Pretty much just this. They just think it's cool, I guess.

Saber is definitely different in this case, though. This isn't a case of Shadow Moon's sword having the name 'satan' in it because everyone knows that's the evil guy, or everyone in Showa getting crucified because it happened a bunch in Ultraman due to one of the creative team being Catholic and that ended up being popular for some reason, or Gaim just using whatever symbolism it can find. For Saber, the Sefirot and its surrounding history aren't just a reference they threw in in one or two episodes for the hell of it; it's the basis for the show's fundamental mythology and symbolism. And frankly given that it's far less well-known than Christianity's monopoly of cultural osmosis, that shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.

This is a pretty good Twitter thread that goes over - in a broad sense - most of the ideas in use. It's from a month ago so it's missing a couple things, especially particularly recent developments like the Xross Saber's creation; and naturally since the show has about 10 episodes left we don't know the entire full picture yet -- but we easily know enough to say how much of an impact Jewish religion, mythology and symbolism had on Saber as a show from imagery present in multiple major sets, to the means Touma uses to reach Avalon and create the Xross Saber; to the very existence and meaning behind every single Seiken in the show. It's more than just a cheap reference, and especially because of that I think it's fair to point out where Saber's use of this theming fails.

Wow, that was really fascinating. A lot of thought clearly went into all of this.

Wow, even the positions of the swords on the Tree of Life seem to match either aspects of the sword itself or the rider it belongs to:

Jikokuken Kaiji/Malkuth - all of space and time

Ankokuken Kurayami/Yesod - dreams, like the visions Kurayami gives its wielder

Suiseiken Nagare/Hod - logic and rationalization, fitting how Rintaro is among the more intellectual of the riders

Fusouken Hayate/Netzach - aspirations, like Ren's constant drive to grow stronger

Raimeiken Ikazuchi/Teferet - the beauty of reality, which Kento lost sight of at the same time he switched to a different sword

Kaenken Rekka/Geburah - might (like Almighty!) and justice, both very fitting associations for the main rider, and it's also associated with fire and the color red!

Onjuuken Suzune/Chesed - this one's a bit of a stretch, but love and giving could symbolize Daishinji's love of his craft and the support he gives the other riders as a swordsmith

Mumeiken Kyomu/Da'at - a blank space, the perfect place for the unmarked sword of nothingness

Dogouken Gekido/Binah - understanding and development, like Ogami's experience as a veteran swordsman

Eneiken Noroshi/Chokhmah - formlessness, like smoke, and also like Reika's changing role from manipulator to overt enemy to ally

Kogouken Saikou/Kether - infinity incomprehensible to mortals, suitable for Yuri being ancient, no longer purely human, and strange compared to the modern characters.

But then for Xross Saber, I think the "crossguard" explanation is probably better, since the sword's most notable feature is its crossguard being a moving part. I could also see it being about "crossing swords" or a "crossover" since it's created by all the other seiken. Featuring Saber goes especially well with the crossover theme. If it was based on the Christian cross, that would be... yeah, a really weird choice.

I don't think it would be that weird if it's truly based on the Christian cross. Christianity is an offshoot of Judaism that was born from the belief that the Messiah had died for our sins, while in Judaism they are still waiting for him. This fits perfectly what Touma's role is in the show, does it not?

...God damn it :D Touma is Jesus :D

I think this is a big stretch. Touma hasn't died for anyone's sins...not yet anyways. And I don't really sew how people are still 'waiting' for him.

The waiting for him bit was more to differentiate Christianity and Judaism.

And one of the main reasons Kento has been acting the way he does is because Touma is literally destined to disappear after saving the world. While not death, it basically equates to the same since he would be shepherd of to Wonder World.

I think you're probably right here, it's just... unfortunate.

Oh my gosh, please tell me that's a true story! I want to believe that so much!

This is fascinating and wonderful, thank you so much for linking this. Reading through this made me feel really happy in a way to see this laid out because these ideas and beliefs were super important to me when I was young, and had a tremendous influence on me growing up. I am still a curmudgeon and will stand by the fact that it is my opinion Saber does not tell its story well, but I can't begrudge them for having done their homework.

I do think you're probably right about the guard, but yeah, as mentioned above, I find it an unsavoury connotation. I'm not really offended, but I do still feel that a better effort could have been made.

Layton, I know you're not trying to be rude, but so much of this is contentious. You're not taking into account the long, long history of the way in which such reasoning has been used to persecute Jews of all walks of life. The role of the Messiah is a whole complex thing that is really so much more than just "oh, wasn't that Jesus?" This makes it sound like Judaism should be considered as just pre-Christianity, and... it's not.

It's like... it's like me saying, hey, America is historically descended from Europe, right? So, it's cool if I use European flags to depict America? Obviously it's not, it's kind of laughable that I would seek to do so, and it ignores a significant historical struggle as well as railroads the rights of a group of people to both recognition and respect.

It is, but I was misremembering a little! It originated in Ultraman itself and from Tsubaraya himself, and going on from that he made it a recurring thing in the franchise. It ended up being influential on a lot of Japanese pop culture which is why you'll see it pop up in Kamen Rider, early Sentai and the likes of Evangelion

Ah yes.

https://i.imgur.com/FRPPQEk.png