Video version of this article
0:03:40
#Fantasy #Tolkien #Lotr #TheOneBook #VargVikernes
Cast it into the Fire!
So, let us say you have a religion that is based on proselytization. You think that everyone can become part of your religion. Let us also say that this religion is based on principles like forgiveness. And a belief in redemption for the evil in our world. What do you think this will do in the long run to your society? Let's find out.
One book to rule them all. One book to find them. One book to bring them all and in doctrine, bind them.
The idea of proselytization, that others should be converted to your religion is problematic because it allows any group, any outsider group, to infiltrate your society. The only thing they have to do in order to be accepted by you is to pretend that they accept your religious dogmas and they become part of your religion. If converting others to your religion is one of the foundations for your salvation, you will actively seek to include groups that are potentially subversive into your culture. If you believe in redemption for those who are obviously thoroughly "evil",[1]in the attempt to have them redeem themselves, you will allow them to work their evil in your society.[2]Even if you succeed in redeeming some people or in helping them redeem themselves, many will not. And they will, like Saruman in Lord of the rings, in the meanwhile be allowed by you to do evil.
E. g. Gandalf is literally personally responsible for the scourging of the Shire, because HE allowed Saruman to do this. Because he showed him mercy and allowed him the chance to "redeem" himself - something Saruman clearly never even considered.
And being able to identify the problem, And even to get rid of the problem is not enough. If you on a later stage, will forgive, accept that they have the potential for redemption and allow them back in. Because they again pretended to convert to your religion. And therefore, any society with such a religion, or let's say, an ideology, will in the end destroy itself or allow others to destroy it from within.
So if you promote this idea of mercy, forgiveness, the belief in redemption and the idea that complete strangers, can be converted to your religion, is in itself extremely destructive for your society.
BTW: A subversive cult ("The Way"), with the potential to destroy the Thulêan heritage, appears in the ReconQuest Expert Rules..
So, let us say you have a religion that is based on proselytization. You think that everyone can become part of your religion. Let us also say that this religion is based on principles like forgiveness. And a belief in redemption for the evil in our world. What do you think this will do in the long run to your society? Let's find out.
One book to rule them all. One book to find them. One book to bring them all and in doctrine, bind them.
The idea of proselytization, that others should be converted to your religion is problematic because it allows any group, any outsider group, to infiltrate your society. The only thing they have to do in order to be accepted by you is to pretend that they accept your religious dogmas and they become part of your religion. If converting others to your religion is one of the foundations for your salvation, you will actively seek to include groups that are potentially subversive into your culture. If you believe in redemption for those who are obviously thoroughly "evil",[1]in the attempt to have them redeem themselves, you will allow them to work their evil in your society.[2]Even if you succeed in redeeming some people or in helping them redeem themselves, many will not. And they will, like Saruman in Lord of the rings, in the meanwhile be allowed by you to do evil.
E. g. Gandalf is literally personally responsible for the scourging of the Shire, because HE allowed Saruman to do this. Because he showed him mercy and allowed him the chance to "redeem" himself - something Saruman clearly never even considered.
And being able to identify the problem, And even to get rid of the problem is not enough. If you on a later stage, will forgive, accept that they have the potential for redemption and allow them back in. Because they again pretended to convert to your religion. And therefore, any society with such a religion, or let's say, an ideology, will in the end destroy itself or allow others to destroy it from within.
So if you promote this idea of mercy, forgiveness, the belief in redemption and the idea that complete strangers, can be converted to your religion, is in itself extremely destructive for your society.
BTW: A subversive cult ("The Way"), with the potential to destroy the Thulêan heritage, appears in the ReconQuest Expert Rules..
- E. g. Saruman, in The Lord of the Rings.
- E. g. to enslave the Hobbits in the Shire.