RE: Holy Symbols

[Lyle H Janney <lhjanney@adpc.purdue.edu>]

While it certainly adds flavor to the game to have different symbols
for the various regions/sects of a specific deity, I think I need to raise
a flag here.  I only have two points to make.  Succinctly:

1)  As has been mentioned before, we should not do something just
for the sake of doing it.  I feel that the flavor added by using different
symbols is easily overborne by the confusion that will be introduced
as a result.  By confusion, I am referring to the fact that everyone,
especially new players, will now have to keep lists of holy symbols
on hand so they know what sect they are dealing with at any particular
time.  Also, let's say that I follow Anubis and don't want to align myself
with any particular sect, what symbol do I wear?  Hence, we should
not add this complication _just_ for the sake of added flavor.

2)  Every major religion today has many different sects and sub-sects.
However, _all_ Christians view the Cross as their symbol, _all_ Jews
view the Star of David as their symbol, etc.  Please do not try to argue
that they would have different symbols as a result of internal schism;
that argument will not fly.  Just look at the Protestants and the Catholics
in Great Britain; same 'holy symbol' yet much killing of each other despite
their common deity.  Wright, please feel free to point out other historical
support for my argument; I know there is quite a bit of it, but I'm not the
history major here.

In summary, the only justification I can think of to have different symbols
is for added flavor, but the resulting added confusion, I feel, completely
outweighs that single benefit.

However, a great way (I feel) to add that flavor without muddling up the
core symbol used by the followers of a Deity can also be taken from
modern religion.  Certainly each sect would have different 'trappings';
different ceremonial vestments, different dogma, subtle differences in
holy text translation (I could easily see an entirely different sect of Neptune
being founded as a result of translating their holy text into Dwarvish), etc..
While I am referring to 'modern' religion, I am certain that Wright can
substantiate that my argument holds true even as far back as before the
'birth' of Christianity.  How many different ways have each of the ancient
Roman, Greek, and Egyptian deities been worshiped?

On a related topic, is Scrogg dedicated strictly to fornication or no?  If not,
then his symbol should just simply not be a phallus.  Such a symbol would
just be an added 'trapping' of those followers of Scrogg who focused on
that aspect of Scrogg; but not all followers would have need of that trapping.
So, since this deity is strictly local anyway, if he is not strictly dedicated to
fornication, can we change his symbol to something a little more in line with
the true nature of that religion?

Lyle

-----Original Message-----
From:	Wright Frazier [SMTP:khelek@ns1.cioe.com]

My personal view is that they are regional and/or by sect.  In geleia
the orthodox anubians use a stylized jackles head crossed with a
sword.  The reformed use the standard sideways A, unless I come up
with something better.

An order of holy warriors of neptune use the symbol of a wave cresting
over a trident for their symbol.

The few priests of scrogg in geleia don't go around with a penis hanging
from their necks.  They'll use something different as soon as I get around
to figuring out what.

anyways, you get the idea.  i think it should definately be by region
and/or sect.

Wright