Cosmos And Father

In the FTL period of Poul Anderson's Psychotechnic History, it has become standard practice for the characters to invoke "Cosmos" except that the women in "Virgin Planet" have a Father chapel and swear by "Father" which makes some sense in their situation although they might also have said "Mother." The ultimate reality is either impersonal or personal although I think that the latter is anthropomorphic.

Someone can be found to defend any philosophical or theological hypothesis. It has been argued that the Absolute is infinite and therefore can be the bearer of otherwise mutually incompatible properties, including both personality and impersonality. It is true both to say that the ultimate reality is a personal God and that it is not. I think that that is going too far - although, of course, the Absolute, which is all things, incorporates all finite persons.

The transcendent is impersonal and Vishnu is its most comprehensive personification but this need only be my personal opinion. There is no need to argue for, let alone to try to impose, any single view in such matters. My friend, Andrea, continues to think that Fortuna is the most appropriate deity.

In the name of Cosmos, concord.