The Sword and Laser discussion

NOTE: If you have not gotten to the big reveal of what happened to the missing souls (or, at least, the first big reveal about that), then DO NOT READ FURTHER.

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Knowing what Walker knew before he died, would you take the offer given him by Rev. Dr. Habari? I'm about 70% through and just read the suicide note reveal, and I'm thinking that if offered the same deal with the same facts, I might take it too.

I'd have to make sure I could trust the people involved, of course, given that you could end up being tricked by a demon. But living in Tad Williams' Heaven doesn't really seem like a good afterlife to me -- having your memories erased and in eternal bliss resembling a drug-induced high. And of course, Hell is most certainly not a place anyone deserves to be for eternity. I'd much rather keep my memories as long as I could during an immortal existance.

What do you guys think?

That's a good question.

Me, I'm too much of a sceptic. Even if I was shown all Walker saw, I'd probably still live the years I had left before inevitably seeing if it was true or not.

Guess I value my life too much to take the risk :)

I'd want to sign up for the mailing list..so to speak.

In other words, I'd want to wait till I died of hopefully natural causes and take advantage of the 3rd way then.

I was thinking more in the binary "Yes" or "No". I don't really think I would just off myself like Walker did, but I might cut a deal that they could take me to the Third Way when I died naturally, provided I felt I could trust these people.

After finishing the book I'd definitely go the 3rd way. Heaven sounds dreadful, even worse than Hell where at least you apparently get to keep your memories.

I'd also wait until I died naturally to choose. Heaven sounds dead boring but I'd rather lose my memories than be burning in an eternal fire pit.

It's hard to say. Having my world rocked as hard as Walker did would be pretty destabilizing. I am not nearly the same personality as he, the man had drive and motivation on par with Ford, I think. Founding multiple successful enterprises takes a very strong--and perhaps a little ruthless--personality. I get why he did it, why he was such a good choice.

Myself... No. My ego screams at me, but I don't think I'm that brave.

Damn... First time I can look at a suicide and think "that was brave, that took guts."

Tim wrote: "Damn... First time I can look at a suicide and think "that was brave, that took guts." "

To be fair, when faced with incontrovertible proof of existence beyond death, suicide is a completely different beast. But I do agree with you.

I don't think you are able to wait for a natural death to take the 3rd way route. It sounded like one of their associates had to be with you when you died in order to get you out of there before the advocates arrived. In the end you would still have to off yourself before you "naturally" died if you intended to take the 3rd way. The only other way would be to have one of the 3rd way associates follow you around until you died, which would be impractical for them given that their numbers are probably not great enough to have that kind of coverage. I suppose if you have a very healthy lifestyle and are careful, you could live up to a point where your risks of sudden death via heart attack or something where at a high then commit suicide to avoid heaven and hell.

I'm only 24 so it is a little early for me decide to move on to the afterlife, but I suppose if I was in my 70's I would take the deal. Don't want to risk going to hell and I would rather not live in a trance for eternity with no free will up in heaven.

Adam wrote: "I don't think you are able to wait for a natural death to take the 3rd way route. It sounded like one of their associates had to be with you when you died in order to get you out of there before th..."

It was clear that it had to be that way in the beginning (which is why Walker committed suicide and all the others either had accidents or committed suicide), but I imagine that after they got well established, they might have enough support to at least make an effort to beat advocates and prosecutors to the scene.

Not the best chance, though.

This is a tough question to answer.. especially because they were just experimenting with Walker's soul and there was no guarantee it was actually going to work. Hmm... I think, given the option, I'd like to say that I would take the third way--even if that meant taking my own life. But really I don't know...

I would; if only for the possibility I might see my dad and sister again. Modern Christianity promises reunion with our deceased loved ones and if that weren't the case I would be devastated.

George wrote: "NOTE: If you have not gotten to the big reveal of what happened to the missing souls (or, at least, the first big reveal about that), then DO NOT READ FURTHER.
Somehow I am struck by the resemblence between Tad Williams 'Heaven' and Huxly's 'Brave New World'. So, in a sense, both Heaven and Hell are not the best places for an afterlife and I would have to opt for Walkers choice.
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Knowing what W..."