On Fri, 5 Dec 2003, Kenneth Gorelick wrote: > I suspect that Vlad's views are pragmatic on this point. However, if he > were to seek to place believers in Dragaeran theology in an Eastern > framework, he would have to consider them heretics, not atheists. The > KNOW that the gods exist, but they worship them in a manner that would > be unacceptable back east.... > On Dec 5, 2003, at 6:35 PM, Philip Hart wrote: What I meant was, that from the Dragaeran point of view the gods aren't Gods. Maybe the Cycle is a God - if it can micromanage Dragaeran affairs to ensure the cycle system, I'd say it is. But perhaps the weight of public expectations is enough. The Greek gods, for example, were powerful and immortal. Verra&Co have attributes that place them beyond mortal (that's how I interpret Verra's comments to Aliera about her blood etc.) but they can be destroyed given sufficient effort - maybe not known in the East. From a Christian sort of perspective the Greek gods might or might not be considered Gods. I suspect that Easterners view Verra&Co the way the Greeks viewed Athena&Co. Anyway, to me an important attribute of God in a Christian worldview is to establish morality - otherwise one is stuck with ethics. The Greek gods did some of this, in part by gruesomely punishing those who violated the guest rules or slept with their relatives, but on the other hand they were rather flawed themselves. I don't see Verra doing much morality-establishing - she's more like a political leader in that regard, and perhaps not even a bully-pulpitist. I can imagine Aerich worshipping the Cycle, but maybe that's just me.