Charge 2

[DribNairb]

Defendant: carolus maltman
Charge: Blasphemy in a deliberate attempt to undermine The Path
Status:
Case: Open
Details: The Founders accuse carolus maltman of blasphemy against The Truth.

[DribNairb]

It has been clearly documented that carolus maltman speaks out against The Truth and undermines The Path. I do not believe this statement is in dispute.
However, it has been suggested that such blasphemy is not cause for war and does not break any laws except those laid down by The Founders. I will show this is not correct and in fact The Path and The Truth is something which has and must be held by all nations of this Earth.

[DribNairb]

The Words describe The Truth and The Path which must be followed.

The Words can be found on tablets and scrolls from centuries past and contain prophecies and other literature/depictions showing the history and future of the people of earth.

The Words are not something which only exists in the law of The Founders. Such scrolls have been verified to be found in many different countries including The Founders, France, dokko, Gren and Nomadic wastelands (interestingly nothing has been verified in the lands of Skarsgardia).

I am certain that more scrolls exist in carolingia and greece although this has not yet been confirmed. We also have reports of at least one (unverified) ancient tablet originating in America.

But perhaps more importantly, the role of The Truth in the history of the Earth has been shown to span both continents, despite the seemingly impossible chasm between them until recent times. Capsavian of Aidern is fully aware of this but has chosen not to reveal this information to the world. I do not believe he is in league with any conspiracy and will therefore not go into detail yet until he has chance to explain himself - but rest assured that The Path has been followed by all mankind since before borders and nations existed.

Therefore, The Words are meaningful to our entire race. To dismiss them as not being important to all nations is ignorant at best. The blasphemy by carolus maltman has been punishable since the dawn of time. It cannot be dismissed as freedom of thought or a law of any single nation.

[Capsavian Hopewell]

But perhaps more importantly, the role of The Truth in the history of the Earth has been shown to span both continents, despite the seemingly impossible chasm between them until recent times. Capsavian of Aidern is fully aware of this but has chosen not to reveal this information to the world.

You have indeed disclosed revelations of The Great Squire found in your ancient texts as being one and the same as our own Great Squirrel.  The evidence is compelling, however my Council and I ultimately decided that, for political reasons, it would be unsavory for us to make any declaration to our people or the world of any historical ties on evidence that may have been a mistranslation.  It would have resulted in a cataclysmic upheaval, as the religious zealots would likely divide, as fundamentalists and progressives began to question one anothers' interpretations of our religious texts. 

This would be a serious problem for the Dernish government, as our system is oriented around the organized religion.  We cannot risk divisiveness in our government during the uncertain times of recent history.

Thankfully, the present is much more stable, and we feel less worried about potential threats to our national security.  So it is we acknowledge these historical, religious ties between our people, even if it is done at the dusk of our planet's history.

Vali Hopewell

[DribNairb]

I thank you for your frank and open honesty.

This supports what has been said since the dawn of time. The Words are part of a fundamental prophecy which affects our entire world (if not our galaxy) and is not the whim of a single nation as has been suggested by those who oppose us.

I therefore again state that carolus maltman is guilty of this charge. It could be said that the war which plagued our continent for so long was an excessive punishment - but it occurred because the defendant never once acknowledged his guilt. This is an important point since it shows that international law has been broken, yet the only nation being punished is The Founders.

[da_Vinci]

Point for the Defense #1:

At what point in time did "The Words", "The Path", and "The Truth", or the belief in them, as professed by the Founders, become "international law"?

At what time did a majority of the nations of the earth subscribe to them?

It appears manifestly true that the answers to these questions are "never" and "never".

Therefore, even were it true that Carolus Maltman committed blasphemy, it would not be a violation of "international law".


Point for the Defense #2:

Blasphemy is by definition a "crime against religion".  As is heresy.  Inevitably, when there are competing religions, each may come to view the others as a heresy, and the promotion of one religion and the questioning of the validity of the others is viewed by the others as blasphemy.

Unless the world believes that a single worldwide religion is what we desire, and that the religion of The Founders is in fact the desired single religion, a charge of blasphemy brought against a non-believer in the religion in question deserves to be dismissed on its face.

Clearly, the world does not believe in a single religion, based on its celebration of the Scotue of Liberty, which embraces the ideas of religions freedom and separation of church and state.


Potential point for the Defense #3:

A question:  did the alleged blasphemy not occur AFTER Carolingia was attacked by The Founders in response to their perception that Charge 1 was correct (which is now admitted to have been in error)?  If so, then can anyone fault Maltman for criticizing a regime and a faith that would invade an innocent nation?  To drag Maltman into court on these charges is to compound the travesty perpetrated against him.

The war was perpetuated by the blind rage of a Theocracy bent on vengance against a leader for perceived offenses that in no way violated any international law, or even any reasonable person's sense of proper behavior.

Amicus Brief of Q'Har Li Chan, Chief Investigator and Barrister of the Weian High Court

[DribNairb]

At what point in time did "The Words", "The Path", and "The Truth", or the belief in them, as professed by the Founders, become "international law"?

Since the dawn of time - as has been written in The Founders embassy since I came to power and since The Words were written on the ancient tablets in several nations when the Earth was created. In fact, precisely as I just described in the 3rd post above. Do you deliberately misread or ignore everything I have to say?

At what time did a majority of the nations of the earth subscribe to them?

Since the dawn of time. By extension this suggests since the Earth was created and therefore since before any leader rose to power in their nation.

Blasphemy is by definition a "crime against religion".  As is heresy.  Inevitably, when there are competing religions, each may come to view the others as a heresy, and the promotion of one religion and the questioning of the validity of the others is viewed by the others as blasphemy.
Unless the world believes that a single worldwide religion is what we desire, and that the religion of The Founders is in fact the desired single religion, a charge of blasphemy brought against a non-believer in the religion in question deserves to be dismissed on its face.
Clearly, the world does not believe in a single religion, based on its celebration of the Scotue of Liberty, which embraces the ideas of religions freedom and separation of church and state.

Blasphemy is, in fact, "irreverent behavior toward anything held sacred". Try to get your facts in order please. And again, as has just been proven, you have completely ignored the entire post which factually shows that most (and by extension it suggests that all) nations do in fact follow The Path, whether they choose to believe it or not.

A question:  did the alleged blasphemy not occur AFTER Carolingia was attacked by The Founders in response to their perception that Charge 1 was correct (which is now admitted to have been in error)?  If so, then can anyone fault Maltman for criticizing a regime and a faith that would invade an innocent nation?  To drag Maltman into court on these charges is to compound the travesty perpetrated against him.

The war was perpetuated by the blind rage of a Theocracy bent on vengance against a leader for perceived offenses that in no way violated any international law, or even any reasonable person's sense of proper behavior.

Yes this is true. But blasphemy is blasphemy. The original charge was dropped as soon as proof was provided. But the option to renouce the blasphemy was ignored (in fact it brought further blasphemy from the defendant). This charge is still maintained. At several times the defendant had chance to repent the situation. In all cases he refused.

I find it increasingly difficult to follow your arguments since they are clearly stuck on a single point which, in fact, has nothing to do with the charge laid forward. I still do not know whether this is caused by deliberate misrepresentation of The Truth or simply your naive misunderstanding.

[da_Vinci]

You attempt to convince us that blasphemy applies beyond religion by defining it in terms of "reverence" and "sacred" ... which are fundamentally religious terms !!  

I don't ignore what you say, I refute it.  Since what you say is usually incorrect, the refutation must appear to you similar to ignoring it.

The fact that "The Words" "The Path" and "The Truth" are ancient, I do not dispute.  But being ancient does NOT mean that they were accepted by all nations, or ever agreed to be "international law", which was the point I was making.

Wei does not recognize the "The Words" "The Path" and "The Truth" as international law, I doubt that Greece does either.  If the rest of the world does, I don't recall when they made that public.  Shall we poll the world on this question?

Rather, Wei sees "The Words" "The Path" and "The Truth" as an OPTION of belief that may be accepted or not by an individual choice.

Ultimately, my arguments are not meant for you, the prosecutor (who I would expect not to admit their merit), but for the jury of world opinion.  Let us hear what they think ...

Q'Har Li Chan, Chief Investigator and Barrister of the Weian High Court

[DribNairb]

Ah my dear man - these texts were written eons ago before you were but a twinkle in your father's eye. They were put in place by our ancestors (and when I say our ancestors I, of course, refer to the ancestors of the entire human race). They must be abided by all on this planet for without them you would not exist.

You may be too naive to be aware of this, but your ancient relatives followed The Path whether you choose to believe that or not. To choose now to ignore The Words is to dishonour your father, ignore your history and revoke your entire family line.

That is how The Words came to be fundamentally revered by all international civilizations. If a small minority of you have come to ignore them within the last few centuries of the Earth's existance, that hardly compares to the absolute belief in The One held by all humans for millennia (indeed perhaps for eternity) before that.

It is not a matter of polling a few international leaders on whether they currently believe The Truth. It is a matter of understanding that all these leaders came to power thanks to their fathers following The Path to get there.

[da_Vinci]

So it would appear that the entire basis of your argument is the claim (rather unsubstantiated, it appears), that The Path and The Truth were the universal religion of mankind in prehisory.

If this legal proceeding were in the "Founder Inquisition", then no doubt such an argument would carry the day.

But in a secular court of current world opinion, which is where we really are, the argument has no traction whatsoever.

Q'Har Li Chan, Chief Investigator and Barrister of the Weian High Court

[DribNairb]

Oh dear, clearly you have ignored the discoveries of many nations which clearly show The Words were written before any other texts. This is not something which is unique to The Founders - these tablets have been found in countless nations (many of which now lie in ruins thanks to the mindless violence caused by naive leaders such as yourself who attempt to undermine The Path).

It seems I must repeat myself yet again. These tablets have been confirmed to be found in the following nations:
The Founders
The Nomads
France
dokko
Etruscan
myrmidons
Gren
Aidern

We also believe that tablets have been found (although these are not yet 100% confirmed) in:
America
Catfish Confederation
The imperium
Oligamon
Agarthia

These cover most of the world - and if archaeological site had not been destroyed by leaders such as yourself (in a vain attempt to hide The Truth) then I am certain such tablets and scrolls would have been found in every corner of the globe.

[Viktor Ahriman]

We have for many years stated that we do not believe in the supernatural, such as ghosts and spirits.  Such as with the Yourcenea ghosts that slaughtered villagers in Aidern.  However, we do believe that there is a higher voice out there.  We have had organized religion for many years.  We have found tablets in the far southern part of our country.  They are still classified to the public as our scientists are trying to figure out where these tablets have come from.  Now in saying this, we do not believe in the Founders religion our beliefs.  But we cannot rule out that there could be some connections in their beliefs and what is scrolled on these tablets.  Our government is looking at resolving this situation with Maltmann.  The time has come to close the book on this man.  We will decide what actions or requirements that must take place to decidie this.

Nuahs
Foreign Advisor

[da_Vinci]

The Words are no doubt ancient, and potentially even widespread.  But the issue that is unsubstantiated, in our opinion, is whether The Words ever were ACCEPTED by the whole world as a universal religion.

We particularly think that the interpretation of them adopted and followed by DribNairb, with its emphasis on spreading The Words by military force, was never "international law".

However, recent press releases would suggest that perhaps we are arguing in moot court ...


Q'Har Li Chan, Chief Investigator and Barrister of the Weian High Court

[DribNairb]

The Words are no doubt ancient, and potentially even widespread.  But the issue that is unsubstantiated, in our opinion, is whether The Words ever were ACCEPTED by the whole world as a universal religion.

A good point well raised. Unfortunately for you, an infant could easily show you your opinion is wrong. The Words were written by the very same people who inhabited the whole world when the Earth was created. Or perhaps you believe these ancient scholars chose to write down the things they do not believe and forget to write down that which they do?

[DribNairb]

However, recent press releases would suggest that perhaps we are arguing in moot court ...

Indeed - I had hoped we might get a little longer to discuss these points. In fact, I was hoping that more people would have joined in, especially for the other charges (which I personally felt were more interesting than Charge 2).

[da_Vinci]

A good point well raised. Unfortunately for you, an infant could easily show you your opinion is wrong. The Words were written by the very same people who inhabited the whole world when the Earth was created. Or perhaps you believe these ancient scholars chose to write down the things they do not believe and forget to write down that which they do?

Every religion that has a written text had it written by its scholars, who most probably believed it.  Whether a religion, thus recorded, was accepted by the rulers or the masses of one or another country is not proven by the mere existence of the texts.

Q'Har Li Chan, Chief Investigator and Barrister of the Weian High Court