[Glorantha] Re: Transcendence and Chaos

Simon Hibbs wrote:
> In a way, as life is to death and truth is to
> falsehood, so transcendence is to chaos.

An interesting assertion, and one that Charles Corrigan touched upon also, but I am not sure how useful this is.

Can we really talk about transcendence as being the opposite of chaos, because the analogy must work in both directions to be lined up with the other examples.

I think it betrays a simplification of what transcendence actually means and involves, that is encouraged by the truism that the divine planes are on the road to transendence. (Notably different experiences for each.)

To make head ground, lets hack out some points.

Transcendence is linked to the cosmos, as it generally involves insight into it. However this is so bland as to be potentially meaningless.

Cosmos is indeed the opposite of Chaos, but remember such opposites are analogy not fact, they are parts of our world-view filters. Transcendence is usually an unfiltered experience of the world where such analogies break down. It is usually defined as an experience beyond the mere material nature of the world.

Chaos may be a part of that material world but so is death or pleasure or any number of physical realities.

I am also not sure about the assertion that transcendence is always via one of the divine planes. It may be possible for transcendence via a mixed/common magic approach, all be it, yet another different experience.

jamie
Orlanth.Umathi Received on Tue 04 Apr 2006 - 18:37:32 EEST