THERE ARE SIX OR SEVEN DIFFERENT LECTURES OF THIS KIND IN THIS SCENE.
On this note, IT IS PRETTY DISTINCT LOL:
“Yes and no. What people accept as logical and illogical changes by country and culture, you know. You, you're a... pragmatic young man.”
“That's kind,” Tatyana said, lightly, and Raikov shot her a look.
“A pragmatic young man,” Yu went on, “But probably religious too, yes?”
Raikov frowned. “Not particularly,” he said, “But--”
“But, you have a 'but,' you see,” Yu said. “But you believe in God, is that right?”
“Yes.” It wasn't something whose reality Raikov had questioned very closely, only his own place in relation to it.
“God is a parameter your culture and upbringing have laid upon you. Maybe you question what God really thinks, or what He really sees, or does, but you don't question that He is.”
Raikov paused, and then simply nodded, not quite trusting himself to speak. Yu nodded as well.
“It's something you accept. You've been given few reasons not to. You may reject some perspectives, maybe, or accept others, but the being of God is an absolute. It isn't dissimilar to the Chinese way of thinking, if you look at it properly. I can't speak for all of China, of course, as it's quite large and my own perspective is narrowed, but many people accept that a... variety of spiritual ideas are quite true, even as we accept the ideas of technological advancement and globalization. These things don't conflict. There is nothing mystical or wise about it, any more than you saying God exists is mystical or wise.” He inclined his head towards Raikov. “Meaning no disrespect, of course.”
(This is Ash, my stupid epic. Later in this scene, Tatyana explains how parrots talk, and then there's a discussion about the cultures of the Amur River.)
“Yes and no. What people accept as logical and illogical changes by country and culture, you know. You, you're a... pragmatic young man.”
“That's kind,” Tatyana said, lightly, and Raikov shot her a look.
“A pragmatic young man,” Yu went on, “But probably religious too, yes?”
Raikov frowned. “Not particularly,” he said, “But--”
“But, you have a 'but,' you see,” Yu said. “But you believe in God, is that right?”
“Yes.” It wasn't something whose reality Raikov had questioned very closely, only his own place in relation to it.
“God is a parameter your culture and upbringing have laid upon you. Maybe you question what God really thinks, or what He really sees, or does, but you don't question that He is.”
Raikov paused, and then simply nodded, not quite trusting himself to speak. Yu nodded as well.
“It's something you accept. You've been given few reasons not to. You may reject some perspectives, maybe, or accept others, but the being of God is an absolute. It isn't dissimilar to the Chinese way of thinking, if you look at it properly. I can't speak for all of China, of course, as it's quite large and my own perspective is narrowed, but many people accept that a... variety of spiritual ideas are quite true, even as we accept the ideas of technological advancement and globalization. These things don't conflict. There is nothing mystical or wise about it, any more than you saying God exists is mystical or wise.” He inclined his head towards Raikov. “Meaning no disrespect, of course.”
(This is Ash, my stupid epic. Later in this scene, Tatyana explains how parrots talk, and then there's a discussion about the cultures of the Amur River.)