Aenean Religiosity

"The Problem of Pain" is the second story in The Earth Book Of Stormgate and the third in the Technic History. It introduces:

a planet called Lucifer, never to be seen again;

the planet Gray, later renamed Avalon;

the Ythrian Old and New Faiths;

some information about the planet Aeneas;

a cast of one-off characters.

Peter Berg, raised in the Aenean outback and educated at the, then new and small, university in Nova Roma is a convinced Christian who struggles with the contradictions between his faith and the Ythrian New Faith.

My point here is that the Aeneans are creatively religious. Other examples:

"'If God is makin' ready His next revelation, why not through chosen race, more wise and good than we can now imagine? And, if that's true, shouldn't prophet come first, who prepares us to be saved?'"

-The Day Of Their Return, 4, p. 108.

"'Some of their spirit must be left in what they made...  We need its help. And, when they come back, they'll know we keep faith in them.'"

-ibid., 8, p. 141.

"'Quite likely during our own lifetimes, Rolf. Haven't you heard the tale that's abroad? Far south, where the dead men dwell, a prophet has arisen to prepare the way -''" (p. 142)

One tavern customer has heard rumours of:

"'...one far south who's promised Elders will return and deliver us from Empire.'" (10, p. 153)

He has:

"'...gone out under Mornin' Star and tried to think myself toward Oneness...'" (ibid.)

He thinks that:

"'...we may be right at next stage of evolution...'" (ibid.)

Another customer, appropriately bearded, dismisses such talk as heathenish. He trusts in God and prays that God's will be done but also thinks that:

"'...maybe we are God's chosen instruments to give [Empire] cleansin' shock.'" (ibid.)

He adds that maybe God is preparing the powerful outside help that will be needed and everyone looks at their Ythrian drinking companion.

Ivar Freriksen writes privately to Tatiana Thane that he does not know the truth or otherwise of Jaan's message but it flames in her that she knows already.

They are being carried away by something. In our meditation group, we recite a text that includes the sentence:

"It is futile to travel to other dusty countries, thus forsaking your own seat."

My advice to Aeneans: appreciate all the mythologies but seek spiritual truth within.