It resonates with me so much that I started feeling melancholic and I love this, keep making such masterpieces

[@sos9red]

dark souls was the first holy-type game it makes you FEEL like a sinner

[@vonmusel6158]

it does does it not :)

[@CR_Crosswalk]

Pls make more of your myth and literature videos ! Some of the best ive seen ❤

[@thjieves]

clicked to watch this video just to see if there was going to be a “mimesis” reference and you did not disappoint. nearly jumped out of my seat. love it & great analysis. personally, I cannot stand much of the lore youtubers, and I rather hope we see more thoughtful written essay and video essay pieces like this engaging in depth with good lit crit in the future, in general.

[@info_mercial]

@@thjieves Mimesis gang RISE UP

[@RowanAldridge]

This is so great. The literary analysis of the Bible is such a fascinating topic and even though it's been going on in biblical studies departments for some decades now, it seems it's yet to "trickle down" to the general public, so thank you for this! For anyone interested in the Bible as literature, I would recommend Tremper Longman and Leland Ryken's volume "The Complete Literary Guide to the Bible".

[@ethanmulvihill7177]

This is so awesome! Something the Bible leaves (mostly) unsaid is the insane typology. The NT Epistles hint at it, but it runs throughout and it is insane.

[@greatuername]

Wow. Blown away! You did a super good job on this video! Thank you!

[@yugiohcommander]

1) Based. 2) I am mind boggled to have stumbled upon such an amazing, thought provoking video. Easy sub, keep it up man!

[@igodreamer7096]

"We live together. We fight together. We live together and we die together. You are part of the story too" - Dark Souls ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@Locaneo]

"You exist within the holes of ambiguity because what rare knowledge is given is entirely up to you to unfurl."

[@monkeyman9636]

This made so many rhetorical and literary dots connect in my brain. Seriously helped deepen my understanding of why I love the literature and narratives I consume, especially the Bible. Awesome video.

[@onlyjoshing]

I recommend listening to Lord of Spirits. They really go into how the culture surrounding when specific books were written would understand implications in Biblical stories lost to us today.

[@onlyjoshing]

Also, what a great video.

[@darkelf919]

This is a great video. Can't wait to see more from your channel. :)

[@WieldingEminator]

Just so everyone knows: a burnt offering means that the person in question is offered to God as His servant, not as someone actually being burnt.

[@deadheadghost4439]

This is very good video overall and of Great Inspiration as well. Glad to have watched it :)

[@WouShmou]

This is the singular most interesting essay on Dark Souls in 10 years or more. So many videos repeating the same redundant points, this one is a true breath of fresh air and adds amazing context to DS1's storytelling.

[@Mithoswashere]

Literally one of the best video essays on Dark Souls, and trust me I have watched a lot... :)

[@GeorgeLCostnza]

haha meanwhile here am I, the secular atheist as a kid growing up, and a huge DS1 fan since it came out. Now I'm actually homeschooling my own kids with the primary emphasis on religious education (though my own background is an engineer) Great video.

[@ReturnofBenjamin]

An incredibly good analysis. I'll be sharing this with my son when I get home.

[@morowenidi4621]

In abraham story it's leaving everything non essential for the plot creating focus on it. Same goes for DS

[@howardparkes8787]

This was an incredible video, so succinct, and that's what made me love it so much. Yeah, I love my 2-8 hour video essays, which this easily could have been, but really, you did such an amazing job, and I feel like my time was respected because of that, honestly. I would love to hear more biblical analysis like this! And bro, that was so funny what you said about the Bible (14:26), so true! I remember reading through Genesis for the first time when I was 7 and was so surprised about how mature it is, like bro, what Lot's daughters do in Genesis 19 is crazy, and we just hand this stuff out to anyone.

[@Ritten-77]

The manus Metyr quest encompasses what you're trying to say PERFECTLY. when i read the description for the erdrtee spell i INSTANTLY remembered the whipping shack. I was sittin there like: "wait, wait, what do you mean? hold on, naahhhh, no waaayyyy duuuudddee!!" i went from certified marika HATER, to "well, how BAD were the war crimes really?" lol. the quest shows you that the shamans were being, well, basically genocided to make gods, but doesnt TELL you what the exact process/ritual was, were there priests present to bless the jar? did every one involved have to wear special garbs? idk. we're never gonna know, and thats part of the soup. The broth that holds all the noodles, meat, veggies and item descriptions together.

[@lambda760]

SOTET Really felt like FromSoft was finishing Elden Ring's story with a nice little bow. The simple edition of the shaman village made everything make sense, but rather than making me feel like it made Marika justified, it made me see her as more of a monster. She, who experienced so much pain and anguish in her life chose to deliver that pain onto her peoples' oppressors, the Hornsent, but also the Omen, the Missbegotten, the merchants, her OWN CHILDREN, all people who didn't really deserve such treatment. That's what makes her such a monster to me, rather than using her pain to usurp her oppressors and make a better world, she BECAME the oppressor.

[@Ritten-77]

@@lambda760 was that her? or was that metyr controlling her. when it comes to the jars, she CHANGED the practice to immortalize heroes and champions, allowing the hornsent live on through that practice. She could have not allowed the crucible knights to exist, she could have abandoned the jar practices, she even went so far as to remove death. hell godfrey had a beast stan to keep him in check, why? why allow that? what exactly was her doing, and what was metyr's will? theres a bit of reluctance embedded in her malice, which leads me to think she wasnt in complete control, and she tried her best with cosmic finger mom in her head. I choose to believe that her greif was so great, she was willing to do whatever metyr tells her, and she got lost in the sauce. its a lot to ask of some one, to be perfect, benevolent, and not want to seek revenge after all she went through, ESPECIALLY if you have what you might see as god on your side. at the end of the day she still has opinions, emotions, and feels despair like the rest of us, plus who is she gonna get therapy from? godfrey lmaooo FUCK YOUR PROBLEMS I WANT WAAARRRRRR!! AAAAGGGGHHHHH!! KIIILLLL THEEEMMMM!

[@josiahgarber3761]

This is a really excellent video! As someone with a similar background to you, I resonate heavily with this.

[@toledochristianmatthew9919]

I like this video. Really goes in depth but i hope you change the title. Souls games and From takes more of inspiration from the Bible like so many other Japanese media but unlike many companies who only use the Bible and the Abrahamic religions or just religion in general for aesthetics or an religious antagonist for the games, From actually gives a lot of nuance showing both the good and bad of it and not just make it evil just for the sake of it.

[@gatrainor3904]

Glad you're expanding your content. I love this.

[@TehFlush]

So what you're saying is that the Bible is the dark souls of literature? This is the same feeling I had as well. I couldn't quite put 2 and 2 together. Thanks for sharing

[@jacobmagure9452]

Earned my sub with this, first vid of yours I have watched too.

[@dreshkkialveras3596]

Interesting topic when dealing with the old testament is actually filling it woth historical context. A lot of the ancient religious practices people sacrificed there greatest joy such as the first born son aka the inheritor/legacy to show there devotion. Things like Moloch Baal where you would sacrifice your first born in a fire (seem familiar?) God gave this test to Abraham to show that he was as devoted to him as much as the followers of other gods but also saved isaac the promised son of his covenant with abraham to differiantiate himself from the other gods and set himself against them. So oddly enough much like darksouls once you read deeper and in other chapters not related you get more context out of it lol hope this helps

[@RansomedSoulPsalm49-15]

Also a foreshadowing of God sacrificing His only Son to save us

[@HaedonPL]

I feel like somebody finally understand me. Great video! First thing I though about after reading the title is how hidden quest lines are in Dark Souls. I though about the story of King David, he had many wifes and it was bad even though the book of kings didn't say it was bad BUT the book of deuteronomy did in chapter 17, that's the interconnetivity of the bible that I love how Dark Souls replicated in in their world design, not even the map but the questlines too. (I'm not native so sorry for grammar mistakes.)

[@TheHangedMan]

What is the sacred if not an endless fount of knowledge? One infinite, beyond our capabilities to understand entirely, only able to take sips at a time? Christ is Lord.

[@ianwilliams2632]

Lord of what?

[@TheHangedMan]

@@ianwilliams2632 Existence

[@wandererofalbion1642]

​@@ianwilliams2632all

[@Jikuri]

I often talk about this kinds of connection and theories to one of my student. I'm a fellow English Major that became a Pro teacher that some how ended up as an Art Teacher in a Christian School. I see Souls plot as akin to prophesies that have passed and prophesies to be fulfilled. Best suspence tool, thank you for this new perspective in "suspense". In following God sometimes you just gotta trust God's guidance and do what must be done. Having faith that God will do right thing is what separate this act to a mindless following. Also end goal add to the suspense, Abraham will not be just a guy after this, he's offspring will be a chosen nation for that time.

[@cananpriebe]

The cool thing is every story, trope, or theme, no matter how original it may seem, can be derived or have roots found in the bible

[@CotySchwabe]

What a great analysis! I wrote a poem about Elden Ring but you went made a whole video!

[@Nomu6789]

Jesus loves you brother. He’s waiting for you, come to him.

[@shanecarter6902]

Brilliant reading of both. Like a side-character in a Sherlock Holmes novel, this video leaves me feeling like the answer was right under my nose the whole time

[@thembc7863]

wrong and misleading click-bait title, more like "similarities you could draw" instead of "stole from"

[@rshzs3588]

you got me thinking things that I usually don't

[@ianwilliams2632]

Auerbach daring to characterise Homer's personae as "ultimately two dimensional" instantly told me this work (or at least the section it's found in) is propaganda for his people's little book, not an objective or scholarly literary criticism. What a ridiculous thing to say. Achilles alone displays every range of emotion that can be dreamed of. Just because it's explained and shown doesn't mean it's shallow. Seems the opposite to me. The reason the OT is so slim on details is that it's a theological story written by people who didn't know or care about specificity (same for the Gospels). There's nothing deep about gazing into a void. Your eyes will adjust, and see what you need to see, eventually.

[@PELLIOTIS]

Even in the case of Odysseus you see a man becoming a rag in a 10 year long journey, witnessing his beloved ones ether perish or become less than humans, while he is unable to do anything, being on the whims of a revengeful god. Both of Homer's works are masterpieces to say the least and my instinct was telling me about bias/propaganda as well.

[@ianwilliams2632]

@@PELLIOTIS I'm glad someone understands what I mean. I think propaganda may be too harsh a word in retrospect, but he clearly has an agenda. In my opinion neither Homer nor the Bible are 'western' literature, but proto-western. They are antecedents, not part of it. Proper Western literature begins with the romances, the Morte de Arthur, etc.

[@azucchini649]

fire video g. That first chapter title had me bust out laughing. The humor was well timed.

[@PELLIOTIS]

The comparison with Homers Illiad/Odyssey is unfair to say the least. Those works 1: Adressed an audience that was already familiar with the stories. That means that any kind of suspens is gonna come from the delivery and not some "mystery". 2: these works werent made to be read as literature but they were epic poems that were sang in front of an audience. Centuries later they became great works for educating kids (and not only), giving them the heroic spirit and a quality in languege and education in general. 3: Homers work cannot be compared to a religious text (a religious book with specific aims and focus). Even if you try to explain Bible in terms of literature you are comparing apples and oranges. Yes Homers work involves gods and heroes but they considered it more like history of a long lost age than a religious text. And lastly i am not even gonna lay out how ignorant the claims about the "2 dimensional characters of Homer" are. Your views (if not yours, then the authors from which you took inspiration) on this video seem heavily biased to say the least and are intelelctually dishonest, manipulating facts to deliver an opinion.

[@12ryudragon]

Your story as a child with the bible makes me remember something similar that happened to me as a child with the bible: I was 10 years old and It was a saturday in the afternoon, I was watching the TV in my room, but something came to my mind..."hey what if I read about the apocalypse in the bible?, I bet it's going to be fun!" And then I started reading about the horsemen, about how every illness and war will spread on the earth and how everything ends... I couldn't sleep or be alone for the next days because I felt that the world could end in any second, It was the most traumatic experience I had.