The way and the door = religious connotations?

[ur-James]

I was listening to Neal Morse's "Testimony" album, which could best be called a Christian Progressive Rock album. Now, just to clarify, I'm not religious by any means. If anything, I signify with the Buddhist religion the most. But I've always been a fan of Neal's work before he was born again, and I'm still a fan of it after, so...

Anyway, I was listening to the album, and I heard the line "the way and the door" while he was talking about Jesus. Of course, the first thing to hit my head was Amok!!

So, a couple of questions: Is the line "the way and the door" a common religious type of statement? I don't know since I'm not a part of that religion. Secondly, if it is, do you think there was some corrolation between Amok and Jesus Christ in some way? He was Kevin's creation, was he not? Was SRD trying to get the point that in the Land, Kevin was a God-figure?

I look at it like this. Jesus was God's son, and Jesus came to the world to lead people to salvation (I'm guessing here, it's been years since I read the Bible). Amok was created by Kevin to come back and lead the Land to Kevin's Seventh Ward (knowledge/salvation). But if you follow that line of thinking, Kevin Desecrated the land because of Despair. God nor Jesus did any such thing. But if you just kinda forget about all that desecration stuff, this almost kinda works!

Or am I, like most times, reading too far into it? Interested to see your thoughts on this.

James

P.S. As I'm re-reading the first and second chrons, expect more incoherent posts like this from me in the future. You guys are the only real outlet I have since no one around where I live has even heard of SRD, so it's rare I get to talk about this stuff.

[Avatar]

I think that whether or not you're reading too much into it is besides the point. Regardless, it's an interesting question. you may want to check the thread "SRD's Religion" in the General SRD discussion, to see comments on his own beliefs.

The only direct biblical refernce I can think of for it is John 14:6, where Jesus says "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me"

However, the short answer is yes. It is a statement often associated with christianity in general, and Jesus in particular. Perhaps a mis-quote of it is common, but you'll have to wait for one of the christian Watchers to comment.

--Avatar

[ur-James]

I think that whether or not you're reading too much into it is besides the point. Regardless, it's an interesting question. you may want to check the thread "SRD's Religion" in the General SRD discussion, to see comments on his own beliefs.

Honestly, I'm not really all that interested in his beliefs, but I might check that out as it might give me more insight into his reading. As far as the "reading too much into it", I get that a lot from my friends when I go off on a tangent about something, so...

However, the short answer is yes. It is a statement often associated with christianity in general, and Jesus in particular. Perhaps a mis-quote of it is common, but you'll have to wait for one of the christian Watchers to comment.

And I think it's the quote that kind of cinches it for me. I mean, if the character had said anything other than that, I probably wouldn't have made the connection. But I remember Amok answering almost every question asked him with "I am but the way and the door", and when I heard it in the lyrics, everything kind of fell into place.

I think you're right, I'll wait for someone that's more well versed in christianity than I. Like I said, it's been years since I've even thought about that stuff.

James

[Avatar]

Sorry, what I meant by the reading too much into it was that what we get out of something like that is ours, rather than the authors. So whatever you can read into it is valid, at least for you.

Whether he meant it that way, is always debateable. But not whether it was there to be found.

I too am often accused of "over-analysing" things, although with fiction, I tend not to, because to me, its the story that counts, and I don't really think of it on levels beyond that very often.

--A

[ChoChiyo]

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Rev._3:19-22)

I and the Father are one.
I AM the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.
He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.

(Somewhere in John)

Here are those verses for you--in case you'd like to see them with a bit on each end for the sake of continuity and context--always important, especially in works of religion.