voice; let's talk about

[restingstitchface]

Religion.

[Crane's calm, polite voice says inquisitively.]

For those who believe in providence; does this world's existence solve any of your big questions? For those who repudiate the irrational, do your answers to life's mysteries remain written in stone?

[He musters all of his carefully-rehearsed self-control to question a topic he isn't fond of.]

My fundamental question is does this world affirm the existence of the divine? I must say; if you take the positive view because you are a member of a pantheon, then that's a strange way of attesting your strength. Divinity is given power by its worship, do you realize? What's divine here other than your celebrity? Well, leaving aside for a moment the Porter. Lucifer is no more powerful than anybody. Inanna is no more powerful than anybody. Persephone is no more powerful than anybody. And, funnily enough, Woden is certainly no more powerful than anybody.

Emerson said, "Every man is a divinity in disguise, a god playing the fool." I think that makes the question of how a God feels about playing the part of the Fool quite relevant.

That's all I've got to say. I'm going to slip off to work. Thank you for listening.

Comments

[pummelgranite]

Wow, sure got us there.

[restingstitchface]

I had expected.

But you'll disagree, argue, rebel - because that's your thing, right?

[voice]

[hellrisen02]

It tells me that whatever God truly has the power over the multiverse has a great sense of humor, still.

[Should he really bite? He smiles and becomes a little more aware of his collar. No, but he's going to anyway.]

...But let's be serious for a minute, huh, Doc? What makes you think there isn't something more powerful than Lucifer-et-all that's pulling all these strings? Seems pretty proven to me that the Fates are something especially all-powerful, whatever name you want to attach to them.

[pummelgranite]

I heard there's literally a Fate in the Porter.

[restingstitchface]

[A sense of humor? Well, that's the Old Testament gone out the window.]

Behavior. I have yet to meet anyone, human or otherwise, who doesn't exhibit a predictable and specific demonstration of behavior. Honor. Obedience. Wrath. Gods have human characteristics though they are Gods. Machines have human characteristics though they are machines. It's all quite fascinating.

[And when it's fastinating is when he wants to pick it apart, mmmh.]

[video]

[wordaday]

You sure do love listenin' to yourself talk.

[restingstitchface]

I also love to listen.

Got an answer for me?

text

[therewillbeorder]

Religion is a comfort to the ignorant who have no other explanation of how the universe works.

I have science and technology, I have no need to worship to some powerful being who claims to be an all-powerful god.

[restingstitchface]

Of course not. God for most people means exceptions to the rules of science and medicine - but it could be the other way around. If you agree with the concept, that is.

Regardless. You're a scientist, then?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Yes and no -- to answer your question. Just because there are gods in other worlds does not mean any are natural to mine.

[Chilton's world didn't have gods. Only devils wearing people suits.]

[restingstitchface]

Of course. I suppose there are archetypes in your world moreso than any so-called gods.

[Archetypes are a human concept. Only makes sense that as psychiatrists they make their own 'Gods'.]

[sunlighter]

Does it calm the itch under your skin to level the playing field?

[restingstitchface]

Certainly.

Gods fear Fear Itself as much as humanity does, and those who don't I'm happy to help.

[dirtyredneck]

God don't exist.

[restingstitchface]

I don't disagree, but what makes you believe that?

Voice

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

I'd say it doesn't. The Porter might be able to mess with gods, but that doesn't mean any of us should start worshipping it. We just don't understand it. It's powerful, but that doesn't make it divine.

[restingstitchface]

[Crane's voice goes thin, lilting, like he's turning something over inside his mind and trying to figure out what it is. Then the answer comes, a mass of thoughts that drowns everything else. Caution of worship. Irrational behavior - he's seen it here with Lucifer's church. In short, personal experience.]

I see. You are the first to discuss the role of worship, Jacob. Would you argue that worship imparts divinity?

[craftpunk]

I think you'll find that the power doesn't have to be some... level-based nonsense.

[ He is literally thinking Dragonball Z. Crane, you're telling him his power level is low right now. ]

[restingstitchface]

I know that. [His mind is pretty sharp but it's not a power.] Though it appears the native population don't. Not to mention most of us judge power on its own merits. Pity, that.

[beneathbluerafters]

In my experience, religion is just another way for authority figures to control people, and gods are the boogeymen that they hold over their followers. If they do exist, then they can't be bothered with the people who follow them.

[restingstitchface]

[Fascinating observation, this one.]

They exist for people here, wouldn't you say? With archetypal names like Woden, Persephone and Inanna singing for their adoration - interacting with their fans, sharing their joys, their losses - Gods seem well enough alive. What exactly defines a God for you, Klarion?

[acclimatized]

I'm guessing you didn't talk to Didi when she was here.

[restingstitchface]

It may surprise you to hear this, John, but we talked several times. I'm missing her input on this question, actually.

[ voice ]

[nightmarist]

[Ronan sounds positively acerbic, as if this is the most annoying post he's ever encountered.]

There's more to God than power.

[Fucking duh.]

[restingstitchface]

Obviously.

[Crane sounds positively bored, as if this is some freshman student arriving late to class.]

Worship; behavior; respect; fear. But I don't suppose you agree with any of those? What's your personal definition?

[Video]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Mm... a Crane discussion, hunh? Sure, he'll bite. ]

Religion and the divine are two different things.

Religion is something made by man to justify their superstitions, or to explain the divine in ways that humans can understand. The divine are actual beings, not much different from people, they just happen to have powers that way superior to anything that man could come up with normally.

[restingstitchface]

I see. You do realize that we imPorts have powers that are way superior to anything that these people can come up with normally for themselves? Does that make us divine?

[Audio]

[aberranthubris]

Emerson also said "The happiest man is he who learns from nature the lesson of worship." I find that the nature or the level of power of the divinity isn't particularly important when it comes to religion.

Those who believe, want to believe. It is a comfort or a guidance that gives them comfort.

hi :3

[restingstitchface]

It's an irrevocable condition of being human that individuals seek that comfort. You can find it in a library; in a book. You can find it in art. You can find it by listening to music. You can even find comfort in your own loneliness.

Put simply, those who want to believe want to indulge in warm feelings to escape reality and pain.

[devoutish]

Ah, Doctor. It's a wonder anyone comes to your office when they can make use of your services right here on the network.

[restingstitchface]

And yet come they do, Mr Solomons. Speaking of which, what service might I offer you?

voice

[am_i_a_monster]

If there is an overall, omnipotent god - he plays the part of a serial killer and it makes him feel powerful.

[restingstitchface]

[Hannibal? Sure, he'll bite.]

A serial killer?

That's quite the part. Do you struggle to reconcile the concept of God as taught with the fact said God permits evil to occur, then?

( voice )

[drizzle]

[The entire monologue concerning the topic of religion will leave her feeling thoughtful as she never once considered it. Did she believe in something like those in the Sun Kingdom do? Is she part of an ideology that is a little like it? Even close?

His final words will catch her attention to interrupt her thoughts for a moment.]

Oh, so this isn't a discussion?

[Wondering.]

What brought up the idea of religion and power and all that other stuff?

[restingstitchface]

My curiosity.

[Naturally.]

I had noticed more people believing themselves part of an idealogy arriving here. Questioning them alone on the issue would not have been sufficient. We are all the same here, after all. imPorts one and all.

» video

[ex_clobbers559]

( This time, she's wearing the red and blue, because she can't very well answer this question as Kara Danvers.

She heaves a sigh, shrugging her shoulders. )

Maybe not. Humans have called me one before. And I don't follow any faith of theirs.

» video

[restingstitchface]

[Supergirl's appearance sends a shot through Crane's spine; because he's followed Superman avidly and learned much from from the man's answers. He's very happy to follow on his work with another Kryptonian.]

I see. Do you find it uncomfortable to be afforded adoration, then?

If you do not wish to share, there's no pressure...

voice;

[andtherevolution]

[She didn't respond to the post when it first went up. Her last conversation was fresh in her mind, as were the newly uncovered memories that proved him right. However, the quote sticks in her mind, and she replies a few hours later.]

"Every man is divinity in disguise..." What do you think that means? That anyone can become a god?

[He got under her skin the last time they talked, but their first conversation wasn't... bad. And the guy was reformed, right? Right.]1

[restingstitchface]

[Crane remembers her - and he keeps his voice calm and polite.]

Well, no. Not in the literal sense. I distinctly interpret it as mankind being full of unlimited potential but without the will or knowledge to break out of a world full of materialism and falsehood. The wiser you become, the less you play the fool.