What's So Great About Ushas?

b sharp · 20 Jul 2008, 04:27 · from 2008-July.txt.gz

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From: bsharporflat at hotmail.com (b sharp)
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:27:12 -0400
Subject: (urth) What's So Great About Ushas?
Message-ID: <BAY103-W30FE57508D9A4CA0559190D78B0 at phx.gbl>

John Watkins:

a nice and clever rebuttal to my post! Still, because of key omissions, I sense it is
a rebuttal, that is a debate tactic, rather than part of a fact finding or insight raising
endeavor. But I'll do my best to address your issues.

Mentioning that Tzadkiel is considered an arch-angel more outside of the mainstream
of Roman Catholic tradition was a notable point which I'm glad you mentioned. Could
be the basis for further discussion.

But you note Tzadkiel is known as an angel of mercy and omit that he/she is also
considered an angel of justice in some texts. You note that Tzadkiel was the one
to intervene in Moses' sacrifice of his son (no coincidence that Venant is killed I think),
while omitting that "Zadkiel is one of two standard bearers (along with Zophiel) who
follow directly behind Michael as the head archangel enters battle." http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Tzadkiel

In my list of genocides you take pains to note the ones done by God without angelic help
while ignoring the ones (10th plague for example) that were the specific work of angels.
I'm unclear on the point of that argument anyway. Are you suggesting that the Biblical God
and angels are sometimes working independently of each other? Also, I don't see how an
invincible angel leading Hebrews in battle is much different than the flood of one of many
human worlds in BotNS. A population of people is wiped out in both cases.

But the biggest omission, I think, is an anwer to my (now rephrased) question: How are
Hierogrammates disqualified as angel equivalents because of their immoral killing of human
beings when the Biblical God and angels routinely practice genocide, territorial warfare and
individual murders of humans for transgressions such as refusing to impregnate one's
sister-in-law (Onan) and looking over one's shoulder (Lot's wife)?

You've read the James Jordan interview so there is no way you can think that Gene Wolfe is a
secular humanist who rejects the Bible and Christianity. Are you perhaps thinking that Gene
Wolfe considers the angry, jealous, genocidal Old Testament and Cabalistic God and angels
to be akin to evil aliens? That the Hebrews were (are?) a race contaminated by these evil
aliens while the New Testament God and angels are something different- better and more pure?
I don't think you are suggesting this but it is an interesting idea anyway though not particularly
flattering to Mr. Wolfe.

A much nicer interpretation is a mainstream Christian interpretation: that Gene Wolfe sees that
genocide was a part of Biblical human history, sees that it has continued on through to the present
day and knows that somehow it must be part of God's plan no matter how awful it appears and we
must have faith that all is leading to a better future for humanity.

-bsharp

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