Religions: The All-Father and Companions

Religion: The All Father and Companions

Don't take everything SO literally -

Remember that the Elves never saw Pandarrion as a provider (hardly surprising, since I imagine their direct access to Braialla at the beginning outshone any of the AF's efforts in that regard) - to them, Pandarrion's third aspect was always the Wanderer, the rover. The All-Father has always been known for hois long, mysterious journeys. A Hunter is, in effect, a roving Provider: that's the bridge between Knearyn and the third aspect. Not as firm as the other linkages, but that's where faith comes in. Also, the fact that the doctrine has some apparent flaws is one reason it faded into obscurity for 2000 years in the first place...

It's true, Kenaryn has doen an awful lot of protecting, but some might say that he's just been taking up the slack for Malog. Malog did, you'll note, not even manage to show up when the Dragon rose - many have looked to his maiming and loss of Volliandra as just punishment for not being more attentive to his duty. Of course, rather than learn his lesson and repent, the Warrior just got bitter...

The creation of the modern three aspects dates back to an early point in the development of the Church's theology, when it was decided that Provider was far more benevolent an aspect to focus upon than Wanderer or Rover. It was also a nice way to bolster the All-Father's standing among the laity in comparrison to Braialla - in time, Pandarrion's Provider aspect (bolstered by a lot of the lore and devotions originally associated with Wendol the Plowman, one of the Ardani Titans) completely eclipsed Braialla worship, at least among the Humans of the Ten Kingdoms. Never forget, all of these "absolute truths" theologians work with are often formulated for very specific reasons.

As for the division of the All-Father into three parts, the fact that one of them fell certainly is disturbing, but only if you think of it from a certain point of view. The notion of Pandarrion having a cancerous soul is heresy born of applying limited logic to the thesis.

Think of it a different way: instead of being part of the All-Father, mere extensions the Companions were born of His thought, a by-product of His consciousness, if you will. Malog was not the All-Father's arm, Thurin was not His hand, and Kenaryn was not His feet: The All-Father has His own limbs that serve him very well, thank you very much.
Think of them more as children, or reflections.

Once formulated, the Companions have always had their own identities distinct from Pandarrion (although their abilities and powers were limited by which facet of the AF they arose from), and they have always had their own free will. Malog has fallen. Indeed, perhaps because he had so many of Pandarrion's greatest gifts (beauty, might, etc) his fall was almost inevitable: he was born with too much of the All-Father's will in him to be able to submit to the dominion of another (even his rightful master). Pride is Malog's biggest downfall - selfish obsession with his own pain and losses drove the Warrior to his end.

Look to the Silmarillion, especially the Ainulindale, and you'll see where a lot of the inspiration for the Companion Manifestation theory (and a lot of the other lore) came from. Think of Malog as being a lot like Tolkien's Melkor, who was born of Illuvatar's will but could never stand to be governed by it, and in turn fell and became Morgoth, the Enemy of the World. (and yes, I know, the names are remarkably similar - that's deliberate. I prefert he terms 'homage' or 'pastiche' to 'rip off'...)

And of course, never overlook the Judeo-Christian inspiration of both of Malog and Melkor, the highest of the Seraphim, whose pride brought down one third part of the heavenly host. I don't need to go all Church Lady and remind us who that could be...

Malog's fall is always looked to as a grim lesson of what happens when pride and self-will lead anyone to think that they know better than the All-Father. A tragic lesson that has visited much pain upon the peoples of Aerynth, but a valuable lesson nonetheless. Many see the Treason of the Elves as a subtle reflection of Malog's own fall (most Elves, unsurprisingly, think the metaphor is profoundly flawed).

Now, I'm sure there are lots of gnostic analog sects out there on Aerynth who might view Malog as a kind of Demiurge figure, an "anti God." Worse yet, they might even denounce the All-Father as the bumbling Demiurge while the Real Supreme Being waits outside the bounds of the Universe (it seems to me that Elves inparticular might be susceptible to such ideas). All very interesting notions, but BOY is that heresy...

The Temple isn't the only clergy who punishes heretics, you know... The Holy Church hasn't been on a tear in a long time, but that's not to say that they couldn't do it again if they had a really good reason.

One final point: if one is looking at the Triskellion as a symbol of the Holy Church, there are two MORE ways to do it: One ring becomes the All-Father, the Creator Source, the second is the lay populace, the faithful parishoners who act as Providers by making the AF's laws and will manifest on Aerynth, the the Holy Church is the third ring, serving as Protector to the souls of the populace. Another good way to look at it if you remove the divintiy from the picture: the Prelates serve as the Creator ring, for they have (or have had) direct communion with Pandarrion and His will, the Crusaders are the Protector ring, and the laity are the Provider ring - they sustain the Hloy Church with tithe and tax, and also provide the soil in which the virtue and righteousness of the Holy Liturgy can take root.

The key to thinking in a medieval mindset is all hermeticism: analogy IS causality, symbol becomes definition. That's the key to every knid of magic there is.

It's kind of a loopy way to think, but man it's fun!