episode_0033

It had been almost a year since the war broke out.

The Goddess Church, which had always been dragged around and beaten, finally released a statement.

“T-This. This will be enough to win back the hearts of the people.”

“It’s the result of research by the best theologians, so of course.”

“Now, the problem is how to reveal our masterpiece and make it known to the people…”

120 Articles of Refutation.

A masterpiece filled with the dedication of the clergy, created by increasing the existing 115 Articles of Refutation by 5 articles.

A large-scale project that scraped together theologians who were still alive and reachable, and included a large number of high-ranking priests.

It is a work of the century completed after investing a total of 1,000 people for 2 months.

“The reason why the priests have only been subjected to pouring criticism is because there was no proper argument.”

“But what if we distribute this?”

“We won’t have to suffer from unreasonable accusations and anti-clerical movements anymore.”

The summary of the contents was as follows.

A rebuttal to the general claims of the 115 Articles of Refutation. And a defense of indulgences and the corruption of priests.

[Indulgences are the most noble and precious gift of our Goddess, who is our heaven and master. Who said that this is a well-crafted scam, a false deception? It is truly a foolish statement. To reject the opportunity given by heaven!

It is already clearly taught that the sins you intend to commit, the sins your families have committed, can be forgiven.

No matter what anyone says, the Church will not abandon its privileges that have been passed down since Saint Justia (the first saint of the Goddess Church) in heaven. Because indulgences have already saved more souls than the apostles saved through preaching.]

[Priests! Nobles! Serfs! Children! Youths! Maidens! Can you not hear the sound of your parents and friends desperately crying out from the bottom of the abyss beyond purgatory?

‘We gave birth to you, nurtured you, raised you, and even left you property. How can you be so cunning and stingy that you don’t even try to save us by offering a small token of sincerity?’]

[You can save your parents now. A single coin in your wallet can save your parents.

With the sound of the coin falling into the collection box, their souls are freed from purgatory. Don’t you want to guide their souls to paradise?]

The logic that had been put forward for hundreds of years to sell indulgences was emphasized again. To make people accept the claims that they had been familiar with for a long time as facts again.

In the first place, the Goddess never supported such a thing, and it is not mentioned in the scriptures, so there is no justification.

However, they mobilized all possible sophistry, eloquence, and logic to somehow package and praise it.

If you listen to it, you will unknowingly create a miracle logic that makes you think that indulgences were actually 괜찮은.

‘It’s not a good strategy.’

It’s not a very effective thing to do.

To defend a system that is fundamentally wrong.

They knew that much, but… unfortunately, there was no other choice.

The moment they admitted that indulgences were wrong, the honor and morality that the Church had built up would be completely shattered.

They had to stubbornly insist on it in order to protect their sweet interests and continue to profit from them in the future.

[It is true that there are corrupt and depraved priests in the Church. But those are only a very small number of heretical seeds.

They are evil people who could not overcome their desires and greed, and chose apostasy instead of enjoying the grace of the Goddess.

No matter how virtuous and moral a group is, there are always a few bad people, right?

Criticism of the Church’s auditors for failing to catch the wicked is one thing, but it is never a proper virtue for a believer to condemn the whole.]

[I dare to ask the author of the 115 Articles of Refutation. What is the motive behind insulting and belittling the Church by quoting the words of the noble Bible?

Why do you drive faithful priests into a group of depraved, infected, and unimaginably lewd swindlers?

If you really want to criticize us, show yourself in a fair and square manner. Reveal your name and identity and demand a public discussion in a public place. The Church is ready to respond to this request.]

Then, they brought up the logic of some heretics.

The sins of the Church that are known to the world now are only mistakes committed by a few wrongdoers.

They begged not to misrepresent the whole by looking at the part, as the entire Church is not corrupt and wrong.

The fact that the person who raised the criticism was thoroughly anonymous was also a good excuse.

If you are really confident and dignified, isn’t it okay to show yourself? The reason why they are talking like that while hiding is because they are not confident in their claims!

It was suitable for driving them in this way.

“I will quickly arrange for a printing house!”

“I will provide the funds. I will also prepare agitators to inform the public.”

“Then, let’s start the distribution work as soon as we finish the final review.”

The clergy, who finally obtained a means to ward off all kinds of slander, distributed one copy of the rebuttal to each church and cathedral.

Along with the order for the priests and clerics in each region to promote it to the believers on their own.

They believed that they would be able to regain some of their support, even if it was not as much as before.

“Y-Your Grace the Archbishop! A report on the citizens’ reactions has come up!”

“Really? Do they all believe what we say?”

“That… the rate of cursing has rather increased.”

“What?”

Not surprisingly, it didn’t work at all.

* * * * *

“Tch, you idiots.”

Today, I clicked my tongue while checking the report handed over by the organization.

I’ve been reading it like a newspaper when I have time while working at the academy these days. But every time I see it, there’s nothing but pathetic stories.

“Don’t they even know the basic principles of propaganda?”

The best way to respond to rumors that have already spread is to ignore and confuse them.

Avoid direct response appropriately and spread other sensational news and flyers to bury the rumors.

Then, slowly form a rebuttal opinion and move the higher-ups to bury it.

It is the least damaging method that is still used in the political arena of the 21st century.

“If you argue directly, it’s like advertising, ‘I have something to hide.’”

But if you openly argue against it?

That’s like starting by ruining the public’s perception.

People will believe you if you get upset over a trivial insult.

‘At this rate, the Church won’t last long. There’s going to be a real mess soon.’

Once an perception is embedded, logical persuasiveness or the completeness of the argument is meaningless.

No matter how hard you try to come up with plausible words, people won’t listen. It’s the same reason why people don’t believe the words of a swindler.

Factors that used to add persuasiveness, such as social credibility and prestige, become useless.

‘Our stubborn disciple lady is going to have a lot of trouble.’

Just like politicians who ruin their image lose supporters and collapse. All that’s left for those guys is to lose believers and collapse.

I think they will follow a similar path to the Catholic Church on Earth.

They will rely on a small number of remaining supporters and barely make a soft landing after losing their existing monopolistic position.

Well, it depends on how the saintess and the upper echelons of the Church will act in the future.

“Ms. Kalia, no, Branch Manager Kalia. Is the recruitment of new members going well?”

“Thanks to you. Many people who have lost faith are coming over to us.”

Thanks to that, anti-government/anti-social organizations like us are having a great time. Even if we stay still, potential manpower is pouring in on its own.

The Church is giving the final confirmation to those who were shaken by the 115 Articles of Refutation? Wasn’t the faith I’ve believed in actually worthless?

Dozens of friends who thought that way are being recruited every day.

“The ones who show promise are being sent to the newly created training center this time. We’re going to raise them properly and use them as members.”

“What about the duds?”

“I’ve been coaxing them appropriately and accommodating them. We’ll use them as expendable pawns later.”

Of course, most of them will be thrown away. As dummy CEOs, scapegoats, or suicide bombers.

We don’t have the loyalty or leeway to keep those who don’t seem like they will be loyal to our organization until the end.

“Then, can you take some of them out and support our shipping company or merchant group?”

“It’s not difficult, but why suddenly?”

“I have an opportunity to make a lot of money through trade.”

With that, I turned to the next page of the report.

There, a large title was written.

[Regarding the Hispanic Empire’s large-scale factory expansion and productivity expansion]

The guys who are addicted to the population theory are suddenly increasing their production facilities without any reason.

Even though a new large-scale market to accept the increased products has not been secured.

What does this mean? It means that they have the capacity to steal the market share of others and expand exports.

If you trade between Hispania, Kram, and Navr for the time being, operating profit will explode.”

Technology couldn’t have suddenly improved so much… There’s only one possibility.

Price reduction through division of labor.

In other words, the introduction of factory-based handicrafts that deviate from the craftsman-centered production system.

The Empire has finally accepted The Wealth of Nations.