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[[Image:TheVisionary.jpg|right|400px|thumb|When Primus walked the Cybertron.]] | |||
As in human cultures, in many continuities the Transformers have possessed '''religion''' to help them explain and cope with their place in the universe. There are various [[god]]s and religious figures the Transformers are known to believe in. In continuities where they exist, Transformer spiritual and religious beliefs are usually specifically illustrated to be truth rather than legend or superstition. | As in human cultures, in many continuities the Transformers have possessed '''religion''' to help them explain and cope with their place in the universe. There are various [[god]]s and religious figures the Transformers are known to believe in. In continuities where they exist, Transformer spiritual and religious beliefs are usually specifically illustrated to be truth rather than legend or superstition. | ||
Revision as of 12:07, 3 September 2013
As in human cultures, in many continuities the Transformers have possessed religion to help them explain and cope with their place in the universe. There are various gods and religious figures the Transformers are known to believe in. In continuities where they exist, Transformer spiritual and religious beliefs are usually specifically illustrated to be truth rather than legend or superstition.
The Covenant of Primus is a compilation of prophecies that can be regarded as the Transformers bible.
Generation 1 cartoon continuity
In the original The Transformers cartoon, despite the lead characters witnessing supernatural occurrences such as magic and ghosts on a number of occasions without any apparent amazement or surprise, there is little direct evidence for general Transformer spiritual or religious beliefs. Kup recommends praying before battle, but does not specify to whom. Five Faces of Darkness
It is known that the spirits of Autobot leaders past dwell within the Matrix of Leadership even after their deaths, but the mechanism of this is unknown. A living Autobot leader can journey within the Matrix to commune with them and receive visions of the past. (Rodimus needed to be near death to achieve this, but Optimus could instigate it at will.) It is unknown how spiritual or how mechanical this whole process is.
The best, if not only, other evidence we have comes from The Transformers: The Movie with the apparent prophecy that "one day an Autobot shall rise from our ranks, and use the power of the Matrix to light our darkest hour" and the repetition, prayer-like, of the phrase "'Til all are one."
Marvel Comics continuity
This is where the concept of Transformer religion and spiritual beliefs really took form and spread. Nearly all subsequent uses of Transformer religion derive from the foundation laid in these stories.
Primary beliefs
The story of the gods Primus and Unicron went through several iterations as they were retold by different speakers over the course of the US and UK comic run. The most distinct difference across these revisions was the fading out of their respective pantheons. When first told, by Unicron, Primus and Unicron were each merely part of a whole pantheon of other light and dark gods respectively. In the next version, by the Keeper, they were the last of their pantheons, the others already having been destroyed or passed on to the Omniversal Matrix. Finally, in the version told by Primus, they were each unique beings with the existence of other gods ignored or refuted. This final version is the most frequently borrowed by later material. (The BotCon "Reaching the Omega Point" story being the notable exception, see below.)
One legend surrounding Primus is that of the Last Autobot, Primus' final guardian who would come after the god's passing and the defeat of Unicron.
Sacred artifacts
The Creation Matrix is the living essence of Primus' life force and considered a sacred artifact. The bearer of it is gifted with the power to create new Transformer life. Each Matrix bearer, known as a Prime, takes a derivation of the name Primus as part of his own. Five have existed: Prima, Prime Nova, Sentinel Prime, Optimus Prime, and Rodimus Prime. Though its existence was well known, the manifest physical nature of the Matrix was not, thus it was ignored by Shockwave when he captured Optimus and, following his death, was launched into space with Optimus' body by his fellow Autobots.
The Matrix Flame on Cybertron is set in a golden brazier on a green altar, and tended by a red tabard clad acolyte. It is the living embodiment of the sacred Creation Matrix. Its status indicates that of the Matrix and its bearer.
Several scriptural texts were recorded in the Covenant of Primus, believed to be prophetic. Only two copies existed.
Believers
After millennia of war, many Transformers regarded Primus and Unicron as mere legends or disregarded them entirely. On hearing the name Primus spoken Bumblebee claims to have almost forgotten the Transformers ever had a God. Even when confronted with a giant head at the center of their planet Grimlock does not at first accept the myth of Primus and Unicron as true.
On the other hand, Emirate Xaaron appears to have believed, and Optimus Prime, likely due to his being Prime, was quick to accept Primus and Unicron. Interestingly, though he is bearer of Primus's life force, Optimus was not one to unthinkingly and zealously follow his god, harboring, at times, serious misgivings and distrust about the use to which Primus was putting his children.
One of Primus' most devoted warriors was without a doubt Sunstorm. Due to an accident in the lab where he was created, data from Cybertron's core itself got written into his software, bestowing him with vast knowledge about his race, their planet and maybe even Primus' future plans. Sunstorm himself believes to be a supernatural being and his god's holy prophet, whether this is closer to truth or misguidance stays unknown. Jetfire, though being an atheist, admitted that he would never be sure about him.
There were likely still some number of true believers, even prior to Primus' reemergence, as the tender of the Matrix Flame and the purple cloaked monk-like elders who aid Prime in the Generation 2 comics attest.
Reaching the Omega Point
The only other Transformer God, aside from Primus and Unicron, to appear in any story shows up here: The Chronarchitect. He is presumably of Primus' pantheon (see Marvel Comics above) given his alliance. He is the god of time.
Beast Wars/Machines
The Transformers have a belief in "the Matrix", where the sparks of the dead go and exist together. It would turn out this is an actual dimension, the Allspark, where all sparks that exist, have existed, or ever will exist originate, existing as a collective whole.
Unicron Trilogy
While exploring Cybertron's interior Dr. Brian Jones was transported to an long-abandoned temple where offerings of energon had been left for the legendary "guardian of energon" who had protected Cybertron long before the current generation of Transformers was created. Prior to witnessing Ancient Guardian's reactivation, Jones believed these stories were just myths. Crash Course The Japanese version of this episode describes the Energon offerings as happening 'tens of thousands of years ago.'
Aligned
While Primus and Unicron are generally accepted to exist, especially since Energon is the emanation of the former, the thirteen original Transformers and the artifacts surrounding them were a matter of belief. Jazz didn't believe the 13 existed, though he felt there were great lessons to be learned from the stories surrounding them, while Soundwave saw little use in Megatron gaining the Matrix of Leadership. Many Cybertronians were pious enough to be offended when the Decepticons bombed the Sonic Canyons, which they incorrectly believed to be the entrance to Vector Sigma (which was actually located in Kaon).
IDW Generation 1 continuity
Unlike many others, Transformers from this continuity hold a wide variety of religious reliefs, and the true nature of Cybertronian life remains a mystery into the modern day. The most common deistic belief is in the pantheon known as the Guiding Hand, five aspects of the warrior god Primus, a being conceived in reaction to an unknown 'opposite'. The creation myth known as the "Primal Sacrament" describes how these five gods populated Cybertron before falling in a war amongst themselves, their last remains becoming Vector Sigma, the Matrix of Leadership, and the archetypal brain module and transformation cog. You, Me, and Other Revelations Belief in these gods is known as Primalism Meet the Crew, and Primalists would sometimes wear a 'tattoo' of the Matrix on one cheek as a symbol of their faith. The religious texts known as the "Primal Prophecies" and belief in the Underbase are also associated with PrimalismChaos Theory Part 1
Many other sects and religious organizations also exist. The Militant Monoform Movement iss a group who specifically reject the Guiding Hand's Adaptus through the removal of their transformation cogs Life After the Big Bang, and Neoprimalism is a form of organised religion which seemingly emphasises belief in miracles and the existence of unholy evil beings. Rules of Disengagement Beachcomber championed a reinterpretation of the Primal Prophecies which viewed Primus as an abstract idea found in the beauty of the natural world. You, Me, and Other Revelations
The existence of the Knights of Cybertron, said to be the first Cybertronians and disciples of the Guiding Hand, was considered by some to be a religious belief Chaos Theory Part 2, but the existence of the original Crystal City on Cybertron and the testimony of the ancient Transformer Omega Supreme suggests they did truly exist. All Good Things
Atheistic Cybertronians were referred to as "evolutionary engineerists" after the scientificly-grounded theory of atechnogenesis. You, Me, and Other Revelations
On occasion, Transformers were heard to use idioms referring to something named Primacron Stormbringer #2, but it is unclear if they are a deity.
The multiversal mythos
Beginning around the time of Armada, a new version of the Primus/Unicron story began to take shape. This new mythos was most notable for its multiversal nature: it applied not just to the new Unicron Trilogy continuity family but also to the new iterations of Generation 1 being created by Dreamwave Productions and to the multiversal Beast Machines spin-off Transformers: Universe. In fact, by its very nature the new Multiversal Mythos attempted to apply itself to everything, even retroactively to past continuity where it was often a not-so-easy fit.
The basics of this new version of the myth are that both Primus and Unicron were created by "The One," an original God-being, and sent out into the universe as emissaries/explorers. Unicron goes bad and Primus must stop him. For some unexplained reason Primus exists in all possible continuities simultaneously (picture a single string stretching through many rooms) and his destruction in any one of them would destroy all creation, while Unicron, on the other hand, exists in only one Universe at a time ever. There are no "alternate reality" multiversal versions of Unicron, he's just one single God who leaps between universes (picture a ball of yarn thrown from room to room).
Needless to say this is a tricky bit of retconning that is hard to mesh with the original cartoon (where there was no Primus and Unicron was only a robot made by Primacron) or the Marvel Comics where Primus is stated to have died and the multiverse doesn't implode.
Alternate beliefs
Cult of Unicron
Some Transformers have willingly (or unwillingly) come to serve the dark god Unicron. The Fallen was the first of these.
In the Marvel comics, before their long sleep Unicron was able to bury a powerful compulsion in the minds of a number of Transformers causing them to form a secret cult of Unicron, which attempted to slay Optimus Prime upon his being named the leader of Primus' forces.
Decepticon religion?
The Decepticon myth of the Ultimate Warrior appears to be a corruption of the Last Autobot story. In the Marvel Comic the mystically inclined Decepticon Bludgeon dedicated his life to the "teachings" of the Ultimate Warrior, a path that may be taken as a possible alternate Cybertronian religion.
In Dreamwave's second The War Within miniseries Bludgeon and other like-minded Decepticon mystics are shown to commune with and worship "dark" mystical forces in attempt to gain power.
The Japanese Generation 1 series present two characters that might also factor in to a Decepticon religion. Devil Z is described alternately as 'the god of the Destrons' and a guardian angel who's looked after/been worshiped by them. After Devil Z's destruction a new supernatural being arises to lead the Decepticons: Violen Jiger. A demon-like being said to be born from many angry Decepticon sparks, V.J. possessed the supernatural ability to raise the dead.
The Covenant's Megatron
The name "Megatron" appears in the Covenant of Primus, referring to a dread figure that brings great destruction and is spread throughout time: verses refer to Megatron as "the beginning and the end", and the figure himself declare he's "that which is, which was, and is yet to come". Nemesis Part 2
We don't know what link this has to the Decepticon leader Megatron, but the Predacon Megatron explicitly states that he took his name from the Covenant figure. Nemesis Part 1
Xal
The Cybertronian Mindset, in a moment of great fear, screamed "Great Xal protect me!". Swarm The nature of Xal is unknown, though the Cybertronians appear familiar with the concept of Primus which indicates Xal is a separate entity.
In the Transformers Animated continuity, Xal appears to be a principal deity believed in by Cybertronians; those heard swearing by Xal's name include Kup, Bumblebee and Sentinel Prime. The deity's name is also one of the ten star signs Cybertronians are born under. The AllSpark Almanac II
Atechnogenesis
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Jetfire is often portrayed as being a Transformer atheist due to his scientific worldview. In IDW's comic series he swears by Primacron rather than Primus. (Although what that implies about said continuity beyond being a cute in-joke is unknown. Scoop swears by him later on in the same issue.)
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
When the Transformers first woke up on Earth, the Autobots mistook vehicles and other machines for life forms. When driving past a drive-in, they could not figure out why the Earthlings were all lined up staring at moving pictures on the large screen. Cliffjumper suggested it might be a religious ritual. Brawn wondered why they would be worshiping the strange images (humans kissing) that appeared on the screen. The Transformers
While being hunted by the Predacons, Optimus Prime's thoughts turned to whatever guardian spirit watches over him and how his current predicament probably stretched the spirit's grace to the limit. Prey!
While the Rescue Patrol and the Autobot Classic Pretenders were preparing to travel to Earth from Autobase, Emirate Xaaron called on Primus to watch over them on their return journey. Bumblebee thanked him for reminding him that the Autobots had god. Nobody had mentioned that legendary figure to Bumblebee in recent memory, and he had completely forgotten about him.
As the seven Autobots entered the trans-time dimensional portal for return to Earth, the Mayhem Attack Squad appeared, messed with the control panel, and followed them through the portal, which sent them to the center of Cybertron. At the end of the tunnel they were walking in, they stumbled on Primus's chamber. Yesterday's Heroes!
The Keeper was there and yelled at them to bow in their unworthiness before their creator, their living god. Bumblebee, Jazz, and the Rescue Patrol complied, but Grimlock thought they were fools for falling for such trickery. He demanded proof in the form of the story how he was created.
The Keeper explained that the age of the gods of light and darkness was almost at an end. Life, in many forms was spreading through the cosmos. Primus had one more job to do before taking his place within the Omniversal Matrix—destroy Unicron. They fought, but Primus was not faring very well, so he fled. Unicron followed and they were both imprisoned within asteroids. Over time, both beings transformed their asteroid prisons. Unicron changed his asteroid into a transforming planetoid body. Primus built a Transformer army to fight Unicron for him, and instilled his life essence into the Creation Matrix. Primus slept, waiting for the time when his creations would be ready for the epic battle. The Mayhem Attack Squad interrupted, killing the Keeper. A battle ensued which resulted in Primus getting shot in the face. The blast did no damage, but woke Primus long enough to be detected by Unicron over their psychic link. Primal Scream
Later, Optimus Prime was feeling uncomfortable with the mystical aspects of the Creation Matrix and so paid a visit to the altar on board the Ark there he reached out to the Matrix, only to find that it was tainted by evil. He foresaw a future of oblivion for the Autobots and Decepticons. Kings of the Wild Frontier.
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