Xenosaga - What's with the hebrew writings at the beggining of each episode?

[Panarchy]

Hi

Just started watching Xenosaga and was surprised to see different letters of the Hebrew alphabet (aleph-bet) on the start of each episode...

Also that reoccuring golden 'gate' thing... that has an aleph on it...!!!

LOL

Anyone know the reason for this?

Panarchy

[Nikkoru]

Xenosaga uses Judeo-Christian mythology for it's style and imagery, like with Evangelion or the manga 666 Satan - although they also diverge and take from other sources as well.

I don't really know the details of the significance of the images they use from the mythology.

[Panarchy]

Judeo-Christian methodology 

Never heard of that before

But thanks

[Nikkoru]

Things like Angelic lore and the Kabbalah (jewish mysticism) non-canon Christianity and Judaism which isn't part of the official beliefs but the culture surrounding it. For instance that golden thingy is referred to, I think, as a Zohar.

[Pigeon]

People liked neon genesis evangelion because of all the judeo-christian references and imagery in it. Xenosaga did the same thing, hoping that like nge, they could make a wildly popular franchise without actually making it good. Fortunately, they failed.

[flamez3r0]

They failed in the anime or the franchise in general? I have only played the first game but I thought it was pretty good. I didn't quite enjoyed the anime, it felt kind of dull at times and sometimes I just watched it until the end because I started it already, but the game (first since I haven't played the others) was pretty good.

When I watched evangelion I felt lost, waaaaaaaaaaay lost to be sincere, especially towards the end, to prove this I still don't know why everyone were clapping at the very end, I like it, but I find the main difference between the two stories its the confusion that evangelion carved in my life since I saw it :p.

[zxcvbnm6000]

It is just a weird, perhaps lazy, use of names, nothing more. As mention above NGE has religious names, Appleseed used Greek mythology, I'm such there is a large list.

Things like Angelic lore and the Kabbalah (jewish mysticism) non-canon Christianity and Judaism which isn't part of the official beliefs but the culture surrounding it. For instance that golden thingy is referred to, I think, as a Zohar.

Don't forget the Gnosis and the fact that they turn people into pillars of salt.

Also in the games all the Zohars have the names of Jesus and his Disciples. The Mechs are named after religious elements and people.
And my favorite:

(click to show/hide)

In game three you learn that KOS-MOS is Mary Magdalen.

[Panarchy]

LOL

Well thanks for clearing it up for me guys!

[His Fattness]

Just play Xenogears.  It does the story much better.