On The Divine
The following article is an excerpt from the writings of Celestial Scholar Aldeus Bramore, Archmage of The Cosmos for the Septimus Arcanus:
As practitioners of the arcane, we have it in our hearts to ascertain the nature of that which we do not understand. It is our nature to "discover" names for the nameless, and to explain that which is thought to be impossible. It is our greatest strength as mortals. But as I gaze into infinity, I find myself laughing at our own folly and hubris. Who are we to place parameters on the endless?
These higher beings that we call Alpha Materia, Aetherian, Nihilan, Angel, or Demon care not for the names we ascribe to them. In truth, these labels only exist for our own satisfaction. But even with that said, these names are inherently flawed in execution. How do we address those beings who defy our own reasoning? The Prince of Pacts is both fey and fiend. There are records to suggest that the Red Lady has origins linked to the Tearing, And the Lord of the Hunt has origins linked to the Material and yet some choose to distinguish him as demonic in influence.
I am not one who is above admitting that our cultural upbringing shapes our biases in ways that we are even conscious of. In spite of my distance from the faith, I'm sure that my proximity to the dogma of the Keepers of the Everflame has effected the way I view transcendent beings on a subconscious level.
Additionally, is important to note that in the cultures of some Western nations, such as the Imperium and the Dalmeri, they do not have distinctions for how they view beings from the Outer Planes. They see beings we would classify as demonic as divine. Are they foolish to look at these forces of chaos with reverence, or do they have a more acute understanding of the nature of the cosmos than us.
At what point do we come to acknowledge the folly of our endeavors and simply come to the conclusion that there are questions we are not meant to answer? I have yet to reach an answer satisfactory to even myself. It seems as though our crusade against those of faith may never reach a meaningful foothold unless we chose to accept our follies.
As practitioners of the arcane, we have it in our hearts to ascertain the nature of that which we do not understand. It is our nature to "discover" names for the nameless, and to explain that which is thought to be impossible. It is our greatest strength as mortals. But as I gaze into infinity, I find myself laughing at our own folly and hubris. Who are we to place parameters on the endless?
These higher beings that we call Alpha Materia, Aetherian, Nihilan, Angel, or Demon care not for the names we ascribe to them. In truth, these labels only exist for our own satisfaction. But even with that said, these names are inherently flawed in execution. How do we address those beings who defy our own reasoning? The Prince of Pacts is both fey and fiend. There are records to suggest that the Red Lady has origins linked to the Tearing, And the Lord of the Hunt has origins linked to the Material and yet some choose to distinguish him as demonic in influence.
I am not one who is above admitting that our cultural upbringing shapes our biases in ways that we are even conscious of. In spite of my distance from the faith, I'm sure that my proximity to the dogma of the Keepers of the Everflame has effected the way I view transcendent beings on a subconscious level.
Additionally, is important to note that in the cultures of some Western nations, such as the Imperium and the Dalmeri, they do not have distinctions for how they view beings from the Outer Planes. They see beings we would classify as demonic as divine. Are they foolish to look at these forces of chaos with reverence, or do they have a more acute understanding of the nature of the cosmos than us.
At what point do we come to acknowledge the folly of our endeavors and simply come to the conclusion that there are questions we are not meant to answer? I have yet to reach an answer satisfactory to even myself. It seems as though our crusade against those of faith may never reach a meaningful foothold unless we chose to accept our follies.