[ text - un: athelstan ]

[pietistic]

I'm curious how many people believe in fate here.

If you do, do you believe fates can be changed?

If you don't, what do you believe in?

Comments

[scholiast]

Sure. I... think that divine interfere has its place. I've heard of the gods meddling purposefully, tipping certain things in their favour from time to time. I wouldn't rely on any guidance of the sort, though. It would be far too easy to let that kind of thinking become a crutch.

'Freeing' isn't quite the right word; there's a morbid comfort to being able to hold yourself accountable for your own actions. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Thinking that there's a certain path I'm supposed to be following just makes me feel... helpless.

[pietistic]

I find myself of two minds about this as I do many things.

There was a time in my life where to survive I needed to believe that my God had a plan and that what was happening was for a divine purpose that was yet to be revealed for me. Now,
I am not so sure that was ever the case.

[scholiast]

I see.

Well, when you need to survive, you do what you can. But if the first thing you do once you are safe is question your beliefs, that may tell you exactly what you need to know.

[pietistic]

Perhaps, that is true but doubt has always been a part of faith.

[scholiast]

Sure, I just don't put a lot of stock into faith. I would never begrudge those who do, though.

Is your faith very important to you?

[pietistic]

Yes. I grew up in a monastery.

[scholiast]

(Well then.)

Has much changed, or as you just as devoted as you were when you were in the monastery?

[pietistic]

Quite a bit has changed. I was taken captive by Vikings many years ago and then I stayed because I wanted to. My faith has become conflicted at times between their gods and my own.

[scholiast]

Natch.

(This is something Lucretia has hardly any experience in; she's not sure of what to say, exactly.) I'm sorry to hear you're having difficulty with it.