FALLACIES OF IMMORTALITY Giving of Guff— We must think things are better the mortal way, because not all is right with immortality. Why improve immortality, when we can improve mortality? Traditionally Preferred and Its Consequences— Immortals may be willing to swallow a particular fate only to realize in a brighter moment that it is the wrong thing. They may also function within norms, like a particular creation myth. The Immortal Image— Some gods may be more like politicians than miracle-workers. Their image is worshipped, but meanwhile their real appearance has changed. Going with the Superficial Social System— Gods frequently become enmeshed in the pleasure and commoditization of the times, whether or not they originated it. At times it has no character, and the Gods become caught up in selling what is off-the-shelf, rather than more original or magical products or circumstances. It starts to appear as if magic were a work of fate. If they sell their own products they lose their original image, and their childhood looks like a lucky sham. Present Company Included: Gods are frequently surrounded by fantastic figures who really are an exception to the rule. Treating their company as normal runs the risk of ignoring how horrible ordinary problems are, or at least how different pain is from a mandarin or his robes for that matter. The Tug of Selfishness: What makes selfishness potentially acceptable is not the fact that it is supernatural. The Legacy of Irony and Other Names: Do mortals really appreciate that tombstones look like Moseic Law? No! It isn't their pride at all, it's just the emotion of a spiteful god! Coppedge, Nathan / SCSU 2016/12/30, p.