Other authors -
In SM Stirling's A Meeting At Corvallis, a fighting priest offers confession to bandits before they are beheaded.
And a more benign consequence of religion:
"He thought about his own Muslim upbringing, which had taught him that it was his duty to God to help the outcasts. Of course he did not believe in God and had not been in a mosque since he was a teenager, but he recognized Lisbeth Salander as a person in resolute need of help."
-Stieg Larsson, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (London, 2008), Chapter 2, p. 37.
I do not believe in the Catholic or Muslim deity but I imagine that, if God exists, He:
respects Adzel's spriritual practice and moral decisions;
approves of His priest's activities;
is glad that an atheist brought up as a Muslim helps Lisbeth.
2 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
You asked for more examples from the works of Poul Anderson of devout believers in God also not rejecting, when necessary, being pragmatic. Again, the real world Knights Hospitallers we see in ROGUE SWORD came to mind. That order began as a charitable organization tending the needs of the poor, sick, and travelers. But they soon had to take on military functions. And, while now their activities are now wholly religious or charitable, I can imagine the Hospitallers again assuming military function if the need ever arose in the future.
OF course God respects Adzel's efforts to live uprightly and seek the transcendence. And of how the soldier priest you saw in A MEETING AT CORVALLIS (note the correct title). And God approves of those atheists who also live uprightly, while regretting their disbelief in Him.
Sean
Sean,
A MEETING WITH CORVALLIS! I will change it on the post.
Paul.
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