The Electric Church Part 24

8 Here is the fundamental concept of the Electric Church: The idea that mankind's eventual salvation is possible only through our mastery of technological and scientific knowledge. Specifically, the Church preaches that only through centuries, even epochs of meditation and study can salvation be attained-the necessary lifespan being supplied by the cyborg bodies Squalor has designed and built, as well as the process he has devised for transferring a human brain into one. Here is the fundamental concept of the Electric Church: The idea that mankind's eventual salvation is possible only through our mastery of technological and scientific knowledge. Specifically, the Church preaches that only through centuries, even epochs of meditation and study can salvation be attained-the necessary lifespan being supplied by the cyborg bodies Squalor has designed and built, as well as the process he has devised for transferring a human brain into one.

9 This is a disturbing pa.s.sage to many, and is often quoted by those who claim the Church has engaged in violence against innocent citizens who do not voluntarily join or listen to preaching. It should be noted that there is not a single doc.u.mented complaint against the Church filed by a reliable citizen of standing, and that all complaints from less reliable citizens have been retracted over time. This is a disturbing pa.s.sage to many, and is often quoted by those who claim the Church has engaged in violence against innocent citizens who do not voluntarily join or listen to preaching. It should be noted that there is not a single doc.u.mented complaint against the Church filed by a reliable citizen of standing, and that all complaints from less reliable citizens have been retracted over time.

10 10 This text is often quoted at length by Monks when preaching to an individual. It has appeared in several transcripts of SSF surveillance of Electric Church a.s.sets. This text is often quoted at length by Monks when preaching to an individual. It has appeared in several transcripts of SSF surveillance of Electric Church a.s.sets.

11 It is interesting to note that while the impossibility of "attaining" salvation in our normal lifespans is stressed in the It is interesting to note that while the impossibility of "attaining" salvation in our normal lifespans is stressed in the Codex Codex, at no point is any mechanism or procedure for attaining salvation after conversion ever outlined. The clear implication is that conversion into a Monk is the necessary first step-in order to attain the time needed-but beyond that there is no hint as to what a Monk should be doing with eternity. The a.s.sumption must be that instructions will follow.

12 12 This pa.s.sage appears several times throughout the This pa.s.sage appears several times throughout the Codex Codex, reproduced exactly.

13 13 Elsewhere in the Elsewhere in the Codex Codex the idea that only a small number of "souls" are constantly being recycled into new physical bodies is expanded, with lengthy contemplations on the mathematics of reincarnation (explaining, somewhat inconclusively, how a limited number of souls inhabits a population that has-except for the brief period before and after Unifi-cation-grown steadily over the years) and the lack of past-life memories. the idea that only a small number of "souls" are constantly being recycled into new physical bodies is expanded, with lengthy contemplations on the mathematics of reincarnation (explaining, somewhat inconclusively, how a limited number of souls inhabits a population that has-except for the brief period before and after Unifi-cation-grown steadily over the years) and the lack of past-life memories.

14 Squalor never actually defines what this "singularity" he experienced was, though it is widely believed to be a reference to his own conversion into a cyborg, which (see below) does not seem to have been an experience he expected to survive. Squalor never actually defines what this "singularity" he experienced was, though it is widely believed to be a reference to his own conversion into a cyborg, which (see below) does not seem to have been an experience he expected to survive.

15 15 Although there have been exceptions, most studies done on Church recruitment (mainly using SSF field reports as source material) show that the Church targets the criminal cla.s.s almost exclusively. Citizens that would be termed "upper cla.s.s" or at the very least legally employed are all but ignored by the Monks. In urban centers, where the Monks are concentrated and numerous, they remain almost exclusively in the plentiful "reconstruction zones" left over from the Unification Riots-downtown Manhattan, for example. Most SSF officers consider the Monks' activities amongst the petty criminals and marginal citizens of these areas to be of no concern, or even, in some cases, a benefit to the System in that they remove undesirable elements from these areas. No Monk has ever been charged with a crime postconversion. Although there have been exceptions, most studies done on Church recruitment (mainly using SSF field reports as source material) show that the Church targets the criminal cla.s.s almost exclusively. Citizens that would be termed "upper cla.s.s" or at the very least legally employed are all but ignored by the Monks. In urban centers, where the Monks are concentrated and numerous, they remain almost exclusively in the plentiful "reconstruction zones" left over from the Unification Riots-downtown Manhattan, for example. Most SSF officers consider the Monks' activities amongst the petty criminals and marginal citizens of these areas to be of no concern, or even, in some cases, a benefit to the System in that they remove undesirable elements from these areas. No Monk has ever been charged with a crime postconversion.

16 It is curious that Squalor here berates readers for "imagining" their impact on the world, and yet he clearly states that he is the "patient zero" of the Electric Church's "singularity." Although it can be a.s.sumed that if you have been chosen by G.o.d to perform a task, the rules no longer apply to you. It is curious that Squalor here berates readers for "imagining" their impact on the world, and yet he clearly states that he is the "patient zero" of the Electric Church's "singularity." Although it can be a.s.sumed that if you have been chosen by G.o.d to perform a task, the rules no longer apply to you.

17 17 Prior to his disappearance, apparent suicide attempt, and reappearance as head of the Electric Church, Dennis Squalor in fact worked for the Joint Council in the first years after Unification. Records are under seal, and are scarce in any event due to the frequent disruptions suffered post-Unification before the establishment of the System Security Force, but his name can be found on several disburs.e.m.e.nt orders from the first and second Council sessions. The nature of the work he did for the Joint Council is not known, though considering his training it would likely have been scientific in nature. Prior to his disappearance, apparent suicide attempt, and reappearance as head of the Electric Church, Dennis Squalor in fact worked for the Joint Council in the first years after Unification. Records are under seal, and are scarce in any event due to the frequent disruptions suffered post-Unification before the establishment of the System Security Force, but his name can be found on several disburs.e.m.e.nt orders from the first and second Council sessions. The nature of the work he did for the Joint Council is not known, though considering his training it would likely have been scientific in nature.

18 Details are scant, but there is some evidence that Squalor's suicide attempt was actually conducted by performing his cyborg-conversion technique on himself. It is interesting that he apparently regarded the chance of a successful conversion to be so low as to be virtual suicide. Details are scant, but there is some evidence that Squalor's suicide attempt was actually conducted by performing his cyborg-conversion technique on himself. It is interesting that he apparently regarded the chance of a successful conversion to be so low as to be virtual suicide.

19 19 Rumors persist that not all conversions to the Electric Church are voluntary, although every conversion is well-doc.u.mented in accordance with System Law, and is accompanied by a signed statement of intent from each convert, including brainwave scan to establish ident.i.ty. No further investigation has ever been conducted into a conversion, however, because converts are usually people of no family and few means. Rumors persist that not all conversions to the Electric Church are voluntary, although every conversion is well-doc.u.mented in accordance with System Law, and is accompanied by a signed statement of intent from each convert, including brainwave scan to establish ident.i.ty. No further investigation has ever been conducted into a conversion, however, because converts are usually people of no family and few means.

20 The design of the Church's cyborg "avatars" as they refer to them does not include any sort of sleep-simulation. Current scientific opinion is that the human brain requires some sort of sleep cycle. The Electric Church maintains that their technology removes the need for sleep, and that its adherents suffer no ill effects. It must be noted that no member of the Church has, to date, ever been diagnosed with or complained of a sleep-deprivation-related illness. The design of the Church's cyborg "avatars" as they refer to them does not include any sort of sleep-simulation. Current scientific opinion is that the human brain requires some sort of sleep cycle. The Electric Church maintains that their technology removes the need for sleep, and that its adherents suffer no ill effects. It must be noted that no member of the Church has, to date, ever been diagnosed with or complained of a sleep-deprivation-related illness.

21 The Electric Church has often stated publicly that it condemns all violence and compulsion, and that all converts are free to leave the Church and live out their immortal existences in any way they wish. No discussion of what immortal cyborgs are to do in society outside the Church is offered, however. No organizations exist to guide or a.s.sist former Monks, mainly because there are no The Electric Church has often stated publicly that it condemns all violence and compulsion, and that all converts are free to leave the Church and live out their immortal existences in any way they wish. No discussion of what immortal cyborgs are to do in society outside the Church is offered, however. No organizations exist to guide or a.s.sist former Monks, mainly because there are no former former Monks. In the entire history of the Church, there is not one record of a convert leaving the Church. Monks. In the entire history of the Church, there is not one record of a convert leaving the Church.

22 There is some evidence (see SSF Field Report 34, Case Reference A3764) that Squalor experienced some terrible physical trauma shortly before founding the Church. Medical records are scant (Health Program microchips had not been universally introduced at the time, and it was still possible to approach a local Emergency Room service without an implanted chip) and if true, he almost certainly used a pseudonym, so positive identification is not possible. There is some evidence (see SSF Field Report 34, Case Reference A3764) that Squalor experienced some terrible physical trauma shortly before founding the Church. Medical records are scant (Health Program microchips had not been universally introduced at the time, and it was still possible to approach a local Emergency Room service without an implanted chip) and if true, he almost certainly used a pseudonym, so positive identification is not possible.

23 This is a small section of a lengthy section of the This is a small section of a lengthy section of the Codex Codex that appears at the end, without preamble or introduction. It appears to be in the tradition of Apocalyptical Literature and is a rambling account that does not make obvious real-life sense. Various interpretations have been offered, but the accepted view is that Squalor was deranged at the time of writing and that these fevered images mean nothing. that appears at the end, without preamble or introduction. It appears to be in the tradition of Apocalyptical Literature and is a rambling account that does not make obvious real-life sense. Various interpretations have been offered, but the accepted view is that Squalor was deranged at the time of writing and that these fevered images mean nothing.

24 It is interesting to note that Squalor, a man who embraces the near-total conversion of the biological body to technology, constructs this story as one wherein humans are menaced by nature in the form of "wild" animals. It is interesting to note that Squalor, a man who embraces the near-total conversion of the biological body to technology, constructs this story as one wherein humans are menaced by nature in the form of "wild" animals.

25 It may be a meaningless coincidence, but it has been noted that since founding the Electric Church and appearing in public, Squalor has always appeared in public wearing sungla.s.ses that cover his eyes completely, leading to speculation that he is, indeed, blind. It may be a meaningless coincidence, but it has been noted that since founding the Electric Church and appearing in public, Squalor has always appeared in public wearing sungla.s.ses that cover his eyes completely, leading to speculation that he is, indeed, blind.