Re: Are Gloranthans Human?

From: ttrotsky2 <TTrotsky_at_...> <TTrotsky_at_...>
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 23:46:41 -0000

While this might be a difference between Gloranthans and (some) 21st century types, its not a difference from humans per se, since most people throughout history also 'knew' the Gods existed with just as much conviction as Gloranthans do.

> Huamns are human because they either have faith or they dont, either
> way they are 'human' and prone to all the good and bad things we
> know about, they make choices.
>
> In a culture where you are presented with evidence of your god on a
> nearly daily basis, REAL evidence, then your mind set would be
> drastically different.

I disagree. People in the past (and, indeed, a great many today) are quite convinced that their Gods exist. They couldn't care less, and wouldn't act any different, whether or not the evidence that convinced them (e.g. rain falling from the sky, the sun rising regularly, etc.) would also convince us.

> Why has Orlanth survived for so long, because
> his people KNOW he exists.

Some people might argue that Christianity wasn't really all that brief a phenomenon in terrestrial history.

> (begs the question why all these people deserting
> to the Lunars aren't being punished, shortage of spirits? are
> spirits of retribution overworked, have they "instituted work to
> rule" bans?)

Or Orlanth is wrong, and the Heortlings' faith in him is misplaced. (I'm not saying this necessarily is the case, but you can bet its what the Lunars say - and, really, how can you disprove them?)

> The very existence of a god like Orlanth would go a strong way
> toward repressing technological development also. Why would you
> develop technology when a) magic does some of that, and b) Orlanth
> didnt? Why change?

True enough, but this doesn't make you 'not human'. The ancient Egyptians, for instance, didn't change all that much in thousands of years.

> People who "KNOW" their god exists, who have proof of paradise
> and "know" they will be going there if only they behave a certain
> way would be totally wierd to most of us fallable types, who may or
> may not have 'faith'.

Weird or not, there are plenty of them in the world today, and used to be a lot more (proportionally) in the past. That doesn't make them less human. And, personally, I don't even find it all that weird.

> In such a world the real fights would be assaults on faith and
> worship, exactly like the Lunars are doing. Destroy the base of
> worship and the god fades away.

Here, I agree - 'faith' in Glorantha means faith that your god is right and just, not that he exists (which, as you say, isn't in doubt). The Lunars are trying to prove that Orlanth is wrong, by showing that their own Goddess can overcome him spiritually.

-- 
Trotsky
Gamer and Skeptic

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Trotsky's RPG website: http://www.ttrotsky.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

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