(Much interesting God Learning excised, in regretful obedience of Rule One ... )
> The theist/animist axis would share a belief in an Immanent Divine
> existence, differing in whether the Divine spark flows out of each living
> thing (animism) or into them (theism).
Very good !!
> Actually, I'd say that the sorcerous mindset says that the Divine is
> Singular and Transcendent, dwelling in a place which *no* mortal can reach
> by their own actions. The Divine has established laws that we must follow,
> and if we follow those laws precisely then when we die, if we die, then the
> Divine will grab us and join us with It, totally engulfing us and our
> memories into Its identity and memories.
Very interesting ; unfortunately, the Malkioni & Zzaburi Laws themselves are immanent, which seems to ruin your suggestion as an absolute expression of the sorcerous mindset.
Also, we face two basic questions of Malkionism :
Does God exist ?
Is God Material in Nature ? (The God Learners believed that he is, BTW)
Also, to state that the Divine dwells 'in a place which *no* mortal can reach by [his] own actions' is a doctrinal matter, best discussed at a Council of Malkionism. The Hrestoli might accuse you of heresy, though, so beware ...
Actually the Brithini believe something which is both similar *and* radically opposed to what you suggest.
To paraphrase :
Sorcery has established laws that we must follow, and if we follow those laws precisely then we will not die, and we will seize Sorcery and join it with us, totally engulfing its powers and reality into our identity and memories.
Both Malkion and Zzabur did precisely this, BTW.
> Mysticism isn't as clear to me, but
> if it's modeled on earth mysticism then the idea is for the individual to
> perfect itself and commune with Divine nature, and finally the earthly
> illusions will melt away like mist and the individual will find theirself as
> one of many Divine Beings.
Actually, I think that what you wrote about sorcery is better applied to mysticism.
> The sorcerous/mystical axis would both posit a transcendent Divine
> existence, differing in their opinion of whether the Divine Entity is
> singular or multiple.
Pure sorcery posits no such Divine Essence, and in pure mysticism, well, that's a bit of a toughie ; but it seems that all Entity and Existence (whether Divine, immanent, transcendent or otherwise) is part of the Illusion of the World and should ideally be un-realised/refuted/transcended.
So I disagree.
An Axis of Matter to/from Un-Realisation perhaps ?
cheers,
Julian Lord
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