Who is the True Goddess ? Is this question first answered officially in SMTV ?

[cimmy]

The title of the series, Shin Megami Tensei, literally means True Goddess' Incarnations. So here comes some questions: Who is this True Goddess ? What are her roles in the series ?

According to the title, it seems the protagonists would be the Goddess or some of her incarnations, and also, the stories regarding the Goddess should be the very core of the series, but is it a contradiction, that the protagonists of the series are always male ?

There is an explanation that the Goddess is Izanami, the primordial mother goddess and sister/wife of Izanagi, in Shinto religion. She appears repeatedly in the series as various characters and bosses.

However, it seems that Goddess Izanami's roles and stories are not always prominent in the series, and we the players have never been able to assume a role of her or her incarnations in the games. Actually, many players, including some senior fans, may not pay much attention to the Goddess Izanami, or are even unaware of her, unless they dig deeply into the background stories.

Meanwhile, her husband Izanagi seemed to be playing much more active roles, as he appears repeatedly as "demons" and personas in the series, moreover, in Digital Devil Story Megami Tensei, the protagonist is a reincarnation of Izanagi. So why is the title of the series "True Goddess' Incarnations", rather than "True God's Incarnations" ?

If an official answer regarding the above questions is not provided, or is not satisfying enough, the series may inevitably face criticisms of being a bit off-title.

Fortunately, in Shin Megami Tensei V, the questions are somehow answered officially, maybe for the first time in the series : The True Goddess is Sophia who manifests the whole universe. In other words, the whole universe, including everything within, the protagonists, humans, gods, goddesses, demons, etc., are all manifestations of this True Goddess. This can be an explanation for the title of the series.

According to what Sophia says in SMTV, it seems that in the game Atlus adopts a Gnostic theology about Sophia. However, according to orthodox biblical theology and Kabbalistic views, it can also be known that Sophia(Wisdom) is the primordial energy that constitutes the whole universe, including everything within. She is the feminine aspect of the Creator, the Mother of all.

The role of Sophia in biblical theology is somewhat similar to the Goddess Izanami in Japanese mythology, so this could be a satisfying explanation for the title of the series.

[Arifufu]

tbh i don't that deep about story, but IMO if you choose Tao as your last playthough then she is your true godddess otherwise it's Yoko

my 7th cycle is Yoko so yeah my true goddess is Yoko

1st cycle: True Neutral CoC
2nd cydcle: Chaos CoV
3rd cycle: Law CoC
4th cycle: Law CoV
5th cycle: Chaos CoC
6th cycle: Neurtal CoC
7th cycle: Chaos CoV


some says the two narrators (male - female) along the game are izanagi and izanami

also Nahobino himself is Susano-O so if you care cannon thing then name your Nahobino as Susano-O and keep Murakumo forever as his signature skill

i also like how Amanazako connected in Japanese lore with Susano-O, her innate skill is useful

idk what God Lucifer was slayed, but guess what? now both Satan and Lucifer are my ally which mean Nahobino is Lucifer and Satan's new God

only Sophia and Gustav are the real God i think, i mean how can he produce unlimited amount of balms and incense and why he doesn't sell HP and MP incense? while at least Sophia is hot

well apologies i am not that deep with the story, i play for game mechanic

[SkaaTerminator]

there is only iirc three or four games where Goddess Reincarnation actually applies

1.Digital Devil Story Megami Tensei- Shirasagi Yumiko is a reincarnation of Izanami
2.Shin Megami Tensei- Yuka is a reincarnation of Eve
3.Giten Megami Tensei- Tachibana Yuuka is the reincarnation of Ishtar, Asuka Rui is a Reincarnation of Astarte

[Odio]

Tao is the true goddess in V.

[👁]

The TRUE goddess is, of course, and everyone knows this, is Leanan Sidhe.

[SkaaTerminator]

there is no true goddess, it is just a name, nothing more nothing less.

[Gulp]

Maybe the true goddess was the friends we killed along the way?

[👁]

It's probably the Pixie that you recruit at the start of the game.

[cimmy]

Originally posted by Odio:

Tao is the true goddess in V.

Tao and Sophia are actually the same. They are different names of the transcendent Wisdom (a.k.a. Prajna, Adi Parashakti etc.) that guides a mortal being to the heavenly throne of the Creator.

As it is written in Wisdom of Solomon [KJV] :

Wis.7 :

[22] For Wisdom(Sophia), which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good,

[23] Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.

[24] For Wisdom(Sophia) is more moving than any motion: she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness.

[25] For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her.

[26] For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.

[27] And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she maketh all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she maketh them friends of God, and prophets.

[28] For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with Wisdom (Sophia, a.k.a. Tao, Prajna, Adi Parashakti, etc.).

[👁]

Fool, it's the Pixie who forced herself into your party at the start of the game.

[Vitamin defincensy]

Most of the time the literal meaning of this name is irrelevant to the plot but it depends on the game. The original Megami Tensei's main characters are reincarnations of Izanami and Izanagi, the progenitors of all the gods and goddesses in Shinto. In SMT IV Tokyo itself manifests as a dormant goddess who appears as a little girl playing with a hoop and stick (and I think Burroughs is connected to it if I recall)

[SkaaTerminator]

exactly as i stated, just a name nothing more but in one of my previous posts i said that there are three games that had a "Goddess Reincarnation"

Originally posted by SkaaTerminator:

1.Digital Devil Story Megami Tensei- Shirasagi Yumiko is a reincarnation of Izanami
2.Shin Megami Tensei- Yuka is a reincarnation of Eve
3.Giten Megami Tensei- Tachibana Yuuka is the reincarnation of Ishtar, Asuka Rui is a Reincarnation of Astarte