*Sources of screenshots are listed in their respective file-names.
The Borderlands franchise is known for its off-the-wall (frequently off-color) humor, giant guns and crazy level design. One thing Borderlands is not known for, are the cults found in-game.
There are several cults in the Borderlands series, from the Cult of the Vault (concerning the symbol of the series itself), to the Cult of the Firehawk, to the Cult of the Sirens…
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This story begins with a man named Marcus Kincaid.
Marcus is the lecherous, amoral gun dealer of Pandora (the planet Borderlands is set on).
At the time of Borderlands 2, the Crimson Raiders are attempting to eliminate the bands of Bloodshot bandits terrorizing the settlers of Pandora. In this conflict, Marcus sees a grand business opportunity…
The following are the ECHO (audio) recordings detailing the event:
#1:
Marcus Kincaid:
“Dear [Roland,] I can’t help but notice the [Bloodshots] you are fighting pack some seeeeerious firepower. If you are going to have a chance against them, you’ll need to up your arsenal – you could always arm your men with some high-quality munitions from my store. If you buy from me, those [Bloodshots] will be dead in no time!”
As you’ll see in a moment, Marcus is trying to profit from both sides of the war and uses nearly the same message to do so.
#2:
Marcus Kincaid:
“Dear [Bloodshots,] I can’t help but notice the [Crimson Raiders] you are fighting pack some seeeeerious firepower. If you are going to have a chance against them, you’ll need to up your arsenal – you could always arm your men with some high-quality munitions from my store. If you buy from me, those [Crimson Raiders] will be dead in no time!”
Considering the fact that Marcus actually lives in Sanctuary–Crimson Raiders HQ–the bandits are more than a little suspicious…
#3:
Flanksteak–Bloodshot Leader:
“Bloodshots: Roland’s raiders are tearin’ us up. Their guns are just too [expletive] good. But I’ve come up with a solution to this problem: sack the [expletive] up and stop dying all the [expletive] time! And quit suggesting we buy weapons from the Marcus [expletive] – he lives in Sanctuary [the Crimson Raider HQ], so he’s just as much of a double-crossing, holier-than-thou [EXPLETIVE] as Roland and his raiders.”
To gain their trust and business, Marcus sends a “sampler” of weapons to the Bloodshots.
#4:
Marcus Kincaid:
“Hey, Bloodshots! I notice you’re not buying any of my guns. Maybe you’re worried my wares aren’t deadly enough for you. With that in mind, please accept this complimentary crate of Marcus Munitions. If you like what you find, maybe we can make a deal! ‘Once you go Marcus Munitions, you never go back…us munitions.’”
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” (2 Timothy 3:1-4)
The Bloodshots’ reaction to Marcus’ wares:
#5:
Bloodshot Bandit:
“Flanksteak! FLANKSTEAK! Can you – can you BELIEVE these guns Marcus gave us?! There’s a shotgun in here that shoots FIRE! [EXPLETIVE] FIRE! I been usin’ it to roast my food and girlfriends – Marcus is a – is a GOD!”
“And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” (Leviticus 10:2)
“But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.” (Jeremiah 10:10-11)
[continued] “Me and the boys got an idea – a good idea, you see? Great idea. We build him a shrine. Big shrine. Beautiful shrine. And he’ll keep givin’ us guns. More guns! MORE GUNS! MORE GUUUUNS!”
“And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” (Acts 19:23-28)
After construction of this shrine to Marcus, “The Gunbringer,” we get to hear a recording of the Bloodshots’ worship:
#6:
Bloodshot Bandit:
“Chant louder, boys! Marcus can’t hear us! GUNS! GUNS! GUNS! GUNS! GUNS! WE LOVE YOU, MARCUS THE GUNBRINGER! WE LOVE YOUUUU!”
This scene is reminiscent of the confrontation between Elijah and the Prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
“And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.” (1 Kings 18:26-29)
To recap, Marcus wants to profit from both sides of the Bloodshot/Crimson Raiders war (betraying the city he lives in-Sanctuary-as a result). However, even though the Crimson Raiders are winning by using Marcus’ armaments, the Bloodshots refuse to deal with him.
To overcome this temporary obstacle to future business, Marcus sends the Bloodshots a complimentary crate of weapons from his store (at least one of which harnesses elements like fire). The bandits are amazed by this level of technology and regard Marcus as a (capital-G) God. They then build a gigantic shrine in his honor–worshiping him–in an effort to acquire “More guns! MORE GUNS! MORE GUUUUNS!“‘
Let’s take a closer look at that shrine:
“Shrine of the Gunbringer“
First, I’d like to point out some of the imagery surrounding the statues (AKA idols) of Marcus, the Gunbringer.
The largest idol in particular echoes depictions of several pagan god/goddesses.
Marcus’ pose is similar to common depictions of gods/goddesses such as Kali (below).
Kali/Mahakali.
All of the statues are seated in the “Lilita Asana” pose of the Buddha/Buddhism (source).
Marcus seated in the Lilita Asana pose.
Laughing Buddha in Lilita Asana.
Another view of Marcus in Lilita Asana.
Also, for those interested in occultic imagery (a subject we don’t typically cover on this website), a third eye is etched into the foreheads of the Marcus idols. An eye also happens to be the symbol of the Bloodshots, and is seen behind the main statue.
The eye etched into the uppermost idol’s forehead.
Depiction of an eye–the symbol of the Bloodshots.
Moving on, there are several messages written in blood along the walls of the Shrine of the Gunbringer.
“WE DIE – YOU DIE“, “MARCUS – GUNBRINGER” and a blood-smeared eye are all present…
“He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” (Revelation 13:10)
The main feature of the Shrine of the Gunbringer is the sacrificial pit.
“And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.” (Psalm 106:36-39)
Beneath the message “MARCUS – GUNBRINGER” is a pit of sacrifice–presumably one of the methods of worship to the Gunbringer:
The pit.
At least one player must jump into this pit:
One player jumping into the pit.
The pit itself is deep and strewn with the bones of previous sacrifices.
Sacrificing another player is as easy as pressing a button:
Press the [E] key to sacrifice…
…and you’ll notice the hatch to the left closes.
The other player/players are then burned alive.
Notice the plume of smoke rising out of the hatch.
What this looks like from the inside:
The sacrifice is burned alive…
…and deconstructed to respawn.
“When the Lord thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” (Deuteronomy 12:29-32)
Finally, after sacrificing other players (or yourself–if you can pull it off), you are rewarded with a shower of money, Eridium (a rare resource) and high-quality guns:
The “loot” flows from out of the skull’s mouth.
An example of one of the many guns that can be given.
“For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.” (Jeremiah 10:3-5)
“What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.” (1 Corinthians 10:19-21)
Article Summary:
- Marcus is THE gun dealer of Pandora (the planet Borderlands is set on). He seeks to profit from the war between the Crimson Raiders and the Bloodshot bandits who terrorize Pandora by selling weapons to both parties. By doing this, he betrays the city he lives in (Sanctuary–Crimson Raiders HQ). (2 Timothy 3:1-4)
- When the bandits refuse to deal with him, he sends a complimentary crate of weapons (at least one of which harnesses elements like fire) to pique their interest.
(Leviticus 10:2) - Amazed by the armaments sent, the bandits literally recognize Marcus as a “GOD.” (Jeremiah 10:10-11) / (Deuteronomy 8:19)
- To get “More guns! MORE GUNS! MORE GUUUUNS!“, the bandits build a shrine to their new God: Marcus, the Gunbringer. (Acts 19:23-28) / (2 Kings 17:9-12)
The Bloodshots worship Marcus in two primary ways:
- Chanting praises unto his name. (1 Kings 18:21-24) / (1 Kings 18:26-29)
- Ritual human sacrifice. (Psalm 106:36-39) / (1 Corinthians 10:19-21)
- This sacrifice usually takes the form of people being burned alive. (Deuteronomy 12:29-32) /(Ezekiel 36:18-19)]
- Finally, if the player also engages in this act of worship, they are showered with “loot” like Eridium (a rare resource used to upgrade the players’ storage capabilities), money and high-powered weapons. The more people sacrificed, the greater the reward. (Jeremiah 10:3-5) / (Isaiah 46:6-7) / (Isaiah 45:20)
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Video Games and the Bible 