Thursday 26 May 2016

Uncertainties About Gods

Runa says that the Ysans' Gods have disowned them. Nemeta retorts that the Gods of the land must still live. Meanwhile, Maeloch, negotiating with Scoti and Dani, drains a goblet to Lug, Lir and Thor.

Gratillonius feels that all Gods are gone and wonders whether they ever existed. His hostess urges him to call on Christ but then amends that to what God he will: Mithras? She confides that she sometimes invokes one of the old Goddesses.

This is quite a list. In times of social upheaval and uncertainty, people become uncertain about their Gods. Ninian Smart suggested that, in Religious Studies (not in Mathematics), 1+1=7!

Two religions: A and B.
Each influences the other to some extent. Thus: Ab and Ba.
Some propose a complete synthesis: AB.
Some on both sides react against any external influence. Thus: AA and BB.

That does total seven. I was worried that it would not work out right.

Addendum: In fact, Nemeta invokes "'Cernunnos, Epona, Sucellus, almighty Lug!'" (Poul and Karen Anderson, The Dog And The Wolf, Chapter II, section 2, p. 46)

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