ANDERS MAGE PAGE 2.0

"But isn't that undemocratic, pater?"

"I wish you didn't believe in those technocratic ideals so much, my dear Beatrice. Yes, our goals are very much undemocratic, as they should be."

"I don't understand, pater."

"Actually, democracy should more properly be called "demoncracy", because it is easily turned into a tool of the Adversary. Let me explain: are the people the ones who rule in a democracy? No, it is their elected leaders. But who are these leaders? Are they the wisest persons, is their devotion to the common good guaranteed? No, they are the ones who were best at convincing people about the righteousness of their cause, the best at gaining campaign money from corporations and organizations, the best at appearing in media. Nothing more. Thus the pawns of the Adversary can easily get into office since they are on the side of the glib tongues and money."

"But you said these were technocratic ideals?"

"Yes, the Technocracy introduced democracy, to make it impossible for us to break their rule since only politicians following their paradigm would be elected (accidentally giving the Other Side an upper hand). They clothed the idea in beautiful ideals of equality and fairness, while in reality it only supports their steel fist. No one dares, or can attack the idea of democracy openly today, so well have they succeeded."

"But pater, we also strive for equality! Isn't mankind a great choir that must sing together to Ascend?"

"But a choir needs a conductor, otherwise it would become disharmonious even if all the members sought to sing together. All people are equal before the One, no amount of power can ever change that. Some people are suited to sing soloist pieces, others to join in the great and glorious choir. All sing the praises of the One together."

"But I still don't see why the leaders are bound to be corrupt? After all, could not the faithful bring a truly good man into office?"

"Dear child, if we suppose that he could avoid the traps set by the Syndicate and New World Order, that he could avoid becoming corrupted by his power he would still be blocked by the other politicians, the courts, the parliament. The Technocracy divided the power between many groups so that only those who control most of the paradigm can manipulate it."

"But what about our leaders then? Aren't they in danger of becoming corrupt too?!"

"Yes and no. Unlike most Sleeper politicians they know the truth, and cannot look away from it even if they wanted. That doesn't mean they don't make mistakes from time to time. After all, they are just human, but they have seen the light of the One and are inspired by it. Some even say their Avatars advise them. Be that as it may, their faith and our faith in them keeps our choir strong."

"I just can't get over all this! These ideas sounds more like they belong in the 18th century than the 20th; almost a kind of 'enlightened man's burden'. Should not each person choose their own path, inspired by the One through the Avatar? Why can't there be any freedom in your world?"

"Beatrice, you have been talking with the Adepts again, haven't you?"

"Yes, pater..."

"No need to worry, I wont report you to the Abbess. I understand your confusion. I was once almost as confused when I was an apprentice. I studied for my mentor, and he taught me how things were, and then I talked to fellow mages and they claimed things were different. Sometimes the differences were trivial, like the naming of the Spheres, sometimes they were fundamental like the nature of the One. You of course understand that this is a question of Paradigm, a way of perceiving the world. To a Virtual Adept the One is just a soulless big bang of energy and information exploding from pre-space in the remote past..."

"But why can't we all just decide to believe in the same things, since reality is shaped by what we believe?"

"Beatrice, sometimes you are foolish! Do you think the existence of the One is something we mages could just decide on, like we decide what hymns to sing at mass?"

"No... but that means there are some fundamental truths that we cannot change, doesn't it?"

"Some philosophers claim that we do not change the world itself by our beliefs, but that it is our perspectives that change. It is like looking at a complex object from different views, the fundamental stuff is unchanged but its properties seem to change as we change beliefs. It might even look completely different. In this case there are fundamental truths that are unchangeable, although it might be possible to look at the world from an angle where they are impossible to see or even irrelevant."

"So the One exists, but it can be perceived from many directions? Like we do, or like the big bang of the technomancers or the Great Spirit of the shamans. All our beliefs are really the same at the core?"

"You have been listening too much to those Adepts. Yes, we often believe in similar things. No, our beliefs are fundamentally different at the core. It is important to realize that mixing together the teachings and beliefs of different traditions is dangerous. You risk losing your way and end up in a muddle of relativism where nothing is forbidden, everything allowed."

"But..."

"Let me put it this way. If I don't misremember, the Adepts use Correspondence by simply reaching into the data structures of an object and changing its coordinates, a bit like they manipulate bank accounts. We of course see the Sphere completely differently. To the One all places are one, and by reaching up towards this divine perspective we are able to appear or move objects elsewhere with the grace of the Highest. Isn't that right?"

"Yes, pater. Deacon Rheingold told me this was the reason some of us can glimpse the future and past, by reaching up towards aevum, the time of angels."

"Exactly. The One resides in aeternitas, the no-time outside the arch of time. But I digress. Now, suppose you spend a lot of time among the Adepts, and learn Correspondence from them. Then there is a good chance that you will see it as "twiddling bits" instead or reaching for the angelic world, perhaps as a combination of both like manipulating concepts on a higher plane using the computer. But this is inconsistent! To an Adept, there are no higher planes in any truly spiritual meaning, just levels of implementations. In our faith, it would be ridiculous to think that the unity of the One could be manipulated, let alone through a soulless computer!"

"But it would work, wouldn't it?"

"Yes, and that is the most dangerous thing about syncretism. Most traditional philosophies are consistent, they explain and uphold reality. But if you start mixing and matching, then you lose this consistency. The world no longer has to make sense, since you accept inconsistent positions."

"Didn't one of the Church Fathers say 'I believe because it is impossible'? "

"That was something completely different. But at least you are paying some attention in class. As I was saying, losing consistency is very dangerous. Your paradigm no longer has to make sense even to yourself, what you believe in is a matter of personal preferences. And one inconsistency will soon lead to another, undermining the whole structure. In the end you can believe in anything and nothing, everything is permitted and forbidden. That is the way towards becoming a Marauder or worse."

"But do the other traditions make sense? I have heard about the ideas of the Etherites, and they sound completely absurd to me, not to mention those awful things the Euthanatos teach."

"Not all traditions use our logic, Beatrice. It is very hard to understand what they think and see (and sometimes it is best not to try, as in the case of the Marauders and Nephandi), but each tradition makes sense to its members. Some traditions, like ours, have a more or less unified view of the world. We disagree on certain things but the basics are rather clear. Others let each member think whatever he or she wants and mostly keep together out of other similarities, like the Etherites. But all mages have to use a consistent paradigm to remain sane."

"So that is why you don't want me to believe in democracy? Because it is inconsistent with the divine order, but not necessarily false in any absolute sense?"

"Exactly, my dear."