Kelly of the Phoenix
Well-Known Member
Is your favorite living or dead person a messenger for the divine?
1. Does your messenger endlessly talk about how awesome they are? If yes, then no. Even if they are, the message can't be trusted coming from such a narcissist. Swipe Left.
2. Does your messenger have a theology that's roughly within the cultural zeitgeist? If yes, then no. They are just parroting common themes running around at the time.
3. Does your messenger have a theology that, unbeknownst to basically everyone except serious historians and archaeologists, actually match with what was the theology of the time period being discussed? If yes, then ... congrats. You may have a candidate. If no, you probably answered yes to number 2. Example: Yahweh being the omnimax sole deity when that is definitely not how it was back in the day.
4. Does your messenger's theology reveal a divinity remarkably stupider than most living creatures, including amoebas? If yes, join the club. Omniscience wasn't always a thing for divinities. Most of them are just slightly superpowered people (human or otherwise). They had very limited power sets and jurisdictions. Praying to a War God for a cure for cancer just isn't going to work. Even if they are a messenger, the God giving the message doesn't rate high enough on an IQ test to consult.
5. Does your messenger really have only a substandard understanding of their own culture and even less for any other one? If yes, see number 4.
1. Does your messenger endlessly talk about how awesome they are? If yes, then no. Even if they are, the message can't be trusted coming from such a narcissist. Swipe Left.
2. Does your messenger have a theology that's roughly within the cultural zeitgeist? If yes, then no. They are just parroting common themes running around at the time.
3. Does your messenger have a theology that, unbeknownst to basically everyone except serious historians and archaeologists, actually match with what was the theology of the time period being discussed? If yes, then ... congrats. You may have a candidate. If no, you probably answered yes to number 2. Example: Yahweh being the omnimax sole deity when that is definitely not how it was back in the day.
4. Does your messenger's theology reveal a divinity remarkably stupider than most living creatures, including amoebas? If yes, join the club. Omniscience wasn't always a thing for divinities. Most of them are just slightly superpowered people (human or otherwise). They had very limited power sets and jurisdictions. Praying to a War God for a cure for cancer just isn't going to work. Even if they are a messenger, the God giving the message doesn't rate high enough on an IQ test to consult.
5. Does your messenger really have only a substandard understanding of their own culture and even less for any other one? If yes, see number 4.
