If you’ve played through Dead Space or it’s sequel, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Unitology, the games’ featured kooky religion was perhaps a parody, or mockery of L. Ron Hubbard’s Scientology.
It’s not though; probably because a religion that revolves around Thetans and the attachment to Lord Xenu the tyrant ruler of the Galactic Confederacy doesn’t really need to be parodied.
"I think people get that because the name is very similar," said the game’s creative director Wright Bagwell told MTV.
"It was really just an observation about what can happen to anybody who is fanatical and illogical about their beliefs."
"What I find really interesting is a book by Carl Sagan called ‘The Demon-Haunted World.’ It’s a great book and just a commentary on how there’s this pattern of behavior over history where there used to be a lot of superstitious and illogical thinking. And then, as science took hold and modern thinking took hold, there was a lot less superstitious thinking. But now that people are not able to understand everything around them again, technology has gotten to the point where it’s like magic to some people, and they’re overwhelmed with the amount of knowledge and information that’s out there. It’s gotten people thinking illogically and superstitiously again."
"That’s the commentary we’re making [with Unitology]. In this complex, futuristic world, people are looking for ways to simplify their lives and put their faith in something that they don’t have to think too much about."
I think, as crazy as Unitology seems, that it’s a biting look at the fanaticism that’s present in some adherents of all religions. You know, the people that going around killing others in the name of God/Jesus/Allah/Xenu/The Flying Spaghetti monster. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some Thetans to audit. Anyone seen my E-meter?
Source : MTV
Last Updated: February 3, 2011