text (sn: seiros)

[immaculate_one]

This is a question I have yet to see asked on this network, though I only have the slightest hypothesis of why.

How have you viewed religion or faith from your home? Has it changed drastically before coming here, or since?

I have been thinking about this lately...

Comments

Text: UN: hopefulfuture

[despairing_hope]

Religion is a thing that exists, there are holidays and expected actions, but beyond that I don't really think about it.

As for faith... I will always have faith in Hope, and it will never change.

[immaculate_one]

Religion and faith are in fact, distinct things.

It is interesting, that you have so much faith in the concept of hope. What do you mean by this? What compels you so?

UN: G.Akechi

[foolishjustice]

I was moderately religious, following the Shinto faith. Before I learned the true source of my powers, I thanked the gods for them.

Now it's...a little more murky. I do still believe in my gods, but I'm more skeptical of whether or not they've had any hand in my life.

And, of course, the gods here are a separate matter entirely. I don't doubt that deities exist here, but I question if the Prismals know them as well as they claim. I've seen evidence of one deity posing as another, so I take anything presented as a message from them with a grain of salt.

[immaculate_one]

[ Rhea seems to nod at the text, and hums thoughtfully. ]

Indeed, a god's guiding hand is often not understood by the majority of mortal men... if a god cared to guide them at all.

Where I'm from, the goddess of the land save our planet and the humans within from near extinction.

[ She's not sure how much of the truth she can tell, she's not anonymous and she's well aware students from her academy can see. ]

permanon;

[manufactured]

God - or anyone claiming to be God, for that matter - has yet to earn my faith. There's enough wrong with the world to render the likelihood that such a thing will happen incredibly unlikely.

I consider myself more a realist than a nonbeliever, however, as far as matters of the Divine are involved.

[immaculate_one]

The gods in your world have not shown themselves or left a mark?

[ Unusual. ]

So what beliefs do you use to guide yourself?

private, text (un: stcethleannfan)

[baitless]

Hm. You know, I've been curious about others' views on this myself, though I didn't quite think to address the network about it. I'll be interested to see the responses you get.

permanent private text

[immaculate_one]

I am too.

Humans haven't always had the personal experience of having a god to guide them. And there are those who have turned out fine without that guidance, and others who seem forever lost.

[ She thinks back to some of those she took under her (figurative) wing, like Cyril, who didn't follow the religion much but turned out fine. And then people like the Agarthans, who were forever blinded by power. ]

[resenting]

An entire country used a shithole religion as an excuse to drag me through the mud and try to kill me and my friends.

Can't say I'm a big fan.

[immaculate_one]

[ Rhea knows that game all too well. ]

Was it truly the gods who wanted you dead, or was it the humans under them? Was there a god at all?

text | un: ryuuou

[aumygoddess]

[ oh boy is this a question ]

that is quite the loaded question for someone like me, if you are willing to have a long discussion about religion with a stranger

although, I suppose you might be, considering you've asked this question at all

[immaculate_one]

I definitely am.

You could say that being here has made me question how humans understand faith, especially with gods who either never showed their faces or actually became hostile.

[necroyalty]

I've never been particularly religious.

The gods exist, as do planes or existence beyond our material realm. That was objectively proven in my world, and so whether or not I "believe" in them as some other posters have discussed is very much a moot point.

Still, I was never the type to devote much energy towards their worship, or faith, as it were.

[Insert comment about wizards and tables.]

[immaculate_one]

I see.

Did the gods of your world shape any discourse with humans, or were they more content to leave them alone?

[ It feels good to be talking to her again, even through just text. ]

un: allstar

[meteorman]

My upbringing was what one might consider fairly orthodox.

[He and his brother had a bar mitzvah, there was a mezuzah at their door... it was probably not the most conservative Jewish household in all of New Jersey, but fairly traditional.]

As I grew older and my interests skewed more toward the scientific I adopted a skeptical atheism. Ironically in the quest for answers I've encountered beings powerful enough to make the existence of a god seem not only possible but probable. The general temperament of those beings also leads me to believe that if such a god does exist in my reality, it is both less all-knowing and less benevolent than most would like to believe.

If I may ask, what's that hypothesis you mentioned?

[immaculate_one]

[ Oh, well that's interesting. ]

I theorize that, with a god who was indifferent or even hostile to the people that worshipped them, it was no wonder that there are those who are hostile to religion as a concept. I can see why religious institutions would be ignored or disdained.

But then, where do humans get faith from, if not the gods?

It's a lesson I wish I knew back at home.

( text | un: jaguar )

[scarcastically]

Why would it change?

[immaculate_one]

I cannot say since I'm not you, which is why I asked.

For me, to see different gods, and ones that are hostile to the people at that, makes me wonder where humans can place their faith, if not the gods.

( text, un: lavieenrose )

[affectueux]

I was raised Catholic. Though I realize it’s likely that some people here don’t even know what that is. To keep it short, I believe in God.

But things have been changing. They were changing even before I came here, in that I still believe He exists, but I wonder how much He thinks about the people below. Now that I’m in an entirely different world, I can’t help but wonder if He has that much power at all.

[immaculate_one]

The gods of this world, and yours, and mine, seem to be different entities.

I wish, distinctly, that mine was here with me. But She is not, and I must move on.

text | un: phili

[clodpole]

I put my faith in the Sacred Flame. It shines its light on the people of my land, bringing warmth and guidance to all.

Though it may not be here with me now, I believe it has seen me here for a reason. When the time comes, I trust that it will see me safely back, too.

[immaculate_one]

[ A Sacred Flame? Hmmmm. Sounds slightly familiar. ]

You seem very devout. What gave you that devotion to the Sacred Flame?

text; UN: Persephone

[ragingnature]

Considering I'm the Goddess of Sring back home... I think that answers the question about how I view those things.

[immaculate_one]

[ Rhea had to stare at the screen for a moment. Was she serious? ]

I never thought there would be other goddesses, let alone moonblessed. Whatever phenomenon brought us here must be unimaginably strong to do so.

text; un: daddy

[varnish]

God's real.

And he's an asshole.

[immaculate_one]

Do you speak of the God you know or the gods on this world?

Because that could apply to either one of them.

text | un: benefic

[aheroipray]

its
hard
to say the least
religion or faith, even and
i couldn't call myself terribly religious but i still believed
now i question that belief... i suppose it's naive?

its complicated
my relationship with religion changed rather drastically shortly before coming here and im still uncertain so being here hasn't helped

have you had problems?

[immaculate_one]

I have no interest in convincing people of worshiping gods who don't help them.

But after being here that also means I am in no state to guide others, and probably shouldn't. Not without knowing what path I should tread first.

[text | @hot.damn]

[circumitus]

was never religious. my brother was tho.
he was raised separately.

[Calling what Rey's life had been "raising" isn't at all accurate, but Orion had the childhood, the family memories, and the routine down far better than she ever did, so.]

not sure how hed react to being here.
dont think much would change for him.

have your views changed?

[immaculate_one]

I wouldn't say that my views have changed... not dramatically.

It might be more accurate to say that it is the direction that is in question.

I guided people as an archbishop, but here... after reflection, I realize that I am not equipped to do so here.

text | un: demonchef

[satanslash]

i was raised in a catholic boys home but i stopped going to service regularly when i was like ten

its not the most welcoming place for demons anyway so i dont really care anymore

[immaculate_one]

Demons?

[ She's familiar with the concept of a demon, but never really met one. She should be hating the guts of a demon by nature, but... well humans were jerks too and look where she is now!

Too curious, she instead asked, ]

Now why would a demon send their kin to church?

text; un: byleth

[byleth]

[ It's kind of strange to see her questioning the faith she created herself, but considering what she told him, he is a bit worried. ]

Is there something you want to talk about, Rhea?

[immaculate_one]

Since being here, humans have made me curious, Byleth.

Fodlan has always been a fairly faith driven place. And yet... being among a separated nation like this, I wonder where humans draw their faith from.