Editing God's Editors

{{Spoiler}}{{Character
|image1 = Bluestocking.png
|caption1 = The Querulous Theologian
|alias = Saint Cyriac's Illuminated College
|notable_members = The Querulous Theologian<br>The Arbiter<br>Turbulent Editor<br>James
|allegiance = [[The Church]]<br>
<font color="red"><span style="background-color: red">Mr Eaten</span></font>
}}<blockquote>''"'Thou shalt not bind the church-bat's ears; and the labourer is worthy of his reward.' As the Book Timorous in St Cyriac's Exceptionally New Testament has it."''<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Professional_Reward A Professional Reward, ''Fallen London''] </ref></blockquote>'''Saint Cyriac's Illuminated College''', better known as '''God's Editors''', is a distinguished order entrusted with revising religious texts to align with the unique realities of the [[Neath]]<ref name=":0">[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Making_the_Good_Book_Better Making the Good Book Better, ''Fallen London''] ''"Saint Cyriac's Illuminated College, vulgarly known as God's Editors, revises Church texts to reflect recent events. A Querulous Theologian oversees the work."''</ref> — transforming the Good Book into the Better Book, as some might put it.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Work_diligently Work diligently, ''Fallen London''] ''"Your neck aches, your shoulders are a fused mass and you can't feel your pen fingers. But a little more theology has been adapted to the reality of the Neath. You will sleep soundly tonight."''</ref> Their work is overseen by the '''Querulous Theologian''',<ref name=":0" /> a devout and well-read lady who seeks inspiration for revisions in both sacred and secular literature,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Show_the_Querulous_Theologian_your_Patriotic_Adventure Show the Querulous Theologian your Patriotic Adventure, ''Fallen London''] ''"Oh, that was you? Yes, a most interesting piece. […] I enjoyed the spiritual aspects. Using the Elder Country as a metaphor for Purgatory was most apt. And as a tale of salvation to be found in the Neath... […] it has influenced my own work."''</ref><ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Show_the_Querulous_Theologian_your_Tragic_Romance Show the Querulous Theologian your Tragic Romance, ''Fallen London''] ''"[…] Oh, I'm quite the admirer of your work! Your dour imagery was quite magnificent. All of us as Saint Cyriac's took inspiration from your description of the cavern. […] Tell me, have you ever considered theological work?"''</ref> but fears that any provocation of [[Surface]] nostalgia might set the Editors' work back severely.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Show_the_Querulous_Theologian_your_Tale_of_the_Future Show the Querulous Theologian your Tale of the Future, ''Fallen London''] ''"You! You wrote that monstrosity! It's hard enough coming to terms with the spiritual realities of the Neath without literary hooligans like you giving people a hankering for life back on the surface. Now shoo! Get out!"''</ref> 

The need for such revisions arose after the [[Fall of London]], bringing profound theological and existential dilemmas. The [[Anglican Church]] found its doctrines ill-equipped to address a variety of new circumstances, like the proximity of [[Hell]], the altered nature of mortality, and the presence of distinctly inhuman congregants.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Death_and_Tax_Evasion Death and Tax Evasion, ''Fallen London''] ''"You mention that you thought College doctrine was to account for even the lowest of Neathy denizens. The Theologian nods. "Oh, it is. We do mention the rats here and there, don't we?""''</ref> God's Editors oversee these adaptations, tailoring scripture to better reflect Neathy life while still prioritizing the needs of human parishioners.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Accept_the_position Accept the position, ''Fallen London''] ''"[…] 'The most important thing about our work is to make it relevant to the citizens of the Neath,' she says over her shoulder. '[…] Even low and Rubbery denizens have their place in our theology. Not an exalted place, but a place nonetheless.' […]"''</ref> Their work extends beyond mere doctrine; under their influence, and in line with the [[Bazaar]]'s promotion of all forms of love, Anglican theology now allows for free expression of one's gender and romantic and sexual preferences. This shift was championed by an editor named James,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Brass_Grail_(Story) The Brass Grail, ''Fallen London''] ''"Officially, of course, the Church doesn't approve. But I've always found a place in the clergy for men like me, as long as they're discreet. But now, everyone's hopping into bed with men and women and squid-heads and God alone knows what else while we're as chaste as church-mice. Someone at St Cyriac's has been expanding the theology. Paving the way through references and glosses for a change in doctrine so that we should all be tumbling about with whoever we like. I should have realised it was James' doing!"''</ref> a former [[Revolutionaries|revolutionary]] who was once involved with the [[Bishop of Southwark]].<ref name=":3">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Brass_Grail_(Story)|The Brass Grail (Story)|Fallen London|}}''"I never married. I've loved two... I've loved two men. […] Michael is probably still in Ireland, I think, or Rome. James... James is down here. Hell of a brain on the man, but he's given to extremes. Probably a bomb-thrower by now. We didn't part as friends."''</ref> 

God's Editors are open-minded about varying beliefs, as rigid adherence to doctrine would not suit their duties.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Making_the_Good_Book_Better Making the Good Book Better, ''Fallen London''] ''"Someone of your literary talents and rare spirituality would be the ideal candidate. The College is surprisingly, ahem, catholic about doctrinal differences."''</ref> They freely correspond with the Archbishop of Canterbury — although rumor has it that he simply burns every letter he receives from the Neath<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Pay_for_postage_on_a_letter_to_the_Archbishop_of_Canterbury Pay for postage on a letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, ''Fallen London''] ''"He must be kept appraised of events in the Neath. Even though rumour has it that he gave a secretary standing orders to 'burn, unopened, any correspondence from Below.'"''</ref> — and have an unofficial business relationship with the [[Midnighters]] of St Joshua.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Midnighter%27s_Currency The Midnighter's Currency, ''Fallen London''] ''"Saint Cyriac's Illuminated College has never officially recognised St Joshua's canonisation, but it is to their cedar door that you deliver the packages, when the night is deep and the bells silent."''</ref> That said, the Illuminated College's editorial liberties are not boundless; every revision must be kept brief to prevent the Bible from becoming too dense of a book.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Death_and_Tax_Evasion Death and Tax Evasion, ''Fallen London''] ''"I sympathise, I really do," she says. "But you know how it is. We're working on very tight deadlines with these new editions. And if we took out time to address the matter of rats, what next? Would we dedicate whole chapters to the complexities of the Rubberies? Drownies? Snuffers?" She sips primly. "I wish we had the time and manpower. Not to mention our strict limits on word count. The Holy Book needs to fit into a chest pocket, or how else will our soldiers survive bullets?"''</ref> Furthermore, an unorthodox setting for the editing of sacred texts has a tendency to produce unorthodox behavior.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_donation_to_Saint_Cyriac%27s_Illuminated_College A donation to Saint Cyriac's Illuminated College, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Querulous Theologian accepts the candles […] two scriptural revisionists are coming to blows with heavy books. […]"''</ref> At Saint Cyriac’s, the air is always thick with the clatter of typewriters, the scratching of pens, and the rising voices of clerical disagreements.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Day_with_God%27s_Editors A Day with God's Editors, ''Fallen London''] ''"At Saint Cyriac's Illuminated College, you hear typewriters clatter, the scratching of pens, the turning of pages and the occasional clerical fist-fight."''</ref> 

Once a set of revisions is complete, it is distributed across [[London]]’s churches. Each Vicar is informed and guided to the relevant passage — though no two churches ever seem to have identical editions. The Editors ensure that changes are seamlessly integrated, preventing undue theological confusion among the faithful.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Distribute_edits Distribute edits, ''Fallen London''] ''"It is an enviable job; it is easy and gets you noticed. […] Updating the Good Book requires reporting to the Vicar, helping them find the relevant passage (and they all of them have different editions […]) and making sure they put in the edits […]"''</ref>

==The Deeper Archives==
{{Peckish spoiler small}}<br><blockquote>''"The Deep Archives of St Cyriac’s College, sometimes called God’s Editors, were touched by a tainting caress."''<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Lower_Mysteries_1 The Lower Mysteries 1, ''Fallen London'']</ref></blockquote>Beyond the well-lit halls of scholarship lies a rarely opened door. Inside a hidden archive, a mysterious Arbiter presides over texts and rituals tied to the one who was [[Mr Eaten|Eaten]].<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_a_certain_passage_of_St_Matthew,_and_its_revisions Ask about a certain passage of St Matthew, and its revisions, ''Fallen London''] ''"I didn't think you would come again. It is you, isn't it? I prayed you would not. Here, then, if you must. Yes, down these steps.. You've brought the papers? All of them? My secretary will help carry them. We'll burn them, you know, when we're done. (Through here, beneath the sign of St Joshua.) The College frowns on the burning of books – and myself, I detest both the act and its meaning. And the smoke simply will not wash out. (Yes, that door. Push a little harder. It is rarely opened.) I won't ask you if you know what you're doing. I am confident you will not. Here is the Arbiter. He will count the papers you have brought. These rules seem arbitrary, I know, but he is the Arbiter, ha ha. And the Prelapsarian Conditionals will not be brooked. I will leave you. No, no I have no desire to meet you again. I pray you, let this be the last time."''</ref> St Cyriac's and St Joshua's are not exactly allied with the drowned [[Master]],<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Deep_Archives_of_the_College_of_St_Cyriac The Deep Archives of the College of St Cyriac, ''Fallen London''] ''""You wished to enquire," the Arbiter says silkily, "about a certain chapter and verse of the Gospel of Matthew. If that was even his name." Do you have what was promised, as the price for the cooperation of St Cyriac's College, and their secret sibling? If not, you are wasting your time here."''</ref> but the laws of the [[Judgements]], the laws behind God's mask, still persist to an extent in the Neath; a reckoning will not be postponed indefinitely.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Yes. Yes., ''Fallen London''] ''"[...] His peers gave him up for their freedom. And the heathens feasted. [...] We are no friend of that one. But the laws of the Judgements, whose mask is God, are present even here beneath the earth. Lightly present, but present. And a reckoning, as the saying has it, will not be indefinitely postponed."''</ref> 

This archive, far from light and law, is also a perfect place for "epistemological aberrations" to take root within forgotten pages. Left unchecked, they threaten the integrity of knowledge itself, and must be culled on a regular basis.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Eliminate_an_epistemological_aberration Eliminate an epistemological aberration, ''Fallen London''] ''"Counterfactuals and mistruths have grown hungry, down in the deep archives of St Cyriac. [...] This is the wild belly of the church, where ideas have teeth. And that which hunts can also be hunted."''</ref>

==References==
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[[Category:Other Things of Significance]]