Yes, the Omnians. They’re a scathing critique of dogmatic hierarchical religions in general and Christianity in particular. The zenith of their folly is depicted in Small Gods, where it’s revealed that not a single one among them except for one lowly initiate actually believes in their god anymore, having replaced him instead with blind obedience to their rituals and the bureaucracy of the church itself. The Discworld being what it is, their god is very much real but has been diminished to inhabiting the body of an ordinary tortise and is unable to communicate with anyone except his sole remaining believer.
One of their ironclad declarations is that the Disc is spherical, a notion over which they are quite willing to torture people to death for questioning. Of course as we all know, the truth is the opposite.
Does Discworld have nutters who insist the world is spherical?
Yes, the Omnians. They’re a scathing critique of dogmatic hierarchical religions in general and Christianity in particular. The zenith of their folly is depicted in Small Gods, where it’s revealed that not a single one among them except for one lowly initiate actually believes in their god anymore, having replaced him instead with blind obedience to their rituals and the bureaucracy of the church itself. The Discworld being what it is, their god is very much real but has been diminished to inhabiting the body of an ordinary tortise and is unable to communicate with anyone except his sole remaining believer.
One of their ironclad declarations is that the Disc is spherical, a notion over which they are quite willing to torture people to death for questioning. Of course as we all know, the truth is the opposite.
And yet, the turtle moves.
Small Gods is also a great introduction to Terry Pratchett, I highly recommend it to all!
Man, Terry Pratchett’s writing is so damn funny