(urth) The Outsider

[James Wynn]

>> Andrew Mason-
>> This could be explained in various ways:
>> that Jesus is actually present within that universe.
>> that there is an analogue of Jesus, who is merely a prophet.
>> that the stories have somehow been transmitted from another universe.
>> But I don't think the first is ruled out.
> Dan'l Danehy-Oakes-
> I do. The idea of multiple Incarnations is not only "not strictly
> Orthodox Christianity," it is abhorrent to the idea that Jesus died
> once _for all_. "All" is a big word, which I mostly try to avoid, but
> it's unambiguously present in Scripture.

There's another possibility I've mentioned before. And IF I were 
inclined to justify tBotNS with Christian theology I would prefer it. I 
don't, but I would.

Since the cycles of Briah are not linked in Time, they are from a 
practical standpoint indistinguishable from parallel universes. In There 
Are Doors, although the parallel universes are based on a fundamental 
difference, they are very similar too each other anyway. For example, 
Green noticed that Lara's universe doesn't have ice cubes. Green 
explains that this is because the universes are like strings on a guitar 
tuned to the same note. Pluck one and those next to it vibrate. So the 
parallel universes keep each other in line. Men in Lara's universe where 
black tuxedos to their wedding because they die after sex. Men in 
Green's universe do the same only because the men in Lara's universe do.

So in Severian's cycle, there was a Christian Church because there was 
in _our_ universe. The Jesus mentioned in Silk's Holy Book is a figure 
of myth. Neither Severian nor the Rajan could any more go back in time 
and meet him than you or I could go back in Time and meet Cinderella or 
Jason or Thor. But that doesn't mean he hasn't heard of him. The 
Outsider is the God of all cycles, and the vision he shows Silk of 
Christ on the cross is from _our_ cycle.

Thus the Good News of the One Event spreads to all cycles for the 
salvation of all.

But that's a very geeky explanation. I prefer to just call it a fantasy 
story of the distant future in our own universe.

u+16b9

>
>> It's the basis of the Narnia series, and Lewis is generally seen as
>> pretty orthodox.
> Actually, a number of fundamentalists have condemned the Narnia books
> on precisely this ground. I think that's throwing the baby out with
> the bathwater; the Narnia books are good stories, and even have a lot
> to recommend them theologically. But the idea that Aslan's death in
> tLtW&tW is analogous to Christ's salvific death on Earth has to be
> taken with a whole salt lick.
>
>> I don't see anything to make me say 'This is a
>> universe without Christ' - though at the time the events take place,
>> it's certainly a universe where Christ is not _known_.
> That's actually another theological problem. Scripture has the Church
> enduring to the end of days.
>
>> Now, it is certainly true that a link is drawn between the Outsider
>> and Dionysus. But I don't see that as negating the connection with the
>> Christian God, but as suggesting a connection between the Christian
>> God and Dionysus - a connection which others (Lewis and Soyinka, at
>> least) have drawn, and which, therefore, can't be ruled out.
> Oddly enough I don't have a problem with this...
>