BCVM22
Well-Known Member
Most of those are less Biblical and more so concepts that are universal to a number of faiths and pantheons. A great tree of life (Xerneas) is central to Norse mythology (among many others), for example. The concept of an afterlife (Gigantamax Gengar) is even more universal, obviously.
Remember that Japan, where Pokémon are conceived and designed, is not a heavily Christian country, with only 1-2% of the country's population identifying as being religiously Christian. That's not to say that there aren't any Pokémon inspired by Biblical passages. I'd argue "pearls before swine" is simply in the greater cultural lexicon more so than being known as a Bible passage, but that's a quibble. Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza are conceptually similar to the leviathan, behemoth, and ziz, as beasts of sea, land, and sky, though they bear little to no resemblance to the traditional depictions of the creatures.
But whatever that ratio is, Pokémon draws far, far more inspiration from Shintoism (Legendaries as a concept are dead ringers for the kami of the Shinto faith), Buddhism, Taoism, other belief systems more endemic to Japan, and other worldwide belief systems and pantheons than it does from Western religions.
Remember that Japan, where Pokémon are conceived and designed, is not a heavily Christian country, with only 1-2% of the country's population identifying as being religiously Christian. That's not to say that there aren't any Pokémon inspired by Biblical passages. I'd argue "pearls before swine" is simply in the greater cultural lexicon more so than being known as a Bible passage, but that's a quibble. Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza are conceptually similar to the leviathan, behemoth, and ziz, as beasts of sea, land, and sky, though they bear little to no resemblance to the traditional depictions of the creatures.
But whatever that ratio is, Pokémon draws far, far more inspiration from Shintoism (Legendaries as a concept are dead ringers for the kami of the Shinto faith), Buddhism, Taoism, other belief systems more endemic to Japan, and other worldwide belief systems and pantheons than it does from Western religions.
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