I somewhat disagree with that.
Here's a post I found:
[spoiler] Right. I know that everybody and their grandmother have already posted about this, but a friend of mine and I were discussing it tonight, and through our combined (lack of) wits, have come up with a bit of a theory.
Nameless god = Judeo-Christan God
Shadow = Jesus
Yes, I realize that this probably has been said before, but we've come up with quite a few ways to tie it all together/supporting evidence, so, without further ado...
(And please excuse any misinformation. The majority of my reading of this book, which was only read through once, was done before bed. Naturally, this means that I was getting more than a bit sleepy through parts of it, and my recollection is a bit foggy. Combine that with the fact that I'm not a Christian, and I think I get a bit of room for error.)
How Is The Nameless God 'God'?
1. First of all, the whole nameless thing is one of the major factors. Unless we bring Lilith into the equation, the Judeo-Christian God is in fact nameless.
2. Secondly, the fact that the details of his appearance are hazy, at best, in the memory of the people who meet him. And let no man paint or sculpt God's image.
3. More on the whole 'people forgetting him' thing. I believe that there's a point in the Bible (Exodus?) where God states that no man may look upon him, 'face to face', and 'as a peer'. That could be why the gods all seem to remember the nameless one, but humans like Shadow forget him instantly.
4. As for the wealth issue, I came up with a strange idea concerning that. Consider it a possible 'jab' at the current state of Christianity, and its related religions. Look at the state of the church today. People live a life of sin six days of the week, come in on Sunday, donate a few dollars, and think that that buys them absolvement. The church is supposed to be God's house, and all that goes on there is the exchange of money for forgiveness. So naturally, God in this book, would be drawn to the movement of currency. It's all that he knows anymore. In today's day and age, it's money that people are worshipping, and looking to for forgiveness, not him. They believe in the dollar. Now I dare one of you to tell me that Gaiman would resist the urge to make that witty little observation.
5. This goes for the Shadow being Jesus thing, as well. I don't want anybody telling me that God and Jesus aren't 'struggling deities'. Truthfully, in today's world, they are. All deities are. That's the entire underlying moral to American Gods, in my eyes. People are forgetting beliefs, and turning to modern creature comforts for that warm spot that keeps them going. Let me put it to you this way. If tomorrow, two wars broke up, and everybody had to fight in one, tell me which you (honestly) think that the majority of the population would fight in. The one for the right to believe in God, or the one to keep television, the internet, radio, automobils, etc.? I thought so.
How Is Shadow Jesus?
1. Well firstly, there's the obvious, with his time on the tree. Nine days. Nine days, I'm informed, is the longest that a person survived on the cross (Jesus being 2-3, I think it was?).
2. Beyond the time, there's the whole idea of his being on that tree itself. There's no denying that (Jesus or not) that was intended to be at least somewhat reminiscent of a crucifix scene.
3. If somebody tells me that it was a Dogwood tree, I'll smile.
4. Throughout the entire book, all of the gods make comments to Shadow about his being special, and such. A majority then proceed to agree to come with Wednesday, only because of Shadow/his actions. I realize that this is a bit of a stretch, but consider them his Apostles, for a split second. He's crucified, and they all leave him on the cross. He comes back, they're all suddenly there for him, and he just forgives them, without a word about it.
5. Taking the above a bit further, two words. Wednesday. Judas.
6. The forgiveness Shadow shows throught the book, while not a solid 'THIS IS WHY' example sticks in my mind. Namely, the scene in the diner where Wednesday shortchanges the girl, and Shadow passes her a $10. Wednesday then proceeds to list her sins, and Shadow simply replies with a, "That doesn't make it right." Also, the fact that he so easily forgave Laura. Uh huh.
7. The resurrection after he was crucified, by Easter. The Christian celebration of Jesus' rebirth. Coincidence?
8. When Shadow was hanging from the tree, and Mr. Town comes. He takes the stick, and jabs it into Shadow's side, not penetrating skin. This stick, of course intended to be thrown as a spear, in honor of a pagan god. Mr. Town takes a second look, and blood is pouring from a wound in Shadow's side.
9. I suppose I could really stretch things here, and get into Zorya Polunochnaya thing. She gives Shadow the silver coin. Silver coins, eh, Judas connection, blah blah. You all know how it works.
10. It could also be considered following in his father's footsteps ('God' in our theory... hear us out) when Shadow faces his trials after death. He says that all that he has to give is his name. Doing so, he becomes a nameless one too, and interestingly enough, it's after this that he starts consciously using and understanding 'powers' (ie. moving Chad Mulligan's mind, etc.).
11. The quote that Neil chose to open the book also struck an odd chord. It was something to the effect of Christ and the Apostles never coming to North America. Shadow's born overseas, and comes to the U.S. He loses his name, and shortly thereafter heads back 'home'.
Tie-Togethers (The Stuff That Makes This Crap Make Sense):
1. Wednesday didn't actually say that he's Shadow's father. Shadow asked if Wednesday needed a son, and Wednesday said, "I needed you," which is nicely vague and troubling to a theorist.
2. But, let's assume for a minute, that Wednesday really does believe that he's Shadow's father. Now let's also assume that he didn't impregnate Shadow's mother, but she pulled a Virgin Mary. Wednesday goes in, thinks that Shadow is his own child, but ultimately, Shadow is his undoing. Wouldn't that coup be a nice comment on the way Christianity rolled in and cut paganism off at so many passes, in the early days?
3. Assuming that Shadow is a modern Jesus, and the nameless god is the Christian God, it's safe to say that Shadow is an agent of God. Further commentary on Christianity's destruction of the pagan beliefs, in an agent of the Christian All-Father thwarting the pagan All-Father, and being the motivation in the death of his 'agent' (Loki).
4. Shadow's 'real' name was Baldur Moon? Baldur, the name of Odin's son. Following the Virgin Mary theory, with Wednesday believing that he's the father, that's easily explained away. And Moon? Zorya gave him the Moon. There's your answer as to why he has the name Baldur Moon, which (if we're correct), was a very, very nice diversionary tactic on Neil's part. It led people down a completely opposite train of thought. And as for the whole Moon before Zorya thing? These are gods, people. Don't question a theory that fits nicely. [/spoiler]
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