Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 12 Dec 2005 to 13 Dec 2005 (#2005-231)
From: MYSTARA-L automatic digest system <LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM>
Date: 14/12/2005, 19:00
To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion

There is 1 message totalling 64 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

 1. Mystaran Churches

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Date:    Tue, 13 Dec 2005 13:49:06 -0400
From:    Steven Carter <steven.f.carter@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Mystaran Churches

On 12/12/05, Daniel Gioffre <danielgioffre@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Oh, I think this would absolutely make sense. In a
> historical sense, there was no sense of exclusion in

Thanks.  Glad I'm making enough sense. :)

> the mysteries. You could be inducted into the
> mysteries at Eleusis as well as the mysteries of Isis,
> etc. It's all a side-product of syncretic thought.
> (And, btw, there's no reason why this has to be
> limited to paganism. There have been plenty of
> Christian leaders who have espoused some degree of
> syncretism (a bad idea, IMHO).)

Yeah, well, I "found Christ" by reading Buddhism and Daoism, hanging
with witches and starting a BSc at a staunchly atheist university so
go figure. ;)

> As I read the sources, a philosophical syncretism is
> likely in Mystara. In fact, my understanding of the

I buy it.

> Church of the Karameikos is to take it as an attempt
> to unite the cults of Thyatis through a more
> "spiritual" interpretation of the teachings of the
> individual cults. Political/religious conflicts arise,
> hence its flourishing in Karameikos instead of the
> Empire.

I read it as being a branch of a pre-existing, hierarchical church.=20
And that's why I didn't buy it.  I like your explanation better if one
supposes the "church of Thyatis" isn't a singular organization but a
collection of cults.

> But I still don't understand why it would bother you
> that a cleric/paladin of Darokin would be allowed to
> function in Thyatis. General feelings of syncretism
> would explain this without recourse to some Masonic
> uber-cult that involves all the cults of the world. Do
> not multiply entity beyond necessity, as Wm. of Ockham
> said. :)

Maybe I dig Masonic uber cults? ;)

Like ninjas and pirates and ancient squid gods they're always lots fun.

See above.

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End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 12 Dec 2005 to 13 Dec 2005 (#2005-231)
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