Hey I wrote this earlier. But Reddit seems to not have much to say about it. I will also start with saying that I disagree with the write of the blog that BS∞ has one REAL message, and only one message. Few great works has. This is as much of a indictment of modern conservative, as it is a metaphysical retelling of the birth and death of Messiah.
The less obvious Religious themes of Bioshock ∞
So obviously this game has a lot of religious themes. Religion as power and politic and not as faith. The power of baptism and religious rebirth. Redemption, forgiveness and resurrected. And very specifically Noah and the Ark.
But I also noticed/found/made some other, to some maybe less obvious, religious story beats and symbols.
The Trinity: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
I first toke notice to this when I read someones comparison of the Song Bird and Booker. Each have the task to defend and fight for Elizabeth. But this can be said about Comstock as well. In the christian faith the Holy Spirit is always symbolized by the bird, or more specific, the
dove . I wouldn't call it far fetched to say that the song bird is very dove like. But also very Spirit like. The Song bird is very pure, and becomes less of a character and more of a force of power and in some ways love.
What is core to the concept of the Trinity, is that these three separate and distinct sides of God is all one and the same. Much like Booker says in the end of the game "No I'm both". The Father is the Father, The son is the son. But they are at the same time one and the same thing. It can't be said that the game ever shies away form portraying Comstock as god. The People pray to him, and read his book as a Bible. He also has a very God like presence in the game. He is always there, and at all times the main focus. Yet we rarely see him. We only really know him through his word.
Last, the Son, or Booker. Comparisons between Booker and the Messiah is many. Most obviously is he called the "False Shepard". Like Jesus was, in the eyes of the Jews, a false Shepard, a false prophets. Booker is also resurrected. Or at least brought back by Elizabeth to save her and the world. And by that proving that he is "Her first and last hope". Booker is the embodiment of Comstock, hes presence on the ground. Much like Jesus the embodiment of god.
On a side note.
Elizabeth or Elisabeth is the Greek transliteration (Ἐλισάβετ, Elisábet) of the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning "God's promise", "oath of God", or "I am Gods daughter"[2] Elizabeth is the daughter of Comstock, the daughter of Booker. The daughter of both.
Ok so this was a comparison between the Song Bird, Booker and Comstock. But one thing annoys me. Song Bird is not Booker or Comstock. But maybe it is. We know Flink created the Song Bird, and he did so out of inspiration of the scientist of Raptur. Who "Attached metal to man, and made him machine" (Or something along the lines of that). What if the Song Bird is a version of Booker form another world. What if that is what creates the connection between The Song Bird and Elizabeth, and make it so strong. As strong as the connection between her and Booker.
I wouldn't be surprised if the DLC was about the Song Bird, and the creation of it.
Messiah, the daughter of god
As pointed out, there are some obvious Messiah like trades of Booker. But this could be said about Elizabeth as well. She is the miracle child of God/The Prophet. Born under unconventional circumstances. She kills Comstock, and in that also sacrifices her self for the people of Colombia and Man in general. But is in the end (Past credits) resurrected, born again. Elizabeth is pure and without sin. But in the eyes of the nonbeliever (The jews), a simple bastard child.
End note
Now these are just thoughts I had as I was playing the game. I highly doubt though that I'm totally making these up, and that they weren't intended to be seen as such by Irrational. But I would love to hear some thoughts or different opinions. I also excuse the (I was about to write tribal ) terrible writing.
