In a message dated 12/8/03 4:28:31 PM Mountain Standard Time, dfsolley@comcast.net writes: >The southern Midsea area has probably merged both of these ideals into >a sailor's Lord of the Sea where the sailors believe and the landlovers >pay lip service. So; let's see. None of the existing southern Midsea religions are particularly activist, but they are deeply entrenched. What Exquaestio is encountering isn't so much hostility (although there is some of that) as indifference. Avoiding questions about religion has become commonplace. Each religion is fragmented with competing factions. Because of the currently divided nature of the southern Midsea active persecution is likely to be matched by active support from the persecutor's enemies. (Hmmm, any word on the Parglug / Videssia conflict?) The church of the Lord of the Sea is decadent, the church in Parglug is subservient to the nobility, and the church in Videssia is hostile to magic in any form. (I'm not quite sure how the Onagir and Eerith fit in yet.) So, what does Exquaestio offer? First it is activist. The Anradan supply physical force and protection from magical threats. The espiri supply rites (spells). The Anradan are in communication with and supportive of each other. All factions teach and train. Second, it teaches limits to the authority of the church. Exquaestio may advise, but the decisions of a farmer or a ruler are that person's to make. It is also unified. The original belief hasn't broken down into competing factions (yet). Finally, it is inclusive. It has no problems with fitting other beliefs into its structure, and welcomes questions into its own. Now for its problems. First, it's difficult for most people to understand. It's beliefs and structures aren't organized the way most people are used to. For some it's incomprehensible, for others frightening. (This may be why Feroze stressed the teaching of children.) Second, it has no existing power base. Economically poor and based in a hardscrabble region it has no political or religious alliances to call on. Third, there's no overarching belief structure for it to overcome. Other beliefs in the area are divided and approaches that work in one area aren't easily transported. So, all told, Exquaestio is currently in a fairly good position. Considering the existing religious factioning, 1,000 worshipers isn't bad. It doesn't make them powerful, but they're far from the least powerful religious faction in the area. The 1.4% (and potentially up to 6%?) proportion of those who wield authority magic is higher than most (almost all?) existing religions, but still reasonable. I'm not quite sure how much attention they're receiving from the existing political and religious structures. Probably not much, if any. Does all that sound good? Jefferson http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
