Even if the root is singular, for a particular feature to be retained in so many cultures for countless generations, it must resonate to something in the people involved. We, as in all sentient life put together, have forgotten more culture than we have.
1 Like
Sure, but again, thatâs pretty simple to explain: Weâre aware of our own mortality. And weâre scared of it. So a metaphysical concept that says âdonât worry, the thing that makes you you canât die! Itâll persist!â⌠yeah, thatâs gonna resonate with a lot of people, especially during a technological collapse that leaves populations isolated, or periods of instability, upheaval, invasion, warâŚ
You know, basically every day in New Eden.
Yes, but see, that is an argument against the soul being immortal, not against the soul existing. Which was my point; you are arguing the wrong thing.
No, itâs an argument against the ideas that the soul must exist because the concept âis very common in distinct culturesâ, or that the experience is innate to human nature. Itâs not necessarily innate. Itâs potentially just a useful rationalization and tool for controlling the masses that predates a human diaspora.
You did not quite understand my argument, I think.
Possibly not. Honestly, it looks like circular logic to me. âthe experience of having a soul is very common, therefore that experience is our soul, so it existsâ.
You indeed did misunderstand it, if thatâs what you got out of it.
Itâs not all it is, but itâs a start at definition, and once something is defined, itâs a lot easier to determine if it is present or not.
Synthia being who she is, things that are Observable but not Measurable, tend to puzzle her.
Elsebeth is a fearsome conversationalist indeed.
I mean, she has achieved the feat of causing Vaari to demand that people stop talking about him and his achievements.
I did not know that was even possible !
Wait, I thought you believed that the Amarr God exists in some strong sense of that word, just that you refuse to worship him? Do you believe that the Amarr God is some sort of powerful but purely natural being, like a space monster or something? Or do you believe that the Amarr God exists only in a weaker sense, like the shared memory of the Amarr people or some such other woo-y BS?
No. That would be you.
You tell me.
Youâre the one collecting them in exchange for feeding the soul machine souls.
Iâm simply trying to understand so that I can better answer your question, youâre the one who made the rules of this scenario. If youâd like a less specific answer, then Iâd have to reiterate what I said before. It would just feel good, because helping people feels good.
1 Like
Even if they donât want your help?
Yes! Some people just donât know whatâs good for them. Like an alcoholic who doesnât know the damage theyâre causing themself, or a naive child who doesnât care for the importance of their own education.
I feel rather bad for the faithless. They donât know that they could have Paradise, and they donât know that they are instead choosing torment.
In a way, itâs kind of like charity.
How many feel good tokens does it take to get into paradise?
I feel like youâre not taking me seriously.
Your feelings are fleeting and passing. And rarely the truth of the matter.
You might want to try something more objective to litmus test reality.
So you, like Mr. Nauplius, believe in some kind of punishment or punishing ground, my lady? The directrix has always described it instead as destruction-- annihilation of the soul, oblivion-- which she finds plenty distressing enough to imagine.
(I admit I find it comforting, myself; I have the exact same thing to look forward to regardless of which of us is right.)
Torturing people forever for not believing seems like ⌠not a kind thing for a god to do, does it not? Especially if they were not raised to believe in the first place? Not inviting them into Paradise seems like one thing; nobody should expect such an invitation if theyâre not friends with its patron deity I wouldnât think. Torment seems like kind of another. Iâd always understood mainline Amarr belief to be that God wasnât in that business.
You may believe it to be unkind, but thatâs just the way it is. God is firm, yet forgiving. All one has to do to avoid the pain of being without Him is accept him into your heart. It doesnât matter if youâve turned your back on God. God hasnât turned his back on you.
This forgiveness is immensely kind.