some replies to John Hughes

From: David Cake <dave_at_difference.com.au>
Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 14:08:57 +0800


>To what extent do the
>scholarly documents on 'parts' or souls reflect popular belief?

        I don't think your average person could necessarily quote the details correctly. But I think they are aware of it, and some aspects are well entrenched in the popular mind (the idea of the snake part, for example, probably forms the basis of many smutty euphemisms and jokes).

>Do Lunars treat the discourse on souls as literally and as
>unpoetically as our own debate has thus far?

        Its a framework that many of their most sacred myths hang on (the Descent of the Goddess, for example). As such, its is both a high sacred mystery, and something that no doubt Lunar theologians argue about in exasperating dry detail. Compare the tripartite nature of the Christian deity.

>Can normal people lose parts of their
>souls? What happens when they do?

        Yes, sure, but losing a part makes you less than human, and often kills you. Depends what part. Undead, for example, have lost some parts. Some illnesses attack particular soul parts.

        Normal people may be said to have a very weak part, though, or a broken or diseased part.

>Is the Goddess Just? What *is* the
>Justice of the Goddess?

        The goddess is compassionate. Yelm was just, and so is the Empire built on Yelmic principles. Compassion and Justice are often considered to be opposite.

         The goddess offers compassion to those who cannot defend themselves, for those who are poor (even if their poverty is their own fault, somehow), and even offers a chance to those who do not deserve it (the Xaroni) if they ask. This isn't Just, certainly not in the Yelmic sense.

        The Justice of the Goddess is to temper the Justice of Yelm with compassion.

	Cheers
		David

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