#in this world sinners own other people. there’s no ifs ands or buts

[yellowsubiesdance]

i think i’ve learned a lot when it comes to not applying my own values to the media i consume

for my script analysis class yesterday, we discussed two gentleman from verona, and nearly every classmate of mine was up in arms about how sexist the story is.

and i'm not saying it's not, or that it's not infuriating to read. but i'm also not putting my energy into getting upset about something written 500 or so years ago. and i'm not about to put my own beliefs onto these characters that are not me. i'm going to let their choices speak for themselves, and interpret it in the context of the story.

all that said, this now brings me to the point of alastor in episode 5, and how viscerally people are responding to it. those of you up in arms about the choices he’s making, and the violent threat he gave husk, you’re missing the entire point of his character, of this place they’re in, of the story being told. he’s an overlord, and he became an overlord by killing much bigger overlords and broadcasting their deaths over the radio.

HE IS NOT A GOOD PERSON.

if you started this show with the belief that every character working the hotel is a good person, you’re in the wrong place. watch the good place if you’re looking for a good wholesome story about getting dead sinners into heaven, because that’s not what this show is about.

you’re more than welcome to hate him after seeing the way he exerted power over a being whose soul he owns, but you’re doing the media you’re watching a disservice by writing it off so quickly. if you don’t like to be uncomfortable watching media, watch something else. this is an uncomfortable show, it handles uncomfortable topics, and it’s going to be an uncomfortable ride, and if you’re not up for something like that, then you should take a break from it and pick up something else. you don’t have to get online and defend your own ideals while you watch a show that goes against your ideals.

#hazbin hotel spoilers #that’s not even touching on the fact that husk was an overlord too #he also owned souls that he used as currency to supply his gambling addiction #he’s also not a good person!! #the majority of these characters are in hell for a reason: they’re not good people #i quite frankly love the way this show blurs the lines between good and evil #our heroes are sinners and overlords and demons. while the enemies are angels. but that doesn’t mean our heroes are good people. #you HAAAVE to come to terms with that!! you have to stop seeing the world in black and white or you’re not going to survive this world #if you’re upset because alastor was cruel to husk fine! be upset! but explore why you’re taking yourself out of that world. #in this world sinners own other people. there’s no ifs ands or buts #‘oh alastor is a poc why would he own people’ he was a serial killer when he was alive do you really think you can apply your values to that #(and this is me speaking as a poc. specifically a mixed race poc.) #i cannot speak to who vivzie is as a person. but i’m interested in the message she’s writing and thus far i’m finding it compelling #it’s a similar story as the good place but it’s going the distance to explore even worse people than those in the good place #i don’t think it’s responsible to write something off just because unsavory things happen in it. #and she’s giving us so many different types of representation that don’t involve race (although we’re also getting a lot of hispanic rep) #just like cool your jets and maybe process some of the anger you’re feeling. and maybe nothing will change. #but if you act. instead of react. if you understand why you’re feeling some type of way and then make a choice. #that’s so much stronger and more responsible than reacting and not thinking anything through #hazbin hotel #alastor #husk #hazbin alastor #hazbin husk #anyway let me get off my soapbox #long post

[lady-perpetua]

Preface: I know that BLEACH is a fictional series that has it's own lore. This post is purely a POV commentary of a nerdy Christian gal. You're free to agree or disagree with me, I'm not gonna be confrontational with anyone. That being said, let's get on with the post.

Tite Kubo draws a lot of inspiration for BLEACH from various sources but obviously one of the biggest influences is religion and faith. There are elements of many faiths from around the world seen in the series and the topic of Sin and Hell is brought up very early in the franchise.

As a Christian, seeing a manga series tackle Sin and Hell as a part of it's canon lore is interesting. Considering Japan is a largely atheistic nation with the biggest religions practiced being Shinto, Hinduism, and Buddhism. All of which involves multiple gods or no god at all. Christianity is still a minority faith with only a small portion of the population being Christian. When Christianity was first introduced to Japan, it was seen as a threat to the Shogunate and many early Christians were martyred. The persecution of Christians led to the creation of Kakure Kirishitans. Literally Hidden Christians who practiced in secrecy with the aid of sympathizers and fellow faith brothers and sisters. But in 1873 Japan established it's freedom of Religion act which put an end to the outlaw of Christianity. So to put that into perspective: Christianity has only been legal in Japan for 148 years.

Now with that little history lesson out of the way, let's get on to what I find interesting about the way Tite Kubo deals with Sin and Hell in the BLEACH universe.

Soul Reapers act as purifiers and equalizers, cleansing hollows of their sin they committed as hollows so they can enter the Soul Society later and they help lost souls pass over to the Soul Society with the hilt of their sword. But it's in Volume 2 that we're told what happens to those who've committed heinous crimes as Humans before their death and hollowfication. Rukia states that those sinners are cast into Hell for their crimes after their defeat and we see later on in the Bleach Anniversary one shot how it happens. With a giant blade of a warden impaling the sinner and dragging them into the gates of Hell.

So Hell is a place where unsaved sinners go for all races within the BLEACH universe.

While BLEACH isn't the first franchise to have Hell in their series, it's one of the most influential and big named franchises to not only bring the topic of Sin into the forefront but also the consequences of Sin. Personally speaking, I think it's a great way to talk to others about the Gospel but I don't think it's a proper way to teach others about Sin and the Consequences of Sin.

I'm sure everyone has heard John 3:16 so I'm not gonna quote it but it's pretty clear who is saved and who is unsaved. Whether or not people like to hear it or be comfortable with it is another topic for another day. But I will say that spreading the message that only the criminals go to Hell and everyone else goes to Heaven is false. The only group of people we know go to Heaven for sure are Children as confirmed by Jesus when he is asked by the disciples. Everyone else must be Christian. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Like I said in my preface, I'm not gonna be confrontational about this post since it's a commentary from a Christian POV. You don't have to agree with me, I'm not forcing you to.

If hope you enjoyed reading this commentary and if you're a fellow Christian or you're just interested in hearing my 'hot takes' on Christianity represented in anime / manga then I encourage you to follow me here. Thank you!

#BLEACH #Tite Kubo #Christianity in Manga #Christian #Christianity #Christian Commentary #Manga Screenshot #BLEACH Volume 2 #Long Post