Gods Of Time

We, editorially speaking, are rereading Poul Anderson's Time Patrol and recently began "The Sorrow of Odin the Goth." However, today, we, matrimonially speaking, traveled to Ambleside and back. While traveling, I reflected on one issue in the next story, "Star of the Sea." These two stories could be packaged as Gods Of Time.

Janne Floris is guilt-stricken because, posing as a goddess, she promised a hereafter to her sibyl, Veleda. I would consider it dishonest to promise a hereafter in which I did not believe.

A guy that I knew said that the best way to die would be in confidence of a happy hereafter, even if in truth there were no hereafter. I disagree. Surely continued inquiry and acknowledgment of ignorance is of greater value than any illusion?

Many people address a deity that they expect to join in a hereafter. I address whatever deities may be, meditate and do not expect a hereafter. It is possible to be inspired by:

Indra releasing rain
Prometheus stealing fire
Gautama seeking the Way
the Buddha teaching meditation
Krishna teaching karma yoga
Jesus preaching the kingdom

- without believing that any of them still exist - except in myths, scriptures and the religious imagination.