Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 EnderXenocide0 Apr 23, 2012 12:28:53	So according to Faiths of Eberron, the CotSF holds mass three times a day, but only the most devoted attend more than once or twice a week. But what do you do at mass? As far as I know, there's no real scripture ever mentioned. I can imagine there are stories about Tira Miron that have been written down, but what else? Are there other heroes of the faith since her? Perhaps stories about resisting temptations, using Melysse as an example of the dangers of the Shadow in the Flame. Additionally, I wondered this: there are funeral rites for burial of SF followers. Why not cremate the bodies? It's seems like a very symbolic ritual to hold, but also keeps there from being a corpse to raise unnaturally. Since the soul of the departed would rejoin the flame, it wouldn't be re-entering the body and any walking body would be an undead, not exactly something they like.
#2 Hellcow Apr 23, 2012 20:02:29	So according to Faiths of Eberron, the CotSF holds mass three times a day, but only the most devoted attend more than once or twice a week. In this Dragonshard, I said: Priests of the Silver Flame perform many services. While some of these are practical -- ranging from marriage to military training (specifically, archery) -- the tasks of the priest also include offering guidance and inspiration to the community. Daily services provide the faithful with the chance to hear the words of the priest and to present their troubles. I agree that the use of "mass" for SF services is odd because there is no "communion." By contrast, the Blood of Vol does have services where members of a community share give blood - a sort of reverse communion, but emphasizing that the each individual gives to sustain the greater whole. But I see the Silver Flame services as being about instruction and inspiration, along with a practical forum for concerns. Among other things, an SF service would absolutely be the place to report any signs of unusual supernatural dangers for the priest to evaluate. Additionally, I wondered this: there are funeral rites for burial of SF followers. Why not cremate the bodies? It's seems like a very symbolic ritual to hold, but also keeps there from being a corpse to raise unnaturally. Since the soul of the departed would rejoin the flame, it wouldn't be re-entering the body and any walking body would be an undead, not exactly something they like. I agree. In this Dragonshard I said that clerics of the Silver Flame generally don't raise the dead because their souls strenghen the Flame; with this principle in mind and the threat of undead, along with the trappings of fire tied to the faith, I've always considered cremation the logical ceremony for the SF.