第40章 一神與多種基拉

菲斯城裡，有個詭辯家站在神廟的台階上宣講多神教。老百姓在心裡說道："這一切我們統統知道。難道眾神不是同我們一起生活，我們走到哪兒他們也跟到哪兒嗎？"不久以後，另一個人站在市場裡，對老百姓講道："沒有神。"許多聽他講話的人，對他傳來的信息感到高興，因為他們懼怕眾神。 另一天又來了個口若懸河、能言善辯的人，他說："只有一個神。"於是老百姓都驚惶了，因為在他們心底里，懼怕神的審判甚於眾神的審判。 在同一季節裡，又來了一個人，他對老百姓說："共有三個神，他們三為一體住在風裡，他們有一個龐大而仁慈的母親，這位母親也是他們的同伴和姐妹。"

於是人人都安心了，因為他們悄悄地在說："三合一的神必定對我們的缺點意見分歧，而且，他們的仁慈的母親，一定會為我們這些可憐的意志薄弱者辯護的。" 直至今天，基拉菲斯城裡仍舊有些人，還在為了多神或無神，一神或三神會一及其仁慈的母親互相辯論和爭執不休。 God And Many Gods In the city of Kilafis a sophist stood on the steps of the Temple and preached many gods. And the people said in their hearts, "We know all this. Do they not live with us and follow us wherever we go?"

Not long after, another man stood in the market place and spoke unto the people and said, "There is no god." And many who heard him were glad of his tidings, for they were afraid of gods. And upon another day there came a man of great eloquence, an he said, "There is but one God." And now the people were dismayed for in their hearts they feared the judgment of one God more than that of many gods.

That same season there came yet another man, and he said to the people, "There are three gods, and they dwell upon the wind as one, and they have a vast and gracious mother who is also their mate and their sister." Then everyone was comforted, for they said in their secret, "three gods in one must needs disagree over our failings, and besides, their gracious mother will surely be an advocate for us poor weaklings."

Yet even to this day there are those in the city of Kilafis who wrangle and argue with each other about many gods and no god, and one god and three gods in one, and a gracious mother of gods.