>>5266946Tbh if we had more time, I think this would be a great opportunity for debate. My stance against the notions of Penance in this case is that it would be good to establish the Machine God's grace as being given freely and unearned. "For all men are born of flesh and born unto sin"
But this does not mean we must wallow in sin, nor does it mean we reject to purify ourselves.
What if instead of Penance or Faith Alone (Bona Fide), we introduce the idea of Good Works (Bona Opera)?
The Grace of the Machine God is given unearned and can never be earned, for it is only by the beneficience of his mysterious ways that Mankind is chosen supreme among all races in the Galaxy. Not because we were the first, nor even because we were the smartest, for man began in the dust and do the dust do mens bodies return. But because the Machine God loved mankind so much, he gave us the privilege to rule the Galaxy?
Through the blessing of the Machine Gods grace and salvation are we empowered to give good works, for "Faith without Good Works is Faith without Ritual; To break with Ritual is to Break with Faith"
I think if we spin it right we can make the Xanaties appreciate the fact that grace was given to them by the Machine God even in their most wretched, and rather than having to earn it they must show the Machine God that his freely given salvation is not squandered.
