A fictional religion cannot match any of its real world counterparts for depth or complexity because it is neither lived nor practiced by populations for generations. If Poul Anderson's Ythrian "New Faith" really did exist in some parallel universe, then its many facets would outnumber the few mentioned in Anderson's texts. Contrast the central tenets of Catholicism with its many liturgical details and local devotions.
On Earth, the great religions are Middle Eastern (three), Indian (two) and Chinese (two) whereas Ythri seems to have only two: the polytheistic Old Faith and the monotheistic New Faith. Ythri has a smaller, more widely distributed population.
Peter Berg says that the New Faith has:
sacraments;
theology;
morality;
no priesthood.
However, we see no sign of sacraments.
The name, "Israel," refers to a struggle with God. Hebrew prophetic experience is of life and history as a continuing dialogue with the Biblical deity. Thus, Peter Berg, suddenly widowed, must scream, "'Why did You do this to her, why did You do it?'" before he can say, "'Your will be done...'" ("The Problem of Pain," pp. 44-45) This partly resembles the New Faith battle with God the Hunter.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I think you mean the great religions of India were Hinduism and Buddhism? I don't often think of Buddhism as being INDIAN, because it mostly failed to take strong root in the subcontinent (despite originating there).
And Christ too underwent that same kind of agony of soul Peter Berg suffered, in the Garden of Gethsemane. And He too submitted to the will of the Father.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I meant places of origin.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
That clears up a slight ambiguity.
Ad astra! Sean
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