The Red Emperor: Levels of truth

From: Mikael Raaterova <ginijji_at_telia.com>
Date: Fri, 5 May 2000 13:25:13 +0200

I've following the RE debate with growing interest. From the ideas vented on the Digest i've concocted my own Truth.

Here are three really really true Truths:

• The Great Self is what differentiates Moonson from all other beings and makes him singular (and post-Sheng, the Great Self _is_ what constitutes Moonson)
• Moonson _has been_ continuous these 400 years (even though Moonson may not have been _manifest_ all of the time)
• There is no way of determining whether a Red Emperor actually has the Great Self of Moonson or not (the Goddess Herself may know, but that is irrelevant since she can't communicate that knowledge to another being without it being (mis-)interpreted by that being) [1]

[1] An essence/nature can only ever be observed in its effects. Hence, if you

     can observe the effects which you believe are attributes of a certain
     essence/nature, you may conclude that the essence/nature is present. If
     something else (purposely) mimics those effects, you may 
mistakenly conclude
     that the essence/nature is present.

For all practical and game-friendly purposes, whoever passes all the necessary tests and is proclaimed Red Emperor _is_ Moonson. Whether he could pass those tests _because_ he had the Great Self of Moonson, or whether he received the Great Self of Moonson _because_ he passed the tests should be a matter of belief and a cause a controversy within the Empire, among with other various beliefs about the Red Emperor.

If he was slain before he could pass the tests, he obviously a) wasn't Moonson or b) planned it that way, making the treasonous forces within the Empire unveil themselves or c) had a bad day (but cheer up, he'll return; he always does).

Hypothetically, if an enthroned RE actually isn't Moonson (which, Goddess forbid, never happens, of course), the Goddess will, eventually, by some means, right this ungodly wrong.

With this, everyone can have their cake and eat it, too.

• --
• - Mikael Raaterova [.sig omitted on legal advice]

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