02 | Video

[halfblaked]

As a professor, whenever a holiday comes, it's always an opportunity for learning, and today happens to not be an exception, despite the personal nature of the holiday.

I suspect there are not many who celebrate such things, but perhaps it is a nice time to speak of them, considering it's father's day. I'm reflecting on fathers of myth, of course, not real ones -- but, ah, if you need someone to listen, I am, of course, here to listen.

There are, unfortunately, not a terribly high amount of good fathers in mythology, at least from my world. Sometimes, if you think of yourself as a poor parent, you can at least remember that you are no Zeus, or Hiranyakashipu. One was merely...devoted to sowing his progeny around Greece, as we all know, but Hiranyakashipu attempted multiple times to murder his son, because he worshipped a god he hated. [ A soft chuckle, and a shake of his head. ] I worried about moving too much, with mine! I suppose things could be worse. Then again, there is also Cronus, the god who ate his sons, [ he starts ticking on his fingers, ] Tantalus, Izanagi, Abraham...

Well, we're not short on those, are we? [ A soft chuckle, and a shake of his head. ]

I suppose there's something to be said, when we consider ourselves bad parents, yes? Not that we should ever excuse ourselves. [ A beat. ] I suppose I'm just...thoughtful, today. Moreso than I thought I would be. [ Another pause. ]

Are there others out there, who are thinking of things like this today?

Comments

permavid.

[mortalweapon]

[ Of course the big blue machine with the father issues would arrive in time for Father's Day — and the Father's Day Network posts. ]

I often consider what the most fitting punishment for a bad father would be.

[vanto]

Ate his kids? What the hell?

[halfblaked]

Ah... Have you come up with any options?

Mythology aside -- some of them don't get their due diligence, but I suspect most poor fathers eventually suffer -- but perhaps not nearly enough.

( text )

[fettering]

yahweh wasn't exactly a great dad either

[halfblaked]

It's an interesting myth.

Cronus was told that his sons would overthrow him, so he ate each of them. Eventually, this tactic stopped working, of course.

text

[halfblaked]

Was he not? The way some speak of it, he was so great, everyone wants to be his.

[fettering]

his first children were never meant to have choice, and when one tried to ask why, tried to understand why he loved his mortal children better, he created a place of eternal torment to punish him with
he then went on to allow his mortal child to be tortured to death
i'm not a big fan

[halfblaked]

That's...fair. I'm sure our local Lucifer would have many similar things to say. I will admit, I often...avoid including such stories in mythologies.
People tend to get...emotionally invested.

But that is an accurate assessment of the early myths.

[fettering]

i lived with lucifer back home, so he's the one i learned from originally
but yeah i've learned that people can get kind of scary about what they think christianity is

[vanto]

That's not interesting, it's horrific and wrong.

[mortalweapon]

I reached a conclusion once.
It was murder.
As it turned out, there were a few logistical problems with that option.

Do you consider yourself a bad parent?

[halfblaked]

Yes, of course. It's... myths aren't real, for the most part. They are... reflections of what happened in fantastical form.

But I try not to judge them, when I read them. It means I lose my academic credibility.

[halfblaked]

It's true, it's true.

Even in a world like mine, where...gods and goddesses walk among us -- we can still find many Christians who still believe. It's not quite like this world, but they can be just as fervent. Particularly since Lucifer is reborn so frequently.

[halfblaked]

I...think you would have to ask my son that question. [ A pause. ]

I tried, of course, but with my career, we moved so much, and Jon was... very gifted. I don't know if I did enough for him -- or if I'm doing enough for him now.

[fettering]

personally, i think seeing crucifixes so often is kind of morbid and creepy

it's sort of weird thinking of lu being reborn in a human body so often
does it ever happen to the other angels?

[halfblaked]

Not any in particular. Lucifer is their own, unique case. There are many other gods and goddesses that find themselves reborn in my world more frequently.

Not even the son of man often gets such an honor.

[fettering]

[ .. wait. ]

you mean jesus?? he gets reborn too?

[mortalweapon]

A diplomatic answer.

I assume he has not attempted to murder you, which must speak to some success.
Only time will truly tell.

[halfblaked]

There are...theories.

Many, many theories. Many of our pantheons have some members that could-or-could-not-be one god or another, depending on how long they were around, and what they did.

[fettering]

that's a lot to take in
though idk why, it shouldn't be that different from any other god being reborn
except bc lu has been waiting so long for yehoshua at home

[halfblaked]

Correct. Last time I spoke to him, he... asked me to stay away. He's at university, you see.

I understand, of course. I was off creating all sorts of trouble when I was that young. But...I do miss him, even now. It's been quite some time since I heard from him.

I just hope I have the opportunity to speak with him soon, back home.

[halfblaked]

Oh?

How long has that been? Why has he been waiting for him for so long.

[fettering]

since he was killed, and because lu was in love with him

[halfblaked]

Mm, in your world, does three days in the desert mean something else?

[mortalweapon]

And if your son does not wish to speak with you?