Religious allusions in Final Fantasy

The Final Fantasy series has drawn inspiration from various real-world religions, and incorporated elements of them into the fiction that makes up the series.

Final Fantasy IV
The Tower of Babil refers to the biblical Tower of Babel (מגדל בבל Migdal Bavel) built by a united humanity, with the intention of reaching the heavens. This is an interesting allusion, as the Tower of Babil housed a great power from the moon, and both God from the Genesis story and the Giant of Babil had the intention of 'confounding' humanity, so to speak.

Cain's name is from the Genesis story of Cain and Abel (קין והבל Kayin v'Hevel), in which Cain, in his jealousy and envy of his brother, betrayed him by slaying him (fratricide). This is somewhat reflected in the story element wherein Cain repeatedly betrays his adoptive brother, Cecil Harvey (ironically to Cecil's real brother, Golbez).

Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII draws heavily from Lurian Kabalā (Jewish Mysticism). The main antagonist's name, Sephiroth, is Hebrew in origin (ספירות Sfirót) and means 'Counting', or 'Enumeration'. Many have compared this aspect to the name to the Sephiroth Clones, each given their own number. The name Jenova has been shown to have Hebrew and Latin components. One is taken from the unpronounceable Hebrew name of god, יהוה, which is often romanized into Jehovah (even though the name is not meant to be pronounceable). This is combined with the Latin word nova, meaning 'new'. Thus Jenova is, in a sense, a 'new god'.

Sephiroth factors in through Kabalism. The ten aspects of God and creation are known as Sephiroth, and are often arranged in a unique pattern known as the Tree of Life. These aspects are "Crown, Wisdom, Understanding, Benevolence, Strength, Beauty, Eternity, Splendor, Foundation (Vessel) and Royalty (Kinghood). "

Sephiroth summoned Meteor in order to create a huge wound to the Planet, thereby condensing the entire Lifestream at the Northern Crater, which would allow him to ascend to Godhood. It is often said in Kabalā that "If one tried to pour all of infinity into a vessel, the vessel would break. It would fissure, and the universe would rupture into a flowing, yet familiar pattern (the Tree of Life). This principle would also apply to Ultimecia's desire to unite all of existence and reform it to her liking in Final Fantasy VIII.

Final Fantasy X
The downfall of Yevon alludes to the idea that organized religion is corrupt, and has followers worshipping lies.

Final Fantasy XIII
The concept of L'Cie is an allusion to Hinduism. According to the principle of samsāra, life on earth is a curse, and ideally a sentient being must eventually ascend, over many lifetimes, to nirvāna, a more ideal, though not earthly, state of being. Nirvāna is comparable to Crystal Stasis in this respect.

The means of escaping samsāra are known as Atman, like a Focus. There are many paths to ascension, although it is never clearly stated which a person must take. One of them is alluded to in Oerba, with Vanille's robot Bhakti. Bhakti comes from the word 'bhakta' (love) and refers to the idea that one way to achieve salvation is through personal devotion to a deity (Fal'Cie).