Trying again: <sigh>
I thought I had already posted this to the Digest (in September,
before I started reading it again), but the recent discussion of
how Malkioni view saints' authority made me doubt it. In any
case, I think the situation is a little more complicated than the
feeling that some Malkioni are suspicious of saints, as theorized
by three people on the Digest recently. I'm not going to repost
the whole thing, just the part relevant to the present
discussion:
=0D
In the ancient world, many gentiles honored YHWH as much as they could, without converting to Judaism. They were called God-Fearers,= and were prime candidates for Christianity, which didn't require adherance to the Law (or circumcision). I expect that the Brithini way acquired some mortal human followers trying to leach off the success of the Brithini by obeying the Brithini Law as much as they could and acknowledging the one High God. The Brithini called these people the Apes (meaning both that they were deemed sub-human by the Brithini and that they "aped" the Brithini). They were thus higher than the normal run of humanity, whom the Brithini called "jumped-up monkey hsunchen." =
The Apes were prime candidates for Hrestol's message, since generations of such imitation had not given the imitators immortality. =
=0D
The Jewish God was a composite of various gods. Besides
YHWH (who was Moses' God), there is El (seen in names such as
Michael and Gabriel), and others. At some point, the ancient
priests decided that these were all different names for the same
God. Hrestol's God might likewise be a composite. I expect that
the Apes (or some of them) saw the Invisible God as the same as
their own Sky God Who Doesn't Do Anything. Thus, some of the
Saints may be of doubtful provenance. That they intercede just
like unquestioned Saints may be taken as proof that they had true
devotion to the one Invisible God.
=0D
Mystical traditions arose in all three of the monotheistic religions on Earth. Often, mystics taught that a person must study under a rightly-guided teacher who has esoteric wisdom before that person can approach God. There is a chain of rightly-guided teachers reaching back to a founder, who dispensed secret knowledge intelligible only to the prepared follower. =
(This pattern is also seen in Scientology and Buddhism, among
other religions.) In Malkionism, we can expect there are several
traditions of esoteric wisdom traced back to Arkat, Hrestol, or
even Malkion. These traditions of esoteric wisdom are secretive,
often persecuted, and clannish.
=0D
The Brithini correspond more closely to the Greek
philosophers than to any of the theistic religions. This is
because the Greek Prime Mover (though later identified as being
the same as YHWH, God the Father, and al-Lah) was a completely
useless and unapproachable God. The Brithini God is likewise
useless and unapproachable, and the Brithini deny that he is
worthy of worship. Sure, their neighbors call the Brithini
"atheists," but lots of people were called atheists in the
ancient world, just as a general epithet. And, viewed from the
perspective of a Crusading Rokari, the Brithini are practically
atheists. In modern terminology, they are Deists, like most of
the U.S.A.'s Founding Fathers.
=0D
An important corollary of the Brithini-Greek analogy is
this: the Big Deal about Hrestol was that he was a Brithini who
taught devotion. The "New Rites" are rites of devotion. Hrestol
taught that the Creator is not just some unimaginable being
beyond the universe. He is all around us, closer than your own
nose, and he knows what you do. You can approach him, even if
you cannot touch him. You can see his Glory and experience
Wonder in his works. The created world, including the visible
gods, is not worthy of such devotion, although pagans give
devotion to their gods. The mark of the modern Malkioni is
devotion to the Invisible God.
=0D
The morality Hrestol introduced (which Nick Brooke
discovered) was a result of this new devotion. The Invisible God
was no longer an apathetic clockmaker, he was omnipresent and
watching. As a result, you should show your devotion to him by
acts of devotion. Part of devotion is Doing the Right Thing,
following the Malkioni Law but also have a moral sense. In
Hrestol's new vision, Solace is no longer "an attitude of inner
peace or mystical ambience," but a place we can get to if we
behave in a moral way.
=0D
Hrestol's new plan sows the seeds for all later Malkionism. =
Some people insist that this God is the same as the one discovered by Malkion, and thus he is approachable through Reason. Others deny that human minds can comprehend him, and insist on devotion. Some in their weakness try to follow the paths of the Saints, who point the way toward utter devotion and righteousness. Others reject over-dependence on the Saints as idolatry, because devotion to the Saints mistakes the sign-post for the goal. Some see this world as a distraction at best, evil at worst, and insist on otherworldliness. Others see the duty to build a just society. Some see an Angry God, punishing sinners who can never measure up, while others see a Merciful God, who shows devoted souls the way to Solace. =
=0D
Most people and groups, of course, fall between the extremes on these issues. However, I think that's a fair summary of the variables in Malkioni theology. Everything else, like caste rules and Tapping prohibitions, follows Logically (at least in the minds of the adherents of the various faiths). Boiled down, the Big Issues are: =
(1) methods of approaching God (devotion & mysticism v. Reason, Saints & icons v. purity of heart), =
(2) God's commands (what's the priority: individual salvation or a just society, and what is required for either goal?), and =
(3) Is God Angry, and If So, Why? =
=0D
Group Approach Commands; Means Angry? Why? New Hrestoli Reason Both; Progress Not at all Old Hrestoli Balance Individual; good works Yes: Apostacy Syanorans Devotion Individual; devotion Not really Henotheists Devotion Society; tolerance No Galastar Balance Society; order Not at all Eastpoint Devotion Society; enlightenment Sad for Man Boristi Reason Individual; esoterica Yes: At chaos Galvosti Reason Individual; learning No Rokari Devotion Society; stability Yes: About sin Sedalpists Devotion Individual; Holy Law Yes: About sin Holtzangi Balance Society; Loyalty No
The New Hrestoli have a very optimistic view, like a combination of a typical American utopian sect and 1920's Communists. Progress is an official church doctrine meaning both individual progress between castes and also Progress of the Church and the World. =
The "Old" Hrestoli (Hrestoli outside Loskalm) have a very workable balance between the conflicting approaches to God. Many church doctrines can be explained rationally. The liturgy and some central mysteries only make sense after meditation, though. =
This group has let the good of society slip from its former position of importance, preferring to let individuals make their own way. Apostacy is their unforgivable sin. An example of the Old Hrestoli is the Old Seshnelan Church of Chivalry.
The Syanorans believe that Reason is secondary because Reason's teachings are dry and sterile. Likewise, Society is secondary because its importance pales beside the importance of Solace. They tend to be rather selfish and stick to the letter of the Law as it relates to social obligations.
The Henotheists are the most diverse and hardest to pin down. In general, they value tolerance but strongly reject central ecclesiastical authority. Tolerance is a virtue because no human mind can grasp the ungraspable. Most Henotheists have a joyful devotion to their patrons, whom they see as avatars or at least agents of the Invisible God.
In Galastar, Galagern and his predecessors have stressed Reason as an antidote to the sometimes frightening expressions of pure Devotion. Society must be well ordered, as the Invisible God commanded.
In Eastpoint and Riverjoin, the official line is Balance, but the popular mood is for simple Devotion. The cataclysm of the Ban destroyed faith in Reason. Enlightenment is a mystical event which enables leaders to properly govern the society. =
The few remaining Boristi struggle to maintain their hidden traditions of esotoric wisdom. They are accomplished rationalizers, of necessity. Without a society to call their own, they must concentrate on individuals. Persecuted, they believe in a stern God who tests his true followers and punishes their enemies in the fullness of time.
The Galvosti likewise focus on the individual, but reject the idea of esoteric wisdom. Rather, wisdom is a matter of learning the sacred texts common to most Malkioni. Like the Boristi, they rationalize well. They Tap non-Malkioni out of mercy, believing that the spell improves pagans' chances of reincarnation as Malkioni.
The Rokari are, as David Hall put it, the cheesy Errol Flynn version of Catholicism. God is very angry (that's why Seshnela fell), and you'd better stick to your place in society. You'll never meet His expectations, or even the expectations of His Saints; many don't even try. Reason is suspect due to its overuse by the God Learners. =
The Sedalpists are a bit of a mystery. I envision their liturgy as a call-and-response involving audience participation. =
As semi-pacifists, they're obviously less concerned about society than about saving their precious souls.
The Holtzangi are even more of a mystery. Derived from Old
Hrestoli stock, yet permitting some Tapping, they must see the
good of society as paramount. Thus, Loyalty (the Fourth Law) is
key.
=0D
On the "Saints & Icons" issue, I think you'll find unquestioning and simplistic attitudes in eastern Fronela. (The Lunars, Aeolians, etc. are Malkioni completely fallen into idolatry.) In Jonatela, even the bishops don't know that such aids to devotion are not ends in themselves. There's a strong iconoclastic streak in Rokarism, but there's also an unease about, and distaste for, icons and relics among the New Hrestoli, Boristi, and Galvosti. =
=0D
Of course, it's not sufficient just to smash the icons, but
that's what gets the masses stirred up. It also is a step
towards rejecting the false influence of Saints when what is
needed is unthinking devotion. Since all anyone cares about is
personal salvation ;-), the effect on society of this attitude is
irrelevant.
=0D
On a side note, consider the attitudes of the Mostali. All Hrestol-based Malkioni recognize the importance of paradox. =
Human minds are too puny to imagine the Invisible God, but paradox is a pointer beyond rational modes of thinking to the ineffable Mystery. This strikes Mostali as absolutely perverse, because Paradox is their trickster. They hate Paradox. =
Describing the Prime Mover with paradoxes is, to their way of
thinking, error. Of course, humans are not merely Malfunctioning
but completely Broken, so a little error doesn't change Mostali
opinion.
=0D
Hrestol being the kind of figure he is, the early Hrestoli
surely told tales of his miraculous birth. Learned personages of
the time saw these tales as being pretty allegories, but the
common folk took them as unvarnished truth. The same pattern has
continued to the modern era. One such [unfinished] tale follows:
=0D
Soon after Xemela conceives, she comes across a bear in the woods. "Do not be afraid," the bear growls. "The cub you carry is strong and the father of many." Xemela is greatly puzzled by this. =
When Xemela is great with child, she wakes to find an ash tree filling the room. "Do not be afraid," the ash tree whispers, "for the seedling within you will spread his branches over the whole earth." Xemela is terrified by this.
When Xemela is feeling her first pangs of labor, the roof of the palace is torn off by an angel with fiery wings. "Do not be afraid," the angel sings, "for the spirit about to leave you will achieve the highest heaven." Xemela's pangs ease, and she completes the labor without pain.
When Hrestol's head crowns, the rivers run backward in their beds. When Hrestol's whole head emerges, the trees put forth fruit out of season. When Hrestol's body emerges, all the birds sing. When the midwife cuts the cord, the land under Froalar's palace rises up and becomes a mountain. =
[Then 3 more things happen].=
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