[Discuss] Re: "Atheism"

[Timothy Collett]

On Sep 27, 2006, at 8:02 AM, Paris wrote:
> In a metaphorical way, it can strike you down with a lightning  
> bold, yes. Believing in a supernatural being though equals  
> believing in a God, whatever that means. I do not know how to do  
> that...

No, it doesn't.  You can believe in 500 different spirits, none of  
whom is powerful enough to be called a God--but a few of whom can  
throw lightning bolts.

> Even this simple *belief* on the specific [God] needs some kind of  
> action. Like to find ways not to provoke him/her in the future, to  
> appease him/her or to gain his/her favour. This requires  
> *worshiping* doesn't it? When you believe in something you also  
> *worship* it, no matter if it is a goat, a dragon, a human, a  
> spirit, a natural element.

No, you don't.  My characters *believe* in at least a dozen different  
Gods and Goddesses--that is, they know that they exist--but they only  
*worship* one of them.

You're thinking far too much in terms of Earth religions--and  
specifically the Judeo-Christian religions.  Forget about them; they  
don't matter.  No one's bringing them into the game--Tom has  
specifically forbidden it.

And finally, like Robert said, you don't even have to *care* about  
any of this.  Your character can remain, essentially, agnostic, and  
be just fine.

Just because you don't believe in, follow, and worship a particular  
God, Goddess, demon, or spirit doesn't make you an atheist.  Unless  
you *actively reject* the possibility of supernatural beings, you're  
not an Atheist.

Timothy Collett
Anaris Family

--

For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple,  
and wrong.
-- H L Mencken