Confessions

i wish it were that simple Aldric-san,but both gods from your so called light and dark hath both spoken to me ,in consicious presence and within dream,unless either are considered religious taboo,if that be the case,i will report to your high religious lord's dwelling to commit seppuku in protest but before i sever my mortal coil i wil sever my many fingers until us,the people whos spirit that the great light and darkness hath affected are addressed and not cast aside,and if i complete my hara kiri , my spirit will remain until a priest of either gods will dismiss me so

Am I to understand Gods talk to [strike]you[/strike] thee directly? They are now walking Arawyn, so that is possible. It is not taboo to experience the Divine, for most it is a gift of inspiration and insight. I have met a Goddess, and the experience is one I cherish.

As for the self mutilation and offers of death, I am unsure what would merit this? Thou art critical in this missive, as in many others, of the concept of religion and how the Light and Dark conduct our respective affairs. That is thine right to dissent, but as this thread has been overrun by such, perhaps airing thine grievance personally would be more appropriate. I am somewhat curious about the visions thee hath, and thine aversion to them. I am currently in the Proper, staying in the Monastery, but we can talk here at the Dragon's Claw if that suits thee.

both of great spirits of this land spoke to me before the oni incursion,through dreams and dead,of piles of dead friends,of highblood that would not listen,all i did was give my blood and fish offering and move amognst,
......only of those arawyn stock thought them of what you call light and dark,unless this be heresy to you?spirits of the land are common to wayward travlers where i be from and speak to us and provide spiritual plenty,unless....tis my peoples custom provide heresy to you?

Mister Belfast:

I apologize if I am being pedantic, but I find your argument/metaphor regarding the existence of light and dark to be somewhat flawed. You write:
"Light can exist without darkness, it always has. Light is an expression of goodness and effort and energy. Darkness is simply its absence. Darkness cannot in turn exist without light, but it is only by the grace of light that darkness has its corners to dwell in."
As you say, darkness is the absence of light. By definition then, darkness can exist without light - in fact, this is a requisite. If I am misunderstanding what you mean, please explain further.

A student of the world,
Seeker of the Lost Word,
Illyrin Soral

Illyrin,

Lucien's logic was sound in terms of its definition. It is agreed upon for this metaphor that darkness is the absence of light. If light does not exist, then darkness would not be able to exist as a concept. This is because darkness is defined in terms of its relationship to light. For darkness to be able to exist without light, the agreed upon definition of what darkness is would have to be changed.

Spirits of Arawyn are not heresy. That word, heresy, is used too much I think, and I include myself in this. The concept of heresy is old fashioned now I suppose. The New Church hath given up the old Church's attempts to suppress and control, we judged that unworthy of the Light and reformed becoming wholly new and rededicated to helping others. Though many grudges still hold sway in people's minds, and we labor under these, now false, perceptions, as a penance for the sins of the old Church.

Now the term of heresy is largely confined to those who would have us return to the old ways, that long for the arrogance of the Old Church to return. It applies now to any person who bears words, intending to twist the mission or faith of the New Church away from the people.

I assure thee, nothing of what thou hath said is heresy. Disagreeing with the New Church is not heresy either. An unexamined faith is not worth the effort, is the old saying. Debate and discussion about our worship and service to the Gods of Light, is a welcome thing.

As to thine spirits, be they Light or Dark, if through them thou hath reached spiritual peace, then that is thine business. Thou art free to listen to whatever source of peace thee canst find. I would hasten to add, I hope that thee canst include us in thine time to listen, but that is thine choice to make.