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<P><B><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">>David Stockhoff</FONT></B>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">>Point taken. </FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">>Although, funnily enough, if we are wondering whether alien races/species can have crucificial theophanies---whether across a universe or across a</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">>succession of universes---then in fact it may be more relevant to ask whether a Heechee or a Puppeteer or a Neighbor </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">>can suffer on an analogue of the cross than whether it can think. </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">>Presumably both abilities are ideal, but the first is critical, no pun intended.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">>If we follow the Lumen Gentium, however, sapience may be more useful for an alien race that will never have </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">>its own theophany. (And this makes me think of the Hieros, who strike me far more as thinkers than feelers, as well as </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">>the various individuals I've called Powers.)</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">>But this is for whoever is Pope at First Contact in 2150 AD to worry about.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">------------------------------</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I always thought of the Hieros as quite emotional for instance the below when Severian meets Famulimus for the first time.</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT SIZE=4 FACE="Times New Roman">The being Dr. Talos had introduced as Famulimus spoke. [...[ "Welcome," it sang. "There is no greater joy for us,</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=4 FACE="Times New Roman">than greeting you, Severian. You bow to us in courtesy, but we to you will bend our knees." And he did briefly kneel, as did both the others.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I always read that joyful as sincere but then when I scanned the text they do come off as quite detached throughout making the reading more interesting for me.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">First Contact 2150? Sure 2012 will put paid to all of us before then...</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">And David, the distinction between sentient and sapient delighted me for reasons I can't even guess at. Thanks!</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">__________</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">__________</FONT>
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