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

oh, no! better late than never ♥

[thraxios]

Do they? I'm afraid you'll have to enlighten me, maselle.

[heloise]

Madonna.

Cults have somewhat negative implications. They are abberations of the religions they strayed from.

[thraxios]

If you prefer that title, Madonna.

Ah. Where I'm from, 'cult' is - insulting in some contexts, less so in others. The actions that accompany the insult tend to concern me more than the language itself.

[heloise]

Such as persecution?

[thraxios]

One should rather be merely called a cultist than have one's tongue cut out for it.

[heloise]

Or find oneself flayed.

Tell me the reason for your interest.

[thraxios]

Is curiosity not reason enough? It seems a pity to have access to so many new ideas without the context to understand them.

[heloise]

Some ideas are worth the time to understand while others are not.

[thraxios]

I would not deny that.

Are you suggesting Christianity might not be worth my time?

[heloise]

I am suggesting curiosity is not reason enough.

[thraxios]

What would you consider 'reason enough'?

[heloise]

Perhaps, finding a use for the knowledge gained.

[thraxios]

I'm a scholar, madonna. Comparative study and personal interest are generally use enough by my standards.

[heloise]

What makes one a scholar and another not, I wonder.

[thraxios]

Whether he calls himself one, surely.

[He's smiling at the page.]

If it is any assurance of goodwill, I have a personal stake in matters of theology - as any man does.

[heloise]

Is it personal, now? It would be cruel of me to deny you any explanation I can offer then.

[thraxios]

I think it is a personal question for any mortal man, whether he is to believe in something larger than mere mortality. But -

[He pauses, wondering whether it would be better to explain himself more fully. After some consideration, he supposes he must--at least a little--if he's to expect answers in return.]

Are you dead, madonna?

[heloise]

[ The first is true, although there are too many who would rather claim ignorance. But it is the question that takes her aback, chuckling awkwardly. ]

I should hope not.

[thraxios]

I'm glad to hear it.

And after you die, do you expect you will find yourself in Cair Paradisa?

[heloise]

No. Paradisa is a misnomer, as you will soon discover.

[thraxios]

Neither did I.

[heloise]

What did you expect?

[thraxios]

[Again, he pauses, staring at the page; the cult of the White-Eyed Lady is a private one, his personal practice moreso, and he doesn't even know this woman's name. Best to dodge the question.]

That I should not be walking and writing among the living - I had never before considered what the existence of a fantôme might be like, but now I believe I can guess.

[heloise]

[ She can count on one hand the people she knows who should be otherwise dead. Perhaps many of them prefer not to say or even think of it. ]

It makes one wonder if there is redemption still after life.

[thraxios]

[And this is somewhat safer territory. Redemption isn't the thrust of his worship, making it a somewhat more theoretical question for him.]

If one thinks of Paradisa as an intermediate point - rather like staying at an inn on the way to a city - then perhaps.