Talk:Religion/@comment-26018514-20190513193528/@comment-35434444-20190515082556

@ChshioKurin

"The ban on artistic expression was 80 years ago."

...Newman!

I legitimately have no counter for that. You'd think that of all people I'd be the one to pay attention to this and keep track of the novels. I'm fairly certain someone even called me out on it before. Given that Mantle had no culture, much of what exists in Atlas now was probably imported from Mistral.

Ah okay so even in cases where other countries have the dust, the Shcnees occupy them like British imperialists.

Having to process dust just reinforces the point I made about Atlisian knowledge and innovation. Because even if you have the dust, it's useless for all refined purposes if don't know how to treat it. So ultimately what the dust company sells is primarily expertise, secondarily manufacturing, and only peripherally the dust itself.

I was going to keep this ranting about how Atlas should have the relic of knowledge to see if anyone here could spot the real reason Mistral has it, but I might as well end the charade and come out with it:

There is a way we can define what kind of knowledge the relic represents without being arbitrary because the story know has this really important thing called a plot now. And the plot is that mankind has to rectify itself in order to pass the judgement of the gods.

Technical knowledge may allow humanity to level the playing field against the grimm and bolster their productivity, but that's not the kind of knowledge that's going to address the flaws in human nature that led to the fall of man in the first place. The kind of knowledge that will make all the difference in the end is self knowledge.

Even if Atlas really were more intelligent and culture in every way, their philosophy is still grounded in a pursuit of the future; combating impermanence; preservation. But true self knowledge consists in letting go.

A light like a lamp might represent knowledge but it can also represent awareness; consciousness. The human mind as it is prior to thought and thus one with its own divine energy. The non-conceptual knowledge. (Want to know why Djin is always smiling? It's because everyone is always asking the wrong questions.The kind of knowledge she represents can't be reached by thought.)

It's all but certain that I missed yet more details, but as my final conclusion on this topic, Monty had everything figured out from the beginning.

Science is a great servant but a terrible master. Knowledge in this case refers not to intelligence but wisdom.