Ironsides Family/Bowie/Heathen/Indictment of Theocratic Astromancy
Indictment of Theocratic Astromancy
Members of Astromancy, I, a “heathen,” accuse you of abusing your religion, of decadence, of intimidation, of extortion and coercion. Included in this indictment is a plea for you to correct your ways and a warning that ignorance and silent complicity are no excuse for corruption and mob mentality.
Charge one; Astromancy – the faith – is being abused. Indications of this abuse are found in the manner to which theocracy has monopolized spiritual exploration amongst the nobility. Preaching to have the singular path to enlightenment is vastly different than enforcing laws that punish those who choose to decide otherwise. The theocratic face of Astromancy exists in many realms of Dwilight to the detriment of those realms. As a result, the spiritual face of Astromancy is further blemished and scarred. Observe the wince of realms who do not allow Astromancy, or who attempt to check its insidious rooting. That is not the face of a friend welcoming another friend, but one of a noble protecting their most cherished values and principles. Astromancy teaches lessons of the three hands, theocracy enforces the doctrine of the closed fist. Theocracy has perverted Astromancy. Poor honest and innocent Astromancy is being abused.
Charge two; theocracy has led to decadence. I have witnessed a letter from within the Church of Astromancy condemning the “religion” of Swordfell. I state that there is no religion in Swordfell and point out that theocracy has seen to it that the only faith in Swordfell is Astromancy, therefore the noble who wrote that letter can only be condemning his own faith. That letter further revealed the attitude and tone of the members of Astromancy –that of panderers and political jockeys. The widespread membership of Astromancy, rather than improve the religion, has polluted it with members who are insincere and whose reasons for converting are solely for personal gain. A religion should be proud of its strength based on the amount of devoted faithful not simply in the amount of followers. Theocracy has commanded Astromancy to vanity and hubris, and thus the Church itself is wielded in a grossly corrupt and crooked manner. Poor honest and innocent Astromancy is now dishonest and culpable.
Charge three; theocracy has performed acts of intimidation, extortion and coercion. Astromancy as a religion is responsible for strengthening the dignity and quality of nobility, as most religions seek to. Astromancy as a theocratic mob is responsible for realm-icide and liberticide. I invite those who seek to challenge this statement by taking a thorough look at Dwilight’s history and list out the realms killed by natural causes, self-destruction, barbarian or monster overwhelming, or legitimate warfare and then make another list of realms killed by theocracy. The end result of your tally will prove that theocracy is the leading cause of realm death. Let us focus the scale closer. Once again pick up your copies of Dwilight histories and examine the conflicts that have occurred in each individual realm. Make two lists, once again, and sort out the causes of conflict into those caused by domestic politics, by personal vendetta, by strife or division versus those caused by the encroachment of Astromancy and again your results will provide evidence that theocracy’s tools include intimidation, extortion and coercion. Members of the faith of Astromancy probably have a more detailed list than I, for they are intimate witness to the cavities, the yellowing, the grime of Astromancy’s theocratic teeth. Theocracy has taught Astromancy thuggery and mob rule. Its attitude is no longer gentle and amiable, but rough and forceful. Its manners are no longer polite and considerate, but deceptive and malevolent. How many realms have flinched at the sight of an Astromancer priest? How many conversations have been had in the inner halls of realm governance as to ‘what to do with the theocratic muscle?’ Poor honest and innocent Astromancy has taken up with the wrong crowd!
Astromancy, I have seen you grow up from a young faith to a mature religion. You should have been, could have been, better. You are not. You are weak and cowardly. You are easily manipulated, distracted and gullible. Theocracy has contaminated you to the core and you should be ashamed that I, an outsider, am the only one to speak out against it. I sympathize if you are afraid and cornered, sometimes I am alone in my battles too, but courage is defined as performing your duty despite your fear. Astromancy, you have a duty to the nobility you effect to behave yourself, to conduct yourself in a respectable and appropriate behaviour. Up to the very moment I am writing this letter you have failed all grades of conduct.
