From: Paul Reilly (paul@phyast.pitt.edu)
Date: Sat 12 Jun 1993 - 01:13:32 EEST
Loren's explanation is good and matches the way Divine magic works.
I think that it may be true BUT that most Initiates think that their
personal Deity is the One True Deity, this is also in some sense true.
I'm not sure if the rulebook is the right place for such a "true"
explanation, instead explain the mechanics and what some sample
cultures believe.
Also, I think that the deities do exist in some abstract sense as
sentient concentrations of mana with information imprinted on them.
When a priest or initiate sacrifices POW for Mana I think that
he is building up a link to the deity, and that the "soul" of the
priest extruded from his "spirit", while still attached to the priest,
is also tied into this power complex, the "real" deity.
The deity can consume the POW in this soul under certain conditions.
Didn't Steve Maurer have some rules on Word Pacts and Soul Pacts?
I think that Initiation is a soul pact with the deity and the otherworld
self of the priest gets mixed in with that of the deity. This can be viewed
as a big spirit eating part of your spirit and slowly digesting it (shamans)
or an uplifting experience of Mystic Oneness with the Godhead. (Priests).
Brithini might think of a pagan God as a mana complex maintained by the
worshippers, essentially a long-running spell maintained by the Presence
of all the Initiates. Even without worship such a power complex would take
some time to run down.
- Paul
P.S> More this weekend but I have to go now...
0,,
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