Moving right along, we hit the next big field aware of and opinionated about Necromancy: Unsurprisingly, I'm talking about Religion. Religion, almost by definition, has strong opinions about Death, and existence after Death, and most religions have formed equally strong traditions regarding the proper way to go about dealing with contact with the Spirits who've "gone before". Religion, in fact, is almost always the root of most Necromantic magics -- not in a positive kinda way, but by saying what you aren't allowed to do, some skag WILL go out and do it, pretty much guaranteed. While Religions tend to compartmentalize, I've gathered information on both the religiously SANCTIONED contacts with the Dead, and religiously CONDEMNED contacts -- because in practice, there's only a very small difference between the two forms... Sanctioned Practices can generally be engaged in a LITTLE more safely than unsanctioned, as far as aura damage and conjuring deterioration, but virtually every belief I looked at has LOTS of examples of Religious Devout that went that one step too far, and fell down the Corruption Spiral. Be Warned: Even the practice of Necromantic Magics to COUNTER Necromantic Magics (the thaumaturgical term is Atriopomancy, for what it's worth, but just because it has a different name doesn't make it any different) is playing with serious fire. Anyway, compiled for your reading pleasure and sleepless nights:
-- Silence
"My Children: It has come to Our Attention that many of your flocks have been troubled by certain aspects of what the Secular Masses have termed "The Awakening", particularly in regard to contact with the spirits of both the Blessed and Unshriven Departed, the result of some unfortunate incidents involving prayers on Their Behalf, and even more unfortunate publicity as to the occurrences. Let me set your hearts at ease: It is The Church's Firm And Unyielding Faith that the Spirits of the Saved rest with our Heavenly Savior, Blessed Mary and all the Saints -- The Disposition of the Spirits Of The Damned is chained within their torments as they expiate their Sins. Spirits, forms of light and shadows, insubstantial things... what better description can there be than the Powers Of The Air? And as such, We Know too well who their Prince is... the Father Of Lies. Also as Such, we know that Those the Lord has Anointed as his Servants of the Priesthood, who have the Gifts of Power, are duty-bound and empowered to dismiss such UnHoly Things, but let them receive training in their Gifts, that Our Adversary not deceive them by means of their duties, to draw them to himself. The Church Believes, as it always has, that God sends Angels, Saints, and the Blessed Departed to us in our times of trouble, but such Spirits come not at our bidding, and most certainly not to our binding... such weak things are Spirits Of Deceit, in disguise to entrap our Souls. All Priests will, as part of their training, be taught the means Our Lord has provided to Discern, whether a Spirit be Sent Of God, or of Satan, so let your flocks be at ease, Brethren..."
«««From a bit later in the same doc, Pope Nick goes postal on Necromancy in general... I cut the page or so of vitriol to get to the meat, and the numerous '[...]'s in the text below represent further cut verbiage. -- Silence»»»
"Let Us Be Clear: The In Imago Dei declares the Word Of God as made manifest in His Works, that Metahumanity is indeed patterned after the Soul and Will of the Creator, and that the energies and use of the Astral Regions that He also Formed is not used in Direct Peril of the Soul. [...] But there is NO Legitimate instance where a Good Son Of The Church may Seek Out the aid of the Dead -- as Saul forfeited his Kingship for consorting with the Witch Of Endor, so too those who traffic with the Dead, and thus with the Infernal Powers, do so to the Forfeit Of Their Souls. [...] Specific Indulgences have and will continue to be granted to Those Called to the Role of Exorcist, that the Wiles of the Foe not Blind them in their duties, but such tasks are at the sole discretion of the Curia, and exist that The Church may be Served by her Children -- no Lay Brethren, and no member of the Clergy Not a Member of Order of The New Society Of Jesus may initiate ANY contact whatsoever with such UnHoly Powers without the Dire Peril of Mortal Sin [...]."
«««Um... does that mean those New Jesuit Fraggers can sling Necromantic Juju? -- South O'TheBorder»»»
«««Well... sorta, South... a few can swing the real deal, but the Church takes regular, VERY close looks at their aura's. Figure any of the NewJez who can talk to the Ghosties will have skill balances around that considered acceptable by Druidic types. But a LOT more of the Jezzies are pretty good with Atropiamantic Wiz-Bang. But on the whole, that's a Good Thing -- the more folks who're closely monitored who're trained to take this drek out, the better, for my nuyen. -- Papal Bull»»»
"...But the Powers of Darkness are many -- do not be mislead, My Children: Whoso Draws Upon the Infernal Powers shall Perish thereby. Any use of Diabolic or Necromantic Sorceries is Forbidden and Anathema..."
«««Yadda, yadda, yadda... Anyway, you all get the drift: In other words, Official Catholic Doctrine is that, if it can be summoned and it looks like a Ghost, it isn't a Ghost, it's a Demon in Disguise, and Priest Conjurer's have the job of sending 'em back to where they belong. Necromantic Sorcery is another No-No, and they bust you out of the Church good and proper if you're caught with the taint of it in your aura. Since it's not a legal issue, they don't have to ask permission or get 'Incontrovertible proof' -- your Aura gets tainted, you are GONE, and Good Little Catholics everywhere'll be doing their level best to FIND proof that they can take to the Cops, just for brownie points. They DON'T change their ages-old position that God sends Angels and Spirits to do his work, though, just that you'll have to run it past your Priest to see if it's Good or Evil. Most Protestant Churches have more or less the same beliefs, as a rule, though less emphasis is put on Priests as the experts, and more on individual intitiative and faith. On the whole, Necromancy as such is MAJORLY a no-no among Christian Sects, with the slight exception of Atriopomancy, but even that is encouraged to be left up to the professionals, who're watched closely by their colleagues to assure they don't slip. -- Silence »»
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