Monday, May 23, 2011

QoD Ananael Qaa on the Value of Arguing over Survival of Pagan Systems

The following quote is from Ananael Qaa, who does the Augoeides blog (which I read regularly because he finds news items that I completely miss otherwise); Ananael was commenting on a re-route post by VVF-Otherwordly Sorcery pointing out the current blog posts by Caroline Tully and David Griffin regarding the work of Professor Ronald Hutton.

"Aside from its academic value [arguing over the survival of pagan traditions] is such a silly subject. It's worthwhile to try and work out what the real history is, but why this would have any effect on someone's magical or spiritual practices is completely beyond me.

"From a technical standpoint the modernity of a system is a feature, not a bug. Horsedrawn carriages have a noble and ancient history in our civilization, but if you own a modern car you're going to beat your Amish neighbor into town every time."

12 comments:

Imperator David Griffin said...

Ah! Truly said, but if you have a rocket ship like Hermetic Internal alchemy or The Great Rite, you can go where no man has gone before!

Rufus Opus said...

The difference is that a modern car is still using the same principles as the horse drawn carriage. It's just got a higher tech engine. Wheels turn faster now with superchargers attached, but they're still round. If your magical system is based on the things of past that work, then modern tech can supercharge it.

If it's a supersleek silver interstellar craft that's based on bullshit, you're sitting in front of the supermarket in your flashy toy rocket making whoosh noises to yourself. You ain't gettin' anywhere.

Imperator David Griffin said...

@ Rufus Opus

Of course you would not want to go to the supermarket in it ...

But when it comes to an encounter with a Klingon Bird of Prey, there is nothing like a galaxy class starship - even if it is only the Enterprise A from the 60's.

Imperator David Griffin said...

The fact that you mistake a galaxy class starship for a toy rocket, is merely the result of your not having yet done what it takes to know the difference.

Rufus Opus said...

Griffy, it wasn't about you.

Imperator David Griffin said...

No prob, Roofies!

Rufus Opus said...

Hey Griff, I like you. Er... Well, I like some of the things you do, anyway. Sometimes. Like the whole star trek thing you got going on right now, that's pretty cool.

dirkt said...

sigh! NCC-1701/A are constitution class, not galaxy class....

Imperator David Griffin said...

Yeah. I know. And it sucks. Jean-Luc got the hot rod!

Morgan Drake Eckstein said...

I think that the original had more character than the new and improved model. Model D never turned my crank, so to speak.

dirkt said...

jep, morgan. the constitution class had something simple and elegant about it. a goddess in it's own right. pure beauty :)

Imperator David Griffin said...

My favorite starship, despite its lack of shields, inferior weaponry, and top speed of only Warp 5.2. will always be the Enterprise NX-01, commanded by Johnathon Archer.
I even like the armor hull plating. But then again, I am also a big fan of classic cars.
The NX-01 reminds me of another personal favorite, the 57 Chevy Bel Air. Compare the links and you will see what I mean.