John/Ajira 3:16 and other Christian themes

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I dunno about you guys but I was a little surprised at how much of the show contained pretty specific Christian symbolism.

For instance, (virtually) everyone is aware of the verse John 3:16 where it talks about Jesus gave his life to save ours. The people on Ajira 316 represent the people that Jack gave his life to save.

Not only that, one should probably assume that if Jack doesn't plug the hole in that cave that the whole earth would be at risk, so Jack gave his life for the world.

Beyond that, he even got stabbed in the same place Jesus was stabbed.

The repeated observances of what was basically Communion between candidates.

I know the window in the church in the end contained many symbols of faith, but all in all it seemed to have quite a bit of Christ-like related imagery in the same way that the Matrix did.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I started noticing it throughout this season. The religious references were getting stronger as the finale neared. I'm not particularly fond of that explanation of events so I choose to ignore those references...

 

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Also, another thing I loved about the episode last night was another example of a Christian reference and I'm stunned I didn't catch this earlier in the series was Kate pointing out the irony of Christian's name.

 

[Hober Mallow]

Also, another thing I loved about the episode last night was another example of a Christian reference and I'm stunned I didn't catch this earlier in the series was Kate pointing out the irony of Christian's name.

The producers said years ago that the name had meaning.

 

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Apparently I was too obtuse to get it........course now, it hindsight it seems ridiculous that I didn't get it earlier..............

 

[RoJoHen]

Apparently I was too obtuse to get it........course now, it hindsight it seems ridiculous that I didn't get it earlier..............

I feel the same way. It didn't even occur to me until that scene with Kate, and now I feel dumb for not noticing it before.

 

[Hober Mallow]

Apparently I was too obtuse to get it........course now, it hindsight it seems ridiculous that I didn't get it earlier..............

I feel the same way. It didn't even occur to me until that scene with Kate, and now I feel dumb for not noticing it before.

Well, don't feel too bad, guys. I never made the connection between Locke's spinal injury and Jack being a spinal surgeon.

 

[label]

Apparently I was too obtuse to get it........course now, it hindsight it seems ridiculous that I didn't get it earlier..............

I feel the same way. It didn't even occur to me until that scene with Kate, and now I feel dumb for not noticing it before.

Well, don't feel too bad, guys. I never made the connection between Locke's spinal injury and Jack being a spinal surgeon.

DOH!

Let's just pretend I actually caught that one.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

and I'm stunned I didn't catch this earlier in the series was Kate pointing out the irony of Christian's name.

Me too. But I guess having Christian being a lying, cheating drunk kept us from thinking of him as Jesus. Speaking of that...you open his coffin and it's empty. Hmm. What does that remind me of?

And did you all see the religious symbols on the window pane in the chapel where Jack and Christian talked?

 

[Trippy]

and I'm stunned I didn't catch this earlier in the series was Kate pointing out the irony of Christian's name.

Me too. But I guess having Christian being a lying, cheating drunk kept us from thinking of him as Jesus. Speaking of that...you open his coffin and it's empty. Hmm. What does that remind me of?

And did you all see the religious symbols on the window pane in the chapel where Jack and Christian talked?

I did. I know they were mult-faith based, but the circular nature of the symbols looked very Dharma-ish to me

 

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And did you all see the religious symbols on the window pane in the chapel where Jack and Christian talked?

I did. And there were lots of other artwork and statues that referenced other religions and some even referencing philosophies.

I like that they didn't try and get too "Scientific" with explanations of how things on the island worked or how things in the Sideways worked.

Granted, I would have preferred a clearer picture on how the island came into existence and what the stakes might actually be if MIB gets off the island, but all in all I think they error-ed on the right side of things.......

 

[TorontoTrekker]

I actually have a separate thought regarding the religious symbolism of the show.

In the CTV online chat after the finale, Nikki Stafford (author of the "Finding Lost" books) postulated that Desmond is an angel in the sideways universe, working to gather everyone together and make them remember their lives on the island. I asked, "So what does that make Eloise?" Recall that it was Eloise who knew more about what was going on, and who convinced Desmond that he had to go on his round-the-world yacht race. Nikki responded (jokingly, I'm sure) that Eloise was either another angel, or the Devil.

But then I had this idea... Eloise also sent her son, Daniel Faraday, back to the island where her younger self killed him. So in a way, Eloise represents God - sacrificing her son by sending him to the island. And she certainly seems omniscient at times.

I emailed Nikki with this thought last night, but haven't heard back from her yet. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

 

[label]

But then I had this idea... Eloise also sent her son, Daniel Faraday, back to the island where her younger self killed him. So in a way, Eloise represents God - sacrificing her son by sending him to the island. And she certainly seems omniscient at times.

Nice catch. I hadn't thought along those lines, but she did send her son down a path she knew would end up costing him his life so that the world would be saved in part by his actions. I wonder how conscious the writers were of this fact?