two.

[thraxios]

The number of books available in the library is astounding. If not for the lack of comfortable bedding, I think I should be content to live there permanently.

I've started with books of philosophy; the selection is wide and many of the writers, unknown to me. They do present a curious problem, however, since most of them come from unfamiliar cultures.

A great number expect familiarity with a figure called Jesus Christ, which has stymied me for the moment. From what I've been able to gather, he was the central martyr or pacifist god of a mystery cult (perhaps both?). It seems a remarkably well-traveled one, which makes it all the more intriguing.

Reading with that assumption in mind is enough to make sense of the text. It's clear, however, that a deeper familiarity with the cult's theological tenets is required to fully appreciate the writers' arguments.

If anyone reading this is better acquainted with "Christianity," any recommendations for introductory readings would be appreciated. Its holy texts are rather long, and thus far, they offer little in the way of context.

[And if you're interested in bugging him, Gideon can be found in the library. He's sitting a table stacked high with books and sheets of paper, on which he's taking careful notes with pen and ink. Someday we've gotta introduce this boy to ballpoint pens. Among the open books are an atlas open to a map of the Mediterranean, several books of philosophy, a King James Bible, and his wax tablet (just in case).]

Comments

written;

[hellshaped]

[This is coming from a person who is clearly left-handed; the penmanship slants and there is sometimes an errant smudge of ink.]

People usually don't like when their religions are called cults. It has a weird connotation.

[written forever]

[thraxios]

My apologies for giving offense - the word is one of the kinder ones available where I'm from.

Are you a follower of this c Christ?

yes same

[hellshaped]

Don't worry, I'm not offended. Just a friendly word of advice.

And yes: I'm a Catholic, which is a specific denomination of Christianity.

[thraxios]

In that case, it is advice well appreciated, messire.

Ah - it's one of the larger splinter groups, isn't it? I've found a fair amount of reference to the Catholics.

[hellshaped]

Sort of. It's the oldest surviving denomination in my time, so the other ones are technically the splinter groups.

[thraxios]

An important distinction - thank you.

In any case, it's a pleasure to speak with someone more familiar with this religion. My name is Gideon Thraxios.

[hellshaped]

I'm no scholar or anything, but I can try to answer any questions you have. I'm Hellboy.

[thraxios]

I appreciate it, Messire Hellboy.

[It's an odd name, but Gideon assumes that Hellboy, like Mildmay, was the son of a woman inclined to give her children long, religiously minded names. Presumably it's short for something like Hell-Shall-Have-No-Hold-Over-My-Boy.]

I find the emphasis on conversion intriguing. From what I've read thus far, the process sounds like a matter of reaching out to the faithless regardless of their interest, rather than searching for those who are in a position to benefit from conversion. Have you noticed anything like this?

[hellshaped]

[WOW IF ONLY, no really his adoptive father probably just didn't know he was naming a thing that would actually grow up to be sentient. So, there's that.

There is a brief pause before he writes a response, because he's not 100% sure if this guy is trying to be argumentative. He decides to give him the benefit of the doubt though, so...] There are a lot of people (they're called missionaries) who go out into the world and try to "save" people. I don't personally believe this, but some Christians are of the opinion that if you're not a Christian, you're going to Hell when you die. So missionaries try to prevent that.

[thraxios]

[Through all his reading on what he's still inclined to think of as 'the cult of Jesus Christ,' Gideon has been contrasting the tenets to those of his own faith. The followers of the White-Eyed Lady waited until he was suicidal to offer him initiation, a sharp contrast to the decree that one should "make disciples of all the nations." His curiosity stems from that difference more than anything; it's reminiscent of other cults he's encountered in Mélusine, but this one is far longer-lived than most of those.]

They're at the behest of their doctrine - I see. The inclination is understandable, given the descriptions of Hell offered.

And what do you personally believe?

[hellshaped]

I think as long as you're a good person, you won't go to Hell.

[Which probably isn't the case for Hellboy specifically, but that doesn't mean he doesn't try to be a good person anyway.]

[thraxios]

That's a refreshingly straightforward approach.

[hellshaped]

I'm probably a lot less strict about religion than what you're reading in books, anyway.

[thraxios]

Very likely. The level of bureaucracy and officialism that appears to be involved in the religion is stunning; you'd have little time to do anything else.

[hellshaped]

I think most religions are like that. They're all going to have their own doctrines and their own scholars who make it their life's work.

[thraxios]

There are some exceptions, in my experience - but I think those are born of necessity more than anything else. The impulse seems always to be there, even if the means to devote one's life to faith are not.

[hellshaped]

The impulse for religion or to become a scholar of it specifically?

[thraxios]

To become a scholar of it.

As far as the impulse for religion goes - that, I'm not sure about.

[hellshaped]

What about you? Do you follow a religion?

[thraxios]

I do.

[hellshaped]

Does it have a name? [Not that it'll mean anything to him, but...]

locked to hellboy

[thraxios]

It's generally referred to as the cult of the White-Eyed Lady, when it is referred to at all.

[Gideon can see why tit for tat might seem fair, but he doesn't enjoy talking about his goddess to relative strangers. Best to divert if he can.]

Are you also interested in other religions, Messire Hellboy?

gideon forever

[hellshaped]

[Oh, a filter? Well, that's fine. He figures it must just be a personal subject, so he filters right back.]

Sort of. I used to be a paranormal investigator, so it's just kind of habit.

[thraxios]

[With the topic now changed, Gideon isn't sure the filter is necessary, but things might move back again to his faith. And that is a subject he considers deeply personal, and--among some parties--dangerous to speak of openly. Best, he thinks, to continue to filter, just in case.]

A paranormal investigator? What kind of investigations did you undertake?

[hellshaped]

Anything regarding the supernatural or paranormal affecting humans, basically. Hauntings, werewolf attacks, vampires... that sort of thing. A lot of them are specific to a certain culture's religion or mythology, so having a good general knowledge of that is helpful.