Re: Re: Becoming a Devotee

From: Graham Robinson <graham_at_...>
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 13:56:24 +0000

>Sure the Barntar devotee is out with you in the fields, but he is
>most likely helping you in your fields, ploughing your strips,
>clearing your stones, not his. In return for this you gift him a
>tithe of the field he helped plough etc.

This seems a good example of where I disagree with you. While the Barntar devotee is working on your fields, what are you doing? Other farm work, most likely. Given most food is communal, the extra person working on the fields (any fields) increases the clans overall production. A Barntar devotee (along with many Ernalda and Orlanth sub-cults, the hunter cults, etc.) all contribute directly to the clan's economic needs. Comparing this to medieval christians (who were either self-supporting (economically neutral) or required outside support) seems flawed. Now, some of the devotee's time must be spent on directly religious duties, but there aren't enough holy days to fill 60%. Much of his time must be spent in helping the clan with his magic and skill. His extra abilities should make up for the missing time.

Many other devotees would fall more into the pool of 'other people we support'. Humakti would be amongst the weapon thanes, for example. A prosperous clan may be able to support large numbers of such people - 10% does not seem unreasonable. Not all will be devotees, but many will be. Of course, when the clan's fortunes fall, they will seek to rid themselves of as many of these extra mouths as possible.

I would support a figure of 1.5% for all the less economically useful people - shamans, godi, merchants, etc. - but I could see as many as 20% of adults being devotees (mainly of farming or hunting cults) in a prosperous clan. 5% would to my mind only be true of a very poor clan.

Cheers,
Graham

-- 
Graham Robinson
graham_at_...

Albion Software Engineering Ltd.

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