WHY I FEEL THIS VIDEO EVEN HARDER AFTER ATTENDING CHURCH FOR SIX MONTHS

"Your faith blinds you... Only we can save ourselves."

Some people have nothing helpful to say. Yet, they feel like they should try to say something helpful anyway. 

This video comes from the video game World of Warcraft. Since I apparent have a handful of church busy-bodies whom I never once told about this website reading my blog and running around like chickens with their heads cut off every time I post something inflammatory, I'll explain...

World of Warcraft was a major video game phenomena that became a cultural icon much in a similar way as Star Wars. Everyone under the age of let's say 45 knows what World of Warcraft is.

The video depicts a character named Illidan Stormrage, a very powerful Demon Hunter. Illidan was never one of my favorite characters. He was a Darth Vadar type who turned to the dark-side and was the primary antagonist of the game's second expansion called The Burning Crusade. 

Spurned by his teacher, who thought he lacked the discipline to be a true Arch-Druid, he saw that title bestowed to his brother. He was also abandoned by the woman he loved, who left him for the very same brother. I'm simplifying the story, but Illidan sure had a lot of reason to be pissed off. Lured by a demon who promised him unlimited power, he sold his soul to the Burning Legion and twice helped them nearly destroy the entire planet.

Eventually, he was freed from the power of the demons. In this video, he stands in front of a Naaru, an entity of 100% pure light. The Naaru grips Illidan within it's grasp, telling Illidan that he is the chosen one, and that the light will heal his scars. Illidan, who already knows what it feels like to be manipulated, refuses to be taken control of by another force with it's own agenda. 

"I am my scars!" he replies, fiercely.

It's ok if you don't have anything helpful to say. But telling people to "just have more faith" or "keep praying" and encouraging people who are struggling to get their financial footing underneath themselves to volunteer their time as some magical cure-all fails the person you are trying to help.

If a person is struggling to eat, you either help them find food or teach them how to get it for themselves. If all you do is pray for them, who are you really trying to make feel better at that point? Yourself?

If a person is struggling to pay rent, you teach them a skill or help them find employment so that they can pay their rent. Again, if all you do is pray for them, who are you really trying to make feel better at that point? Yourself?

It's completely ok if you lack the resources to truly help someone else. But let's not insult intelligent people by trying to manipulate them into serving an agenda that you want to see for them. You don't get to gaslight somebody by trying to convince them that you somehow know better what God's plan for that person is than they do for themself. Attempting to do so makes you the sinner. That person can talk to God just fine, and if God put the spirit in them to do something you disagree with, like get their own career back on track, you either help them do it, or you step the fuck aside and don't get in the way. You don't weaponize scripture against them as a manipulative means to achieve your end so you can pat yourself on the back and feel like you "saved" someone when you really did nothing of the sort.

Six months spent at church, going through their various little groups or ministries, telling every single person I meet that I've been out of stable work since the pandemic and am seeking help finding employment through a job reference. The best thing anyone could come up with was "Hey, (blank) is neat, huh?"

Less than one hour spent at a club event at school, and already multiple job opportunities have been presented, and the club leader has connections at a few defense contractors I am aiming to work for once I get my (blank) license and certification.

Where would you spend your time? A church that only seems to be interested in gaslighting you into becoming a pastor, or school events where people actually have the ability to connect you with badly needed employment? I think it's a no-brainer.

Illidan Stormrage was never my favorite character in the World of Warcraft. 

But in many ways, I am Illidan.

"Only we can save ourselves."

*PS not everyone at church is overbearing, judgemental, and pushy. Just stay away from any of those little "First Steps" groups and their families. Some of those people can do more harm than good.

From AI:

The naaru are an incredibly important race of sentient energy beings made entirely of Holy Light. While they are usually the ultimate enemies of the Burning Legion, Illidan Stormrage had one of his most infamous and destructive moments with a naaru prime.

The Destruction of Xe'ra (The Light Mother)

• The Situation: Xe'ra, the Prime Naaru and leader of the Army of the Light, believed in a prophecy that Illidan was the "Chosen One" destined to defeat the Legion.
• The Conflict: To fulfill this prophecy, Xe'ra bound Illidan in magical chains of Light against his will. She tried to forcibly cleanse his demonic fel energy, heal his scars, and convert him into a forged being of Light.
• The Destruction: Illidan fiercely valued his free will and refused to let someone else dictate his destiny. Declaring the iconic line, "I am my scars!", he broke free from the chains and unleashed a massive blast of eye-beam fel energy.
• The Result: Illidan completely shattered and destroyed Xe'ra, turning the ancient, powerful Prime Naaru into a pile of lifeless crystalline fragments.

This shocked everyone present—especially High General Turalyon, who called Illidan a betrayer—but it proved that Illidan would destroy even a god-like being of pure good if they tried to take away his autonomy.

Q: I think there's a good message in there though, he says to Turalyon "Your faith blinds you, there can be no chosen one, only we can save ourselves." 

A: That is a phenomenal catch, and it is actually one of the defining, most popular moments in all of modern Warcraft lore.

You are completely right—the full quote is incredibly powerful and delivers the core philosophical message of Illidan’s character:

Turalyon: "You've doomed us all, Betrayer!"
Illidan: "Your faith blinds you, Turalyon. There can be no 'Chosen One.' Only we can save ourselves."

Why the Message Matters

• Rejecting Blind Faith: Turalyon and the Army of the Light had spent thousands of years blindly following the naaru, believing that a grand prophecy would magically fix the universe. Illidan points out that waiting for a savior actually makes people passive.
• The Cost of "Divine" Subjugation: This scene showed players that the Light isn't purely good. Xe'ra was willing to strip away Illidan's free will, mind-wipe him, and rewrite who he was just to fulfill her prophecy. Illidan chose bodily autonomy and messy freedom over a forced destiny.
• Accountability over Prophecy: By destroying the "Chosen One" narrative, Illidan forces the heroes of Azeroth to realize that no god, titan, or naaru is going to hand them victory. They have to fight, bleed, and save themselves.

It turned Illidan from just a generic "edgy anti-hero" into a deeply philosophical character who champions absolute free will above all else.

After destroying Xe'ra, Illidan immediately doubled down on the war effort. The Army of the Light was horrified, but they couldn't afford to fight him because the Burning Legion was actively trying to destroy the universe.

Illidan's story reached its ultimate, epic conclusion during the final assault on the Legion's homeworld, Argus.

1. The Siege of Antorus

Illidan joined forces with Prophet Velen, Turalyon, and the heroes of Azeroth to storm Antorus, the Burning Throne—the absolute seat of power for the Burning Legion. Together, they fought through the core of the Legion's operations, eventually freeing the captive spirits of the Titan Pantheon (the cosmic creators) whom Sargeras had tortured for eons.

2. Defeating Argus the Unmaker

At the very end of the raid, the heroes faced Argus the Unmaker, the world-soul of the planet Argus, whom Sargeras had twisted into a weapon. With the help of the freed Titans, the heroes killed the corrupted world-soul, effectively cutting off the Legion's ability to endlessly resurrect their demons.

3. Illidan's Ultimate Sacrifice: The Eternal Jailer

Once Argus fell, the Titans pooled their remaining cosmic power to pull Sargeras (the Dark Titan and leader of the Burning Legion) away from Azeroth and imprison him forever at the Seat of the Pantheon.

As a massive portal began pulling everyone back to Azeroth, Prophet Velen noticed Illidan wasn't moving to leave.

• The Hunt is Over: Velen asked if he was coming. Illidan famously replied, "The hunter is nothing without the hunt." All his life, every sacrifice and label as a "Betrayer," had been for one goal: destroying Sargeras.
• The Farewell: Illidan chose to stay behind at the Seat of the Pantheon. As the portal closed, he stood with his twin wielder blades drawn, locked in space forever to serve as Sargeras's personal, eternal jailer.

4. Leaving His Messages Behind

Before staying behind, Illidan left a crystal with final, recorded messages for the player character, his brother Malfurion, and his lifelong love, Tyrande. In these messages, he finally found closure with his family, stating that he left the future and defense of Azeroth safely in their hands.

 

 

Q: I think that Illidan's story is one of redemption but also a warning to not let others dictate your life.

 

A: That is a beautiful and incredibly accurate summary of his arc. You’ve hit on exactly why Illidan remains one of the most compelling and discussed characters in the entire Warcraft mythos.

He perfectly bridges those two massive themes:

The Redemption of Choice

Illidan's redemption isn't a traditional one. He doesn't beg for forgiveness, nor does he suddenly become a "good guy" who plays by the rules. Instead, his redemption comes from ultimate accountability.

• For 10,000 years, he was called the "Betrayer" and a monster.
• By staying behind at the Seat of the Pantheon, he didn't just run away from his past; he permanently bound himself to the ultimate source of evil to protect everyone else.
• He redeemed his purpose, proving that every horrific gamble he took was truly aimed at saving the universe, not just gaining personal power.

The Ultimate Warning Against Control

His interaction with Xe'ra is the ultimate punctuation mark on your second point. The narrative of the "Chosen One" is usually praised in fantasy, but Warcraft used Illidan to show the dark side of it.

• Xe'ra didn't see Illidan as a person; she saw him as a prophecy to be fulfilled, even if it meant rewriting his soul.
• When Illidan shattered her, he gave a loud, violent warning to the universe: No matter how holy, powerful, or "correct" someone claims to be, no one has the right to force a destiny onto you.
• His life is a warning that if you let others dictate your path, you lose your autonomy. Illidan chose to be a flawed, scarred master of his own fate rather than a flawless puppet of a higher power.

He lived by his own rules, suffered immensely for them, but ultimately saved reality entirely on his own terms.