Sermon #1 - text

[raptura]

[Just a simple little post from username 'Bluemarine', but it's posted for everyone to see and the option to reply in any format you like is there, should you feel like it. Somebody sure has the burning desire to ask everyone a question (or piss off as many people as they can, depending).]

How many of you believe in an afterlife? Or...What I should ask is; how many of you understand that you're slaves to fate and destiny, no matter how unhappy yours might be?

You're welcome to try and change my mind on that front, if you think you have the intellect.

Comments

[raptura]

That it is! I take back what I just said; maybe we have more in common than I imagined. The way I see it is, if I get a good conversation 8 times out of 10 with this sort of starter, then those are worth the 2 times I have to put up with someone just blowing off steam at me. ...And those 2 times are fun in their own way, anyway. We all win!

If you haven't thought about your life views, and if you really are young then I can't exactly fault you for not thinking on that sort of thing, then can I simply ask about what your home is like? I'm learning about everyone's worlds even if they don't realise they're teaching me, and it's fascinating. All little bits of trivia, you know? We can swap, but...My world feels rather mundane in comparison to what I've heard so far.

[ciao]

thank you for your concern
it’s much appreciated that you would feel a thing for someone you have yet to meet
it’s true that there is a lot of stress
both internationally and locally with my older brother
but i don’t have room to complain or dwell on it much
because my priority is to serve my people the best to my abilities

suffering is not something pleasant to reflect on much
but it is true that it is necessary to help build a certain strength
for as many negative feelings that could come from suffering there is positivity to be found
though I would prefer it if other people didn’t have to suffer needlessly and will do my best to lessen it as much as I can
that’s why while being in a place like this
i can use the strength I have for the sake of others
especially those that I care for greatly
because there’s nothing i wouldn’t do for them

it sounds like you have a lot of expectations
I hope that I don’t let you down (‘-’*)৩

i highly doubt that you’re unimpressive
everybody has something that makes them extraordinary whether they recognize it or not
and I have sketchbooks filled with examples to prove it
because there’s a beauty in everyone that’s truly amazing to behold

[jiyuujin]

Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that you were able to have such an experiencing in finding yourself here. Surely you could never experience such self improvement to this degree, anywhere else? You'll have to forgive me if I presume too much however, as I realize all of our situations must be vastly different so whether one or another is an improvement remains relative of course. [As for him... he's obviously still trying to figure it out.]

It sounds as though such a person must be quite remarkable if a single one of them can make such an impression but if the others were killed off, how well can it be known that all of them were just like this one? Or was he a product of what happened to his kind. My kind deals in matters of history you see, so I'm often thinking about such things

[raptura]

Not to this degree, you're absolutely correct. My world seems painfully mundane against everyone else's, thus far; it's not an improvement, so much as a change of circumstances and thus perspective. That's still a blessing however, and so I'll take it as such.

The man I knew was indeed the most remarkable man to ever exist, however. I can say that with confidence, even knowing how infinite possibility is. As for the others, I only know third-hand of them, so I wouldn't be the expert to ask. All I can confirm is that they were humanoid, but different entirely. Different to my friend, even; he was made immortal through their technology, but wasn't one of them. So my research has told me, at any rate. But now you have me regretting not researching them more, and being born too late to have met one in person, so that I could know of their lost culture, their ways, their powers and weaknesses compared to humanity. An entire species, extinct...It makes me sad that so few know of them.

[raptura]

Then your people are as lucky as always to have you. When I visited, they knew that much; I hope that can comfort you when it does get too much, though I also hope that you don't have to worry about that in the first place.

I've heard a lot lately that my expectations for people seem to be high, which probably causes some suffering of its own. I'm sorry for that undue stress; I really only want people to be themselves, whether that's the messier, uglier side of being human or the glorious bits. Life is beautiful, and every creature, every person crafted by God, is a lovely thing to watch at work.

That's why I want to meet and talk to people while I'm here, and to see their skills for myself. I don't have many apart from animal trivia as I said, and...It's a sight to see, someone working hard and creating something new. (And now I want to see your sketchbooks too! You've cursed yourself with your honesty :p )

[bloodisthicker]

True enough. I suppose you don't have to agree with me, but honestly, the world would be extremely boring if everyone had the same viewpoints. So it's fun to have these discussions from time to time.

[madannoshashu]

oh it makes things smaller all right. when you're used to the world next door being just a portal away, you can stick your fingers in a whole lot more pies

good of you to think about expanding your horizons while you're here, though! there's quite a bit of variety, as far as i can tell

had a good laugh at Jojos being mundane thanks

[jiyuujin]

Then I'm glad you aren't facing something that is worse, at the very least. And I hope a path of return opens to us soon so that you can find the answers you're looking for. Is much known about them at all? In the absence of any concrete material I find legends are often a good place to start, if you know of any. Often there is a thread of truth that can be unraveled from them.

[ciao]

it's not something i worry about
just because when i'm among them i could feel it
but i'm glad it's apparent to others when they visit as well
i hope to show you the same kind of gratitude for your kindness

[ there was something in that wording that reminded him of something back at home, making him give pause before continuing ]

i think so long as you remember that appreciation you have for people
and all aspects of their being
you could find it easier to be accepting of their ways
with or without high expectations

i hope you get to have a lot of great encounters
i have felt fortunate enough to have the chance to get to get to know and get close to citizens in a way i couldn't while at home
and of course
if you want to see my sketches i would be more than happy to show you
so i don't see my honesty as much of a curse a all

[assyrian]

It is very human to dwell on philosophical matters and conjure all kinds of inventive notions as to the reason of being. Part of me admires that creativity. I can see that from your writings that you are one such imaginative man yourself.

Alas, I am a more practical woman, who prefers the concrete over the abstract. Call me simple-minded, if you wish.

[raptura]

You flatter me! I'm merely ingrained into the system that such imagination formed, though it gives me purpose all the same.

At any rate, your practical is my abstract; I can't call that simple-minded, nor am I in the mood to insult you as such. You provide intriguing conversation, so that alone proves you no simpleton, I think. I just wish that I could offer more in the way of interesting topics myself, but asking things such as 'what is a tangible pantheon like to live with' would probably be boring for you.

[assyrian]

Though I don’t hold great affection for the gods, discussing them is never dull. Besides, I’m in a generous mood tonight.

[ Translation: she’s bored. ]

So, what is a tangible pantheon like to live with? Awe-inspiring. Terrifying. A divine being never does anything half-heartedly. My first point of advice when dealing with a god is to avoid their attention altogether. And if that’s not possible, do your best to avoid provoking their ire. It could be my bias speaking, [ It is ] but I’d say that they have more in common with the monsters they create than humans.

[epistemically]

It does. I appreciate you explaining it to me.

Our culture is, for the lack of a better term, dead. We've been in space so long we have no semblance of what we used to be -- so concepts like fate may have been lost to time. Death, however, has remained a constant theme in our lives. You either overcome it as long as possible or die without dignity to your name.

I suppose that is not too much different from your concept of fate.

[raptura]

I'd offer my sympathies, but they'll probably ring hollow. Still...Lost cultures genuinely break my heart a little. So much lost, even if to uphold tradition can be more bad than good.

Having death so prominent in any culture, however, isn't so strange. Sad, perhaps, but not uncommon. I hope that living somewhere that doesn't require it to be the forefront can allow you to experience life at a slower rate, and see the beauty in the things around us. At any rate, you're right about death and fate; fate ends in death for the majority, it just conducts the in-between as well. But different perspectives will see it as they will, of course; people see it as a chain, as a burden, and I see it as comforting and necessary.

[raptura]

Your generosity's much appreciated, of course; I do love learning new things!

The way you describe it sounds like a more realistic take on the stories of the Greek pantheon, in truth; theatrical, ridiculous at times, but also definitely worthy of reverence for the sheer scale of everything they do. Mind you, avoiding their ire is something that even people in my world try to do, as a general rule; it's the attention thing that seems to be the difference, though that much makes sense.

Monsters, however! That's a new one to me. Can I ask about the nature of these monsters?

[epistemically]

Does everyone find comfort in fate so readily?

This is certainly enlightening. Is this more of a human trait or have you encountered the concept with other races? I suppose with how the Empire spread there was no need to pay attention to other beliefs or cultures. I wonder how many believed as you do.

[raptura]

Quite the opposite! I think that it's more seen as either a thing that you accept, or a thing you fight, and believing in it at all is more old-fashioned. I've only met one non-human, however, and he was the one who influenced my own beliefs on the subject. It really depends on the culture as much as their own life experiences, at the end of the day.

I wouldn't count on meeting many people who would hold to fate so fast, all the same. Expect the younger people here to laugh it off, especially if they've dealt with death a lot. It's a controversial little topic!