Re: Re: Religious ranking?

From: Andrew Solovay <asolovay_at_...>
Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 15:25:39 -0800


markmohrfield wrote:
>
> In the Dara Happan section of HeroQuest voices under "what makes a
> person great" the speaker lists several different factors that
> determine a persons social rank, including initiation and devotion.

Yes, but Dara Happans rank *everything*, and everything is an indication of rank. "I am the second son of a first wife, and I am thus entitled to wear clothing with a green fringe on holidays."

There's also a certain cause/effect question here. When a Dara Happan says "I am a devotee of Urvakus, and thus my rank is X", is he saying "My becoming a devotee *gave* me rank X"? Or is he saying "My social standing was what permitted me to devote to Urvakus, and thus my devotee status *indicates* that I am of rank X"? I expect it's usually a combination of the two. Dara Happans aren't noted for social mobility, so I doubt that you can bump your rank up by joining the right cult--rather, your social position determines your religious options, and vice versa, in a tight loop.

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