Historical Setting, 626 C.E. The cottage of Ana and Laz
Brandell’s newest song is raising the ire of the Church over issues of doctrine and of course politics. Brandell asked Gabe if this was a serious charge. Gabe said to go immediately to the authority on Church Doctrine. Now Brandell’s returned smothered in a dark shadow completely unbefitting his cheerful nature. He’s come to our cottage to be alone. Even his music is discordant and plodding. Ana sat by him listening then they talked quietly. Now Ana wants me to come outside with her so she can tell me what this is about. She thinks I need to talk with him.
I can’t imagine what could be in poetry and nonsense words that could please whole crowds of peasants and yet be a pariah among Christian leaders. At least I can’t imagine such a song from Brandell. He is never one to set people blushing or hating or plot rebellions against the Church. His music just brings people together dancing.
Ana tells me, the Church authority told Brandell his newest song was “wrought by the devil.”
I would think Ana would just dismiss this worry as she so often does when she hears “devil” worries. As a pagan-trained physician she often hears of woes blamed on some contrivance of a devil character in order to make an excuse for an illness which has a perfectly down to earth cause and an earthly cure. Devil tales don’t usually rile her. But now, she wants me to speak with Brandell and put him at ease.
What can I say? I don’t know a devil. I was raised Jewish, and when I was Brandell’s age Jesus was my best friend and we were both always following God and the Jewish traditions of prayer. In Jewish literature the devil is only a literary device used in some heady debate. As in the gospels the devil tempts Jesus – it isn’t magic, it is metaphor. There is no actual spiritual force at play to be managed by Church magic.
I just figure Christian devil ideas are embellishments drawn from pagan notions to appease the superstitions of gentiles when Christianity was just starting out. Christianity is filled with Pagan stuff — Persian, Roman and Greek all sorts.
“So how could the Church blame Brandell for devils?” I ask Ana.
“Apparently, Brandell sang a new song at the Solstice party…”
“Well, there you have it, a Solstice party is surely bedeviled in the view of the Church. The party itself has a Pagan root.”
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 