Re: unillimuniated on Arkat

From: Alex Ferguson <abf_at_yeats.ucc.ie>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 14:59:05 GMT


Ian Thomson:
> Arkat: Illuminated or not?
>
> Definately says he IS in Cults of Terror, although of course we may
> end up arguing over definitions

I'll say. My on-going problem with your piece/position is that you cling to this datum about _Arkat_, without ever question in what sense he _was_ Illuminated -- we agree he's not a _Nysalorean_ Illuminant, yes? -- and from this proceed to an assumption that "Arkatism" and Nysalorean Illumination are interchangeable, or at the very most, are nuances of distinction. I agree with you that the situation could be a darn sight clearer (though, what do you expect about the Mysteries of the Universe?), but is it at least clear that the above is a non sequitur?

> Since Illumination is not clearly defined here is a MAJOR
> PROPOSITION:
> Arkat and Nysalor are both Illuminated, however the manner of their
> Illumination differs so much that it can hardly be seen as the same
> thing, other than a few shared Illumination abilites

Your proposition is really neither here nor there. You can say anything you like about Arkat, really -- who the heck knows for certain? What's important is the nature of Arkatism as it exists, and that is not well served by being a footnote in an article on Nysalorean Illumination, if only in terms of giving the correct 'Gloranthocentric consciousness' colour for both, _even if_ the two were ultimately at bottom interchangeable, which they are assuredly not.

Slainte,
Alex.


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