一神与多种基拉
菲斯城里,有个诡辩家站在神庙的台阶上宣讲多神教。老百姓在心里说道:"这一切我们统统知道。难道众神不是同我们一起生活,我们走到哪儿他们也跟到哪儿吗?"不久以后,另一个人站在市场里,对老百姓讲道:"没有神。"许多听他讲话的人,对他传来的信息感到高兴,因为他们惧怕众神。
另一天又来了个口若悬河、能言善辩的人,他说:"只有一个神。"于是老百姓都惊惶了,因为在他们心底里,惧怕神的审判甚于众神的审判。
在同一季节里,又来了一个人,他对老百姓说:"共有三个神,他们三为一体住在风里,他们有一个庞大而仁慈的母亲,这位母亲也是他们的同伴和姐妹。"
于是人人都安心了,因为他们悄悄地在说:"三合一的神必定对我们的缺点意见分歧,而且,他们的仁慈的母亲,一定会为我们这些可怜的意志薄弱者辩护的。"
直至今天,基拉菲斯城里仍旧有些人,还在为了多神或无神,一神或三神会一及其仁慈的母亲互相辩论和争执不休。
GodAndManyGods
IyofKilafisasophiststoodoepsoftheTempleandpreachedmanygods.Andthepeoplesaidintheirhearts,"Weknowallthis.Dotheynotlivewithusandfollowuswhereverwego?"
Notlongafter,anothermanstoodinthemarketpladspokeuntothepeopleandsaid,"Thereisnogod."Andmanywhoheardhimweregladofhistidings,fortheywereafraidofgods.
Anduponanotherdaytherecameamanofgreateloquenhesaid,"ThereisbutoneGod."AndnowthepeopleweredismayedforintheirheartstheyfearedthejudgmentofoneGodmorethanthatofmanygods.
Thatsameseasontherecameyetanotherman,andhesaidtothepeople,"Therearethreegods,andtheydwelluponthewindasone,andtheyhaveavastandgraotherwhoisalsotheirmateandtheirsister."
Theneveryonewasforted,fortheysaidintheirsecret,"threegodsineedsdisagreeoverourfailings,andbesides,theirgraotherwillsurelybeanadvocateforuspoorweaklings."
YeteventothisdaytherearethoseiyofKilafiswhleandarguewitheachotheraboutmanygodsandnogod,andonegod