Without really considering the Biblical themes in James
Cameron’s The Terminator, they may be easily overlooked. However, when
one reflects on the parallels between The Terminator and the Bible, many
ideas are readily apparent. From the apocalyptic ideas, allusions to Mary, and
the references to a savior, many parts of the plot of The Terminator are
connected to the ideas found in the Bible.
The apocalyptic
message and eschatology of the Bible found in Daniel of the Hebrew Bible and
Revelation in the New Testament is also the message of futuristic destructive
scenes in The Terminator as machines are taking over and ending the
world. In addition, the constant battle of good verses evil in the New and Old
testaments Bible is also represented in the movie with the battle between Kyle
Reese and Sarah Conner, the good, verses the Terminator, the evil.
Some other major allusion between the movie
and the Bible can be seen through Sarah Conner. She symbolizes Mary in the
Bible, as seen in the gospel of Luke (Luke 1:26-38) the Annunciation . Sarah is a young, humble,
unwed, unsuspecting woman who is to become the mother of a great savior named
“John Conner” just as Mary is a young, humble, unwed, and unsuspecting woman
who will bear a son named “Jesus” (Luke 1:31). Both Mary and Sarah Conner were
perplexed when first confronted. Likewise, just as the angel Gabriel was sent
by God to speak to Mary (Luke 1, 26), Kyle Reece comes into Sarah’s life and
tells her that she will become the mother of an amazing man who will save many
people’s lives and also who men will be willing to die for. His name was to be
John Conner, which incidentally has the same first initials as Jesus Christ. In
addition, just as Kyle Reese describes John Conner as an incredible leader whom
he trusts and would die for “in a second,” Jesus Christ, is also the same
remarkable leader with remarkable authority who upholds his kingdom with
justice and righteousness (Isaiah 9:6-7).
In another way,
Kyle Reece could represent Joseph, the man betrothed to Mary in the gospels.
Mary and Joseph flee from King Herod to save the life of Mary’s unborn son,
Jesus (Matthew 2:13-18). In the movie, Sarah and Kyle Reece flee from the
Terminator to save the life of Sarah’s son that she will have in the future.
The end of the movie could be viewed as the flight into Egypt as well because
Sarah must travel into Mexico to allude authorities and protect her unborn son
who will be a savior, just as Mary alludes King Herod and travels into Egypt to
protect her son, Jesus Christ, who will be king.
Overall, many biblical references can be found in The Terminator if one looks for them.
