Sermons of Virtue IV
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Title: Sermon of Virtue IV
Author: Loki
The Virtuous Quest
Here at the Holy Church of the Virtues our main aim is to stand for the Virtues. Our reason for existing is to spread the Virtues to all whom we can reach and guide them to become Lightbringers in our society. Even if we were able to convert every sole within our lands to following the Virtues, we would still be required to provide guidance, supply counsel to those who strayed, and make the definitions of the Virtues pure, absolute and uniform throughout the land.
We would also have to pursue achieving Balance between our people’s actions in fulfillment of the Virtues. Following the Virtues is a never-ending quest, as there exists many facets and depths to the Virtues. The Balancing of the Virtues is an esoteric goal, one of delicate intricacies and all encompassing efforts. But the luxury of much of this must wait, as first and foremost the Virtues must be restored as the guiding touchstone of all who are members of our society.
Currently we have about our lands covenants, guilds, leagues, federations, alliances, partnerships, coalitions and numerous other names used to unify peoples for like purpose who are not dedicated to the Virtues. One of the more repugnant of these are those who follow Chaos. Following that there are those who follow Order or Balance. Then there are those who dedicate themselves to violence, some with purpose, some for pay, some just for the pure pleasure, and still others needing to satisfy their bloodlust. Even these must for now be held in check and prevented from spreading their disdain for the Virtues.
Converting them to the path of the Virtues must wait until we have returned ourselves to the path of the Virtues. Yes, I said, we too need to return to the Virtuous path. Who in this room can in reflection and with Honesty state that they have never strayed from the Virtues. I know I cannot make such a statement. To do so would be to stray once again by forsaking Honesty by speaking an untruth. So, yes, we must first return to and find the path of Virtue before we can begin to ask others to follow us in Virtue.
Even once we have returned to the path of the Virtues, we shall still need to guard carefully not to stray from the true path of Virtue. This would be for most a lifelong struggle. We do not have a lifetime to spend on this; we must make haste to return to the Virtuous path so we will be permitted to lead others along the Virtuous path. As the faithful and the leaders within our society it falls to us to be the first, to be in the forefront of this reawakening of Virtue for our lands. Then we must lead those close to us, within our homes, guilds, alliances, towns, cities, and wherever else we congregate, back to the path of the Virtues.
This too would usually be an undertaking that could span generations. Once again, we do not have generations, we have but the here and now. There has been enormous turning from the Virtues in recent times. Even some that once were sworn to the Virtuous path have strayed and taken up other standards. We are at a crossroads where our actions may determine whether our lands will ever return to the Virtues. We must first devote ourselves to the Virtues, immediately and totally. Then we can work to purify our closest friends and allies in the path of the Virtues.
With their aid we will tend the Virtuous ones allowing Virtue to once again spread among those who have lost their way due to indifference or lack of guidance. But this is just the beginning. Once we have returned all within our spheres of influence, then and only then can we begin to plan to spread the Virtues and convert those who have intentionally revoked their standing in Virtue. That will be our final test, our final battle. May we tread in the path of Virtue all the while as we step forward on our quest, our final and most important quest.
For Whom The Virtue Tolls There are those who claim the Virtues are the exclusive right of the human race. They say that only those of pure Human bloodline may attain ultimate Virtue. By this, they condemn all other races to be inferior and incapable of Virtue. Even further, they condemn those of mixed racial backgrounds to have lesser capabilities and to be further removed from Virtue. But are such beliefs in accordance with the Virtues themselves? To answer this I spent much time in research of both the Virtues and the history of the Virtues becoming the guidance of our society. Here is what I discovered and the conclusions I reached.
One claim is that only the human race is capable of realizing the Virtues and the other than human races are simply incapable of acting with Virtue. They claim that only the human race is capable of Compassion yet we see compassion shown by many in the animal world, let alone amongst sentient beings that make up the non-human races. The same argument is made for Sacrifice notwithstanding that even a mother bird will tempt a predator to safeguard her nest. Would anyone beg to say that the non-human races are lesser being than birds? I would hope not.
Many of these claims of the Virtues being the sole propriety of humankind is out of fear and suspicion of those who are different than themselves. The root of this is fear and superstition which stems from many things; general and often mutual mistrust, cloaking of each race in their own shroud of secrecy, difference of appearance, distinctive histories, varied religious practices, unique preferences, unfamiliar views, different rituals, misunderstood tribal lore, just generally troubling differences in all areas of life. All of these misgivings show lack of the Virtues and lack of effort to implement the Virtues. Honesty between the races will foster understanding. From this understanding we can proceed to Honor our differences while building bridges to join us together. On the way to joining together, all sides will be called upon to make Sacrifice to assuage perceived inequities. Finding the path that leads through these inequities will require Justice to be served to preserve the just Spirituality that is the basis for much Valor on each side. To respect our differences will require the Humility to admit that ours is not necessarily the sole option for progress. And lastly, the driving force to achieve a harmonious unity in our society is Compassion, an unbridled, uncompromising, all encompassing Compassion.
Now, there are those who will claim that Lord British intended the Virtues solely for humans. Their evidence supporting this claim is the lack of non-humans accorded positions in his Court and amongst his ministers and other positions of influence. The problem in this logic is two-fold. First, during the reign of Lord British, the lands were solely inhabited by humankind. The non-human influx came subsequent to Lord British’s rule and introduction of the Virtues as the basis of our society. When the Virtues were first implemented, they were applied and intended for all in our society, from Lord British himself to the lowliest of those inhabiting our lands.