#although yes it does show that having a childhood thats the equivalent of an anime would take a serious toll on a kids mental health

[yaizl]

au where su doesnt have a shitload of racism issues

[saltyobjecttheorist]

Thoughts on The Path S3E6 “Messiah” Biblical rambling, theories and possible spoilers!

Messiah: the anointed one,” or “the chosen one.” The question is.. Chosen for what? 

So firstly the Title is echoed in Eddie’s opening lines regarding Carpentry (Dude, Hanks been using a hammer since before you were born.) 

And closing lines which bare a striking resemblance to those from a certain slightly more well known prophet of The Light.

Contrast and compare

Eddie Lane:

“ But All who decide to follow me, Like Hank, will find their place in the Garden.”

Jesus Christ: 

 “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

And speaking of Fathers, lots of Daddy issues in this episode: More on that in a moment. 

They’ve been playing up the Eddie Christ analogy all season, complete with a prophesy regarding his sacrifice for the salvation of mankind. And a symbolic resurrection from a grave in the last episode.  I predicts a Gethsemane moment of doubt for him in the near future. Then a death to save humanity...Then maybe another miracle. 

Biblical Tangent. 

Do you know why Christ is called ‘ The redeemer?”

Fun fact. Very early In the old Testament they used to sacrifice the firstborn of every male animal to God the Father. 

Exodus 13:2

“Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

Including humans. Yes you heard correctly the firstborn male children were sacrificed 8 days after birth. Some people (me) think that circumcision (traditionally performed 8 days after birth) is a remnant of this. 

Later this became anathema to the Hebrew people and was only performed by the worshipers of “lesser Gods” like Baal.

The rules changed. 

Exodus 13:11-16 

“When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord's. Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 

TL:DR? God doesn’t want your firstborn sons anymore. You must redeem the life of a human baby for the life of a lamb instead.  

Which is why Jesus is called the “Son of God”

Which is why Jesus is called the “Lamb of God”

which is why Jesus is called the “Redeemer.”

Jesus was a human sacrifice that we swapped for our own souls. 

Biblical tangent over

Why, you ask, did I go off on such a tangent? Well I suppose my point is that Old Testament religion? Somewhat fucked up, and cruel to children, and only redeemable through the sacrifice and resurrection of a Messiah. 

Just like old time Meyerism...Sorry Eddie. You wanna shake things up you’re gonna piss off the wrong people and they will probably crucify you. 

The only thing is, temper, lack of patience,resentment or violence towards dudes who banged or are currently banging your ex wife... Those things aren’t very Christ like are they? Eddie is indeed still a human man. With human failings. He got his miracle and that enough for his followers. But did he really earn it through spiritual growth? This is one of the most interesting questions the show asks IMHO.

Another thing I noticed: 

Cal as John the Baptist.

This wasn’t as apparent in this episode but upon his return to the compound Cal said he’d been in ‘The Wilderness.” Like a certain ragged  locust and honey eating harbinger of Christ. 

At least thats how he was selling himself. 

“I am a voice crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord,“

Indeed Cal acts as a warm up act for Eddie in much the same way  that John the Baptist paved the way for Christ . 

With one MAJOR difference. 

John the Baptist was asked if he, himself was the Messiah:

“When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” 

He replied:

“This is he who comes after me and he was preferred in honor before me; he whose sandal strap I am unworthy to loose.”

This is, a show of humility to the power of the Messiah. Something of which Cal isn’t capable. He wont “ Play second fiddle to God.”

HOWEVER: 

 Cal may have begun as a shill pretending to be John the Baptist. But deep down somewhere is an actual belief in Eddies miracle. Cal was shaken to his foundations. Just because he cant play second fiddle to God that doesn’t mean he doesn’t believe in God.

 Indeed, deep down maybe he wants Eddie to be God, and clean the corruption that came before him.

Cal longs for a Messiah. And has done since season 1, where he quotes Christ on redemption and mercy ( after murdering Silas).

He is listening to Mother Theresa on Christ’s sacrifice early in Season 2 (replacing his self help tapes.)

He might have a neurotic need for control due to his terrifying childhood. But what he truly needs is redemption, and he knows a Christ figure can give him that. This is in strange contrast to Sarah’s desire for punishment for her sins. More than anything Cal wants mercy. 

Also if anyone was wondering,  the pictures over Cal and Mary’s beds in the “Pageantry” episode are of John the Baptist and the Risen Christ.

Thing is, blackmailing and power grabbing do not a John The Baptist make... He is, lets not forget, a ruined human being. He may never heal enough to attain enlightenment but he is trying. Its interesting that in the last episode he agreed to give up the blackmail. And showed genuine growth in regard to his relationship with Mary. 

Daddy:

Father issues galore in this episode alone. Let us count the dads on the show. 

Hank: THE Dad. The beloved father, although his personal authority wasn’t of the “patriarchal elder” sort. He wasn’t and Old Testament Father. He was a Dad. 

His primary characteristic was kindness. He loved his children. Remember him ‘threatening’ Eddie over the supposed affair? Or his refusal to abandon Tessa? Or the fact that he’d fly to Peru to support his Son during crisis? He may have lived in a denial ruled cloud of hash smoke but his heart was in the right place and his was a big heart. And his grandkids adored him.  Remember Summer’s response to finding out he’d broken the rules and seen Tessa when everyone else freaked out?

Eddie: The literal and symbolic dad struggling both literally and symbolically to be a dad. As a rule it’s a bad sign when cult leaders demand to be called Father, Daddy or any variation thereof. Because it infantilises the acolytes and puts them in a position of dependance. Eddie didn’t want this... At first. But perhaps came to realise that his followers actually did. They don’t want self actualisation as much as safety. It ‘aint healthy but its human nature. 

Cal: Surprisingly gentle dad, while not being openly affectionate (with anyone) he is very, very protective of his baby. He almost seems a little afraid to physically engage with Forest ( and Mary) But If he is standoffish with his family its because he grew up literally sharing a sleeping bag with Steve. lack of physical boundaries can be just as damaging as too many. Say what you like about Cal, he’s a better dad than either of his dads. 

Wesley Cox: He was no Hank thats for fucking sure: We wont miss him. Back in Season 1 The characters actions were much more black and white in terms of good and evil action. Season 2 bought a sense of liminality to their morality and season 3 has done aways with moral absolutism. I don’t think she was right to murder him. But she wasn’t wrong either. 

Steve: Creepy Old Testament God who requires child sacrifice and chosen sons. Quite simply a con artist, sadist and monster. A betrayer of innocence and all round fuck face. 

Russell: I don’t know anymore I Just can’t with him. I think he’s kind of useless on every level. He is a maker of song and folklore though. And so he is valuable to Meyerist culture I guess?

And what of the feminine energy among all this sausage swinging? Well we have the forgotten or hidden Mother: 

Lillith: Excised from history, like Esoteric spirituality was cut out of the Gospels. Who, I am starting to suspect was not terribly different to Steve, remember she calls Vera ‘ Her greatest joy’, which is what Steve called Cal. And isn’t she spiritually abusing her daughter? But she wasn’t revered and worshipped like him, she was hidden from our sight. Until now. 

Gabby: Gatekeeper and enabler to Steven Meyer and true believer. No religion can function without women like Gab willing to sacrifice their children to it. 

Sarah: Fiercely protective and willing to be deeply unpopular in order to instil her perception of morality. She is fighting against forces she has no awareness of YET. She has become the Spiritual seeker and Heretic. Her children are often threatened symbolically on the show and one of her greatest motivations is to hold onto her kids and keep them safe. She is ( lIke Eddie) always falling short of what she feels she ought to be. And working clandestinely and hidden to uncover the truth. 

Nicole: female equivalent to Russell. Resentful, unhappy in her role ( She didn’t want all those kids.) A casualty to the patriarchal nature of Meyerism. She quite possibly resents Meyerism as a whole for the loss of her parents.  

Mary: Mary is the type of person who would take her baby with her to a crack den rather than leave him with a stranger. ‘Nuff said. Forest is a part of her. She is rarely seen without him. She would kill before allowing that kid out of her sight. She is almost an architypal mother ( “Mother Mary’) . But she is also working secretly and manipulatively behind the scenes.

Predictions? 

My latest prophesy regarding  the outcome? Well with all this talk of fathers, children and firstborn sons. My suspicion is that Eddie will die to save little Forest. He did take responsibility and promise never to let the little guy down. He will redeem himself for the life of Cal’s first born son. 

Other thoughts: 

Finally after unearthing his trauma Cal has enough self awareness to ask Mary what she wants. He still can’t say "I love you.” he ‘needs’ her. remember Sarah’s quote from the Pilot? 

“ This guy could never love a person, he needs too much.” 

This is very sad. Fucking Steve.

 Poor Mary can’t see herself as anything except a commodity. Fucking Mary’s Dad.

Love has been twisted for both of them. And while they try to navigate what consent actually is, and Cal asks her how she wants to be touched, all she really wants is an embrace. 

Professor Jackson’s heart was in the right place when he tried to comfort Sarah. But hell, is there anything less comforting than the standard secular “ He lives on in you.” Speech when you’re grieving? 

Despite that, I like him and I think if she’s going to have a relationship its healthier with him than Eddie. I do like that she’s going on a spiritual quest With Eddie and bought him the books. BUT what would make me happier is if every female character wasn’t defined by the dudes she’s bonking or choosing between.

Is Lillith is a passive observer of upcoming disaster, not an architect of it? She appears to know something will happen to Eddie but not to be planning to do it herself? 

Hawk: I dig it. But Caleb’s dad won’t. I’m really curious where they will go with this because Caleb’s dad is going to object to the gay thing and Hawks Dad? He may not be too fond of the Christian thing. Also how sweet was it that he and Joy hugged at the end? Family first you guys.