RE: Holy Symbols

[Joel Gunderson <belgarat@expert.cc.purdue.edu>]

I don't think that was very succinct.


On Tue, 1 Sep 1998, Lyle H Janney wrote:

> 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
> 
>