Second Certitudes

Background

There are six core beliefs of Sanctuary. These beliefs were laid out in the words of the prophet when Sanctuary was founded, and have been passed down from one generation to the next. These beliefs are broken up into three tiers, known as Certitudes, the second of which contains two Certitudes.

Purpose

The Certitudes were documented in order to provide a structure to Sanctuary. The prophet documented their truths and, in doing so, created a belief system which allows those who follow it to become a prime.

Location

They were recorded as a digital file, which is held on the top floor of the Tower of Solace, the aptly named Level of Certitude. It is accessible only by the current parent and anyone they choose to allow into this sacred chamber.

The documents themselves may only be viewed by the parent, but the Titles of the Certitudes are held dear to all so that they might gleam their truth.
All six Certitudes rely on each other, but there is a reason they are structured in this way, otherwise the prophet would not have done so. Many believe this is because the First Certitude is the most important, while others suggest that without the first, the others may not be true.

The Document

The document itself takes the form of a digital recording which can be accessed as text, voice or holographic image. It was originally recorded as text, written in Sanctuary's language, but can be translated into any of the saved 764 languages on the system.
The Second Certitudes are a single digital file broken up into two headings, one for each of the two Certitudes. The whole document is over 28,000 words long and contains a large amount of mathematical equations. Below are four extracts, one from the beginning of each section, and one from the middle or end of each section.

Extract from the Beginning of the First Section

The Second Certitudes

Nothing which is prime can truly be broken.

This is a fact.
Ask any mathematician and they will assure you that nothing whole can come from a divided prime. Of course, there is no good reason to trust any mathematician, so I have done the calculations myself.

Extract from the Middle of the First Section

And at our hearts are we all not simply numbers. We are numbers to the governments who count us among their populous. We are numbers to the stores who try to sell us their products. We are numbers to the advertisers who buy and sell our own data. We are nothing more than numbers.
Knowing that is the first step.
But it doesn't have to be the final step.
If prime numbers cannot be divided, a truth I have irrefutably proven, then we must take the leap towards becoming prime ourselves. I say leap deliberately because it is a far distance for anyone to travel by themselves. But it is something that can be taken gradually, step by step, steadily covering the distance to become Prime.
I would question the sanity of anyone who would not want to be prime.
What greater ambition could there be? We know the universe is breaking and is determined to break us with it. Becoming prime is the only way to achieve this.

Extract from the Beginning of the Second Section

Division is a death sentence.

I once heard of an ancient text, in which they wrote that it was possible to conquer any group of people by dividing them.
Interesting, how these truths we hear in our youths come back to us as soon as we realise their validity. In my own life I have experienced this phenomenon. I have been divided from family, from friends. I have been divided within myself.
But beyond my own experiences, this is a universal truth. Everyone can think of a time when they had been part of a group which needed to work together, only for the group to become divided and then break entirely. And they will have seen it elsewhere too.

Extract from the End of the Second Section

There is nothing that can so quickly cause the downfall of a person than to become divided within yourself, to have doubts and not trust the instincts which are there to protect you and keep you alive. And there is nothing that can so quickly cause the downfall of a group than division within its members.
There can only be one goal. One aim. One purpose. In this, we must be prime. For, to be divided is the surest way to die.

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Related Articles

Type

Decree, Religious

Medium

Digital Recording, Text

Location

Tower of Solace

Sections of this article are only available to those who want to see all the behind-the-scenes information.
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The Certitudes

The First Certitude

The universe is breaking.

The Second Certitudes

Nothing which is prime can truly be broken.
Division is a death sentence.

The Third Certitudes

Everyone has to make the choice themselves.
Leading others to the light makes yours shine brighter.
We can all become a prime of one if we try hard enough.