There has been much hoo-ha in the media of late about this bill to curtail free speech^W^W^W^outlaw "inciting religious hatred." If anything's going to cause religious hatred, it's using religion to outlaw free speech.
I am getting a little tired of walking around on eggshells in case someone cries, "Blasphemy! You've insulted (...insert name of god of choice...). I find this very offensive!"
Well, I find that whole attitude very offensive. I'm quite happy for people to believe in the god of their choice and to treat it with all due reverence. It's
their god. But it isn't mine.
So, I figure it's time to start my own religion. If folks want me act like a follower of their faith, then they're going to have act like a follower of mine. Or
I will take offence and accuse them of blasphemy and insulting
my goddess.
Therefore, may I introduce:
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The Church of the Ethereal Butterfly
Founded 2nd February, 2006
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The Gospel according to Morpho, the first High Priestess.
1. i. In the beginning was the Aether, wherein dwelt the spirits, the butterflies. Papilia Regina, Great Queen of the Aether, kept watch over her charges as they lived in eternal happiness, consuming nectar and singing of their joy. And all was as it should be.
ii. But not all was well in the aether. The moth, Acherontios, grew jealous and so decided to create a territory of his own. First, he created a bubble of atmosphere, denser than the heavenly aether, and called it his.
iii. Papilia watched but did not intervene.
iv. Acherontios soon tired of his atmosphere and wanted something of more substance, so within his bubble of atmosphere, he created a sphere of water. Still he was unsatisfied for although he had dominion over his territory, yea, it was a dead world.
v. Therefore he created creatures to fly through the water as the butterflies fly through the aether. But they survived only a short while, and Acherontios was angry for his creatures did not live for ever as the butterfly spirits do.
vi. And Papilia continued to watch but did not interfere.
vii. Acherontios decided, in his divine wisdom, that weightier substance was required. Thus, in his impatient anger, he created a misshapen lump of clay and flung it into the waters. Some of the clay stood out above the water and Acherontios called it The Earth.
viii. Then Acherontios created beings to walk upon the land. But still, they did not survive for long.
ix. Papilia watched and took pity on the dying creatures. When death took them, she made their outer bodies to split and release the butterfly spirit within. The spirits flew up into the aether to join the others who dwelt there already, and there was great rejoicing.
x. But Acherontios raged against his Queen and against his destiny.
xi. So at last, Papilia was moved to act. She set upon his back a death's head and named him Atropos. Then she cast him from the aether to live upon the Earth with his creations.
xii. Yet she was not without mercy. When he loses his desire for power over others, then will he be welcomed back into the Aether.
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