Excerpts From Aesthetical Sermons

Episode 9 gives us insight into Joris Planck's belief in the gods of mythology. The excerpt is taken from his "Sermon on Familiar Stories," which tackles the epic task of weaving together every story under the sun. Transcription of Joris:"I wonder, should we maintain a perverse belief in these gods of old once sung of in metered hymn and marbled relief? They were as various as my moods and just as lackluster about mankind. Their intention has never been to inspire faith, nor even love, nor even fear: fear in their elemental power and aloof disposition. Love for their brute hegemony and painted faces. The dryads perhaps we love. Yes, their tantalizing limbs are too beautiful to be ignored. But faith? We would be fools to believe the gods' antics were meant as lures for the faithful. We should sooner celebrate the mutability of stone. So, wanting nothing from us (for no thing could we offer to counterbalance their extravagance), why shouldn't we abandon these ancient gods as we have all other things natura