Posted August 15, 2009
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http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Horus_Heresy
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Please tell me no one believes the incarnated deity is unique to the Judeo-Christian tradition? See also: Aeneus and the Aeneid, Incarnations of Buddha in Jataka Tales, every third Kung Fu movie
Also, as mentioned, Divine Right of Kings (also in Asia the somewhat analogous Mandate of Heaven). The only thing borrowed from Christian history is the Inquisition. Most of the rest of the Imperium (and the Warhammer 40k world in general) owes more to the Asimov's Foundation Trilogy (and its future religion based on Nuclear Energy or something) than any other book, especially religious ones. The imperial ecumenopolises are likely modelled on Trantor.
Ah. Slept to long, and as a result is a bit dazed. But with that elaboration it was easier to get what you meant.