(urth) Lupiverse(s) was Re: The Wizard

[Dan'l Danehy-Oakes]

Gerry Quinn wrote:

> What about the Incarnation?  First, this is not really a past, present or
> future Earth, it is a universe created by Gene Wolfe.  Whatever he believes
> does not necessarily apply here, and something equivalent to the Incarnation
> might well take a different form there.

I think you misunderstand how creativity works for Catholic
fantasists. While free to subcreate a Catholic fantasist seeks to
imitate the work of God in doing so. Thus, for example, Tolkien calls
the Ainur "gods" but makes it very clear that they are in effect
archangelic powers subject to and created by the One God Eru Iluvatar,
and that even the world they "make" is given actuality by the word of
Eru.

I believe that, similarly, Wolfe is careful in his subcreation to
always subordinate himself and his work to the work of God. Whatever
kind of goddish beings may be present, whatever mythologies present
themselves, whatever manner and amount of universes are present, all
ultimately owe their existence and their loyalty (however
miunderstood) to the One God, the Increate and Pancreator, who stands
beyond all His creations as the Outsider. Only in one universe does He
step Inside as the Incarnate God, the Theoanthropos, and it is through
that Incarnation that whatever salvation is possible, is possible in
_any_ universe.

All this is necessary in order for Wolfe's creations not to be
blasphemous, and I believe he takes great care to maintain that
necessity.

>  [Frankly, I don’t any Jesuit would
> be shocked if you proposed that it may take a different form on different
> planets of our own universe.]

Yes, I think they would, at least if it involved a sacrificial death.

> Secondly, I would guess that Wolfe’s belief
> in the truth of Catholicism does not mean he believes it is more than an
> imperfect reflection of the unknowable absolute truth.

Here we, and orthodox Catholic theology, are in agreement. Catholicism
believes it has the true and best understanding possible for us of the
holy things, but acknowledges that they are ultimately mysteries
beyond our finite understanding. Though many Catholics still believe
that the gods of other faiths are demons, modern Catholic teaching has
it that they (at least most of them) are imperfect approaches to the
truth.

> Short version: leave
> the dogmas of twenty-first century Catholicism, Dionysism, or any other
> –ism out when analysing this piece of fiction.

Here, on the other hand, we disagree completely. To ignore Wolfe's
beliefs is to do the work a great violence.

-- 
Dan'l Danehy-Oakes