The feeling of helplessness is among the worst experiences in life. The complete, utter lack of control. The despair that leads to resignation. It’s an awful emotion. But it’s also a learned one. It arises when we are faced with the perceived inability to make a choice, and it’s this perception that Hitori “Bocchi” Gotoh,… Read More The Courage of Bocchi the Rock, Or Free Will & How to Use It Well
Today’s article is from Dr. Steve, a frequent guest contributor on our blog. After you finish reading this post, be sure to also check out his previous writings here about Restaurant to Another World and Interview with Monster Girls. In the fourth episode of Juni Taisen: Zodiac War, Nezumi, Warrior of the Rat, challenges his… Read More Platitudes and Power in Juni Taisen: Zodiac War
This is the last in a three-part series by guest writer James. You can catch up on Part 1 here and Part 2 here. – – – – – – At the end of Part 2, I suggested that Okabe may be mistaken in assuming God’s will must override his own. Without question, what God intends… Read More In God’s Good Time – An Analysis of Steins;Gate (Part 3)
This is the second in a three-part guest series by James. – – – – – – In Part 1, we saw that Okabe and his friends suffer greatly for presuming to meddle with time travel. Whether that suffering comes at the hands of an impersonal universe or a personal God is the question we… Read More In God’s Good Time – An Analysis of Steins;Gate (Part 2)
We’re excited to introduce the first post in a three-part guest series by James, a research associate with the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics. He writes regularly at their website, tifwe.org, and a sample of his work can be found here. He wrote a series for us about the visual novel Planetarian in September 2014, so… Read More In God’s Good Time – An Analysis of Steins;Gate (Part 1)
The idea of “becoming a god” is a frequent trope in anime. A character gains some sort of power or ability and often maniacally uses it for evil and he becomes, in his own mind, a god. Sometimes, though, a character becomes godlike without falling into that madman mentality. There are a few abilities that… Read More Charlotte Episode 10: The God Who Leapt Through Time
Zeroe4 elegantly compares to the world of Black★Rock Shooter to ours and calls us all “Black Rock Shooters of sorts.” [Zeroe4] John predicts the new Bible manga will be useful for some, but lacking for others. [AnimeNation] Katherine discusses the idea of humanity, free will, and choosing evil in examining the result of Kiritsugu’s wish, if… Read More Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere: Christians as Black Rock Shooters, Kiritsugu’s Wish in a Sinful World, and a Religion of No Underpants