Divination is used to gain information that the worshiper's god knows. The god is incapable of revealing what he or she does not know. The problem lies in determining just what a god knows. Most consistently a god understands the events with which he or she was involved - those things that happened to him or her in youth and in ascension to godhood. Secondly, priest and initiates are *EXTENSIONS OF THE GOD* (my emphasis) and can tell the god many things through prayer. Thus a god will know what has happened to his priests and, to a much lesser extent, his initiates. He will know if they are alive or dead and can tell what killed them. The god does not know what a priest or initiate is thinking and cannot deduce motivations. A god knows facts. A god cannot invade anyone's mind though he or she will know when a worshipper has lost faith. Other knowledge given to a god by a priest or initiate must be volunteered through prayer.
Now, as Mark observes this last passage causes some paradoxes. 'Loosing faith' is a highly subjective thing (in most mundane and modern religions) and yet the god, which 'only knows facts' is aware of it.
Now, I have always taken a stronger position than most on the amount that gods know. (See back issues of the DAILY for more on this, ad infinitum, ad nauseam) But I think that with two extensions of the rule all can be made clear and we can have an improved definition of Illumination too.
But since you don't have to pray to your god (other than ritual prayers required of you) you can be a purely worldly, form-following worshipper with no more true piety than a God-Learner as long as you do not try to lie to the god or break the cult rules and restrictions.
A pious follower will pray regualarly and pour out all that is in their hearts to their god. This succors them and increases the god's knowledge and power. But it ain't compulsory.
2) When it says 'lost faith' it means: broken the god's and his cult's rules. If you destroy books and are a Lhankor Mhy initiate or engage in an ambush and are a Humakt Sword then you are going against your god's ways and he will know it the next time you pray at the latest.
This doesn't necessarily mean that you have been an evil person or committed a 'sin' (except that doing anything against your god may be a definition of 'sin') but it does mean you have broken the magic that keeps you linked to your god. A purely ritual failure (becoming 'unclean' by touching a forbidden substance) is just as serious as a major moral crime for the purposes of breaking the link with your particular divine one.
But when you are Illuminated you can break both these limits. You can consciously lie to your god. (He or she may stop believing you when it has other evidence: "No, Lord I was never near the broo encampment. Fyordis saw me there? He must be mistaken....") And you can break cult laws without breaking your link with the god. Formal excommunication by a living priest is the only way to get you out of the cult then.
Comments?
Actor and Genius.
AKA Theophilus, Prince-Archbishop of the Far Isles
(Arms: Purpure, an open book proper, without clasps. On the dexter page the
Greek letter Alpha or. On the sinister page the letter Omega of the same.
Motto: nulla spes sit in resistendo.)
Ask me about the Far Isles Medieval Society: Better living through pan-medieval anachronisms.
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