Andrew Janssen wrote:
> Hm, interesting. Sedonian theologians would generally teach that the
> Creator or Ultimate is so far beyond human understanding that to worship
> it is a futile pursuit. The Sedonians would also make the distinction
> between accepting and requiring worship, although some argue that since
> to gain the benefits of a god's power one must worship it or behave in
> certain ways, people are not truly free to not worship the gods.
Hmmm. I'm not sure if that last distinction has occurred to Exquaestio
theologians yet. I don't think there's anything in the current Book of
Travels that touches on it directly. (Which brings up the possibility of a
schism: we are free not to worship vs. we are free to choose our worship.)
> Sedonian clerics would generally tend to disagree with the principle
> that it is unacceptable for the greater to force the lesser (at least in
> public), although this is slowly changing (especially in the Orders of
> Lusia and Demerhaze).
And this is exactly why Exquaestio is having problems moving into the upper
classes. (Though note that in practical terms they had no difficulty
supporting an aristocratic government in Junder.)
> This is partly due to Sedonia's social structure
> (it *is* an Empire, after all), and partly due to the Sedonian belief
> that certain classes of spirits are bound to the wills of the gods, and
> thus are compelled to act at the direction of the gods. There's also a
> school of thought which argues that there is no such thing as free will,
> only the illusion of it, but most Sedonians regard them as being
> slightly crazed.
Current Exq. theologians don't really understand the concept of free will
as its presented in the Book of Travels. There is a rule of thumb given:
"If you can question whether you have free will, then you do."
> Sedonian theology is quite emphatic on the principle that the existence
> of souls requires the presence of Coron or some other Aspect of the
> Creator holding the proper Authority--the secret teaching of the Order
> of Coron being that "Coron" is just a mask for a greater and more
> universal Being.
I doubt that belief would cause any real problems with Exquaestio. Yes,
the Book of Travels indicates differently, but where souls come from isn't
fundamental to the theology.
> Sedonians would, at present, disagree (possibly violently) with the
> assertion that reincarnation occurs when the gods aren't doing their
> jobs properly--the prospect of reincarnation, especially for those who
> die before their time, is a fundamental part of their belief system.
Now the rejection of reincarnation IS a major part of the theology. This
attitude tinges many of the stories in the Book of Travels, and many
Sedonians will undoubtedly consider its portrayal of believers in
reincarnation insulting if not blasphemous. Note that exquaestio doesn't
reject the actual occurrence, just the belief.
> I suspect that Sedonia may turn out to be the place where Exquaestio
> meets Millat Shanari and produces something new.
It will be interesting. 1456 ends with 767 quaestae in Sedonia outside
Vizinia (411 in Vizinia), mostly along the coast and Vizinian border.
Exquaestio will likely pass the 1,000 mark in 1461 (passing 650 in
Vizinia). So far as I can tell the only place the religions have met at
this point is in Mirrish Tirmar, and those contacts haven't been serious or
sustained. You might also consider that it's pretty likely another new
religion is coming out of Torphan. In the broadest possible terms I think
it would have some similarities to Buddhism.
Jefferson
http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/
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