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Two scenarios:

1) You know of the Emperor and his great deeds, but nothing more than that, much like the average Imperial citizen.

2) You know of the Emperor and his great deeds, but also know that he is flawed and detached from humanity, seeing people as mere pawns in the great scheme of things. In this scenario you know all of what the Emperor has done in the Horus Heresy series.

Thoughts?

Yes in all scenarios.

Most of Emperor worship as depicted by miracles in the books and the ministrations of Ayatani Zweil is about martyrdom and selflessness. I definitely care about those.

And of course it’s social currency and in general I’d want to share the culture of the people around me, assuming I’m living in Imperial society

Scenario one, yeah, because I'm a brainwashed dupe.

Scenario two, probably, because I don't know of any better options.

Scenario three: where I know everything I know now, definitely not. Like, I'd do literally anything else. Chaos worship, join the Twisted Helix, anything.

Considering in 40k the alternative to Emperor worship for a human being is either a quick death or a slow, painful one (probably for more people than just me), I think I'd worship the skele-dude.

given what would happen to me in 40k if I *DIDN'T worship worship the emperor? feth YEAH I'D WORSHIP. I like being alive ya know?

Nope, he is not worthy. He is a hypocrite. I would be like that guy in ‘The Last Church’ giving him my 2cent.

Given I don't worship anything now, there's no way I could miraculously start with him or anyone.

Anyone who would worship him for any other reason except faith isn't really worshipping him. They're faking

The imperial creed is a state religion, so it's not like people get much of a choice. They're taught from childhood to worship the Emperor. Any sort of critical thinking is discouraged.
It's basically the early middle ages catholic church in western Europe, when no one read the bible (because books cost a fortune and almost nobody knew how to read anyway) so people just listened to whatever the priests told them (especially since they had the various monarchs' support). Anyone who didn't behave would end up ostracized at best and executed at worst so, you know, pretty much everyone was officially a catholic back then...

But if I was living in the Imperium and somehow able to choose, I'd probably look into those Mechanicus guys. They perform miracles all the time, getting machines to work and stuff, plus all the secrecy and weirdness makes it look mysterious and exciting. Also, those robes look cool.

I wouldn't be me in 40K, but if by some miracle I was transported there intact with all my experiences, opinions and knowledge... no, I wouldn't 'cause I'm not a bootlicker.

If I actually lived in the 41st Millenium, though, chances are I'd be as blind and indoctrinated as everyone else (pretends to be?) in the Imperium.

Yes because one of my favourite things in life is not being on fire.

Considering the social oppression I think I’d pay lip service to it and then join the first slaneesh hedonist cult that I encountered

No one in their right mind would sign up for Chaos Worship.

It's either like a disease (literally, I suspect, in many cases) or you're straight up tricked into it.

In 40K-land, you're better off bending the knee to the Emperor!

Eh.

If it's a choice between hanging out with the Adepta Sororitas and being all godly and clean and, frankly, dull as [Expletive Deleted], or joining a whips, chains, blood and sex-cult, well... that's an easy decision.

Good time, not a long time.

I suspect many of the upper echelons of imperial society are more of the 'appear to worship' type, than actually believe types - but this is pure speculation on my part.
The masses probably do, at least somewhat, genuinely believe, as they are indoctrinated pretty much from birth to do so. But then considering what happens to those that openly do not worship - I'd definitely go for at least lip-service and keeping up appearances.

eff the Emperor right up his stupid golden throne! I legit hate him. There are people who work for him that are far more worthy of admiration than he is. There are truly heroic deeds done in his name, and that's fine. But given what I know of him, he can jump straight up his own ass.

 Excommunicatus wrote:
Eh.

If it's a choice between hanging out with the Adepta Sororitas and being all godly and clean and, frankly, dull as [Expletive Deleted], or joining a whips, chains, blood and sex-cult, well... that's an easy decision.

Good time, not a long time.

Amusing rationale, given the Sisters definitely have 3 out of the 4.

IIRC, there's a SoB in one of the Ciaphas Cain novels who is engaged in a sexual relationship.

So all four actually. It's like carbon atoms though, it's all about how you arrange the components.

Slaneesh = live fast die young

Imperial guard = die young


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Slaneesh = live fast die young

Imperial guard = die young

If you don't, at the very least, pay lip-service to the Cult of the Imperium, you're looking to die pretty quickly. Morals and such are all well and good, but making a stand on them in to 41st millennium isn't gonna do nothing but get you killed.

I would as I wouldn't have any other choice if I wanted to live for very long. If I was raised to ACTUALLY believe in him as a god that just makes it even easier.

Consider that modern people today worship a lot of deities that have obvious flaws (almost any pantheon/animist/shamanist dogma has gods making mistakes, being general bastards, and so forth), the Emperor being flawed really isn't a barrier to entry.

The fact that many of you would say yes, just to make sure you didn't die, is depressing.

Human history proves that the vast majority of us are craven cowards who would rather live on our knees than stand for ourselves.

Not sure why you're surprised that bootlickers exist.

Well, not just me. Also everyone I care about. The Imperium ain't exactly shy about killing folks who have been "exposed" to heresy.

Better dead than smeg.

IRL, no. I personally find much to admire about the Sikh philosophy.

1. Sure, why not. Especially as I would have probably been brought up in the religion by my family.

2. My belief would be tempered like that of a space marine. Venerate him as an forebear worthy of respect, but recognize that he is a man, not a god.

IRL, no, Christianity goes against everything the Emperor stands for.

1. Given how dogmatically they enforce the Imperial Creed on average citizens, I would likely worship him.

2. Probably still worship but within the context of him being the lesser of the two (or more) evils I know.

 Excommunicatus wrote:
Better dead than smeg.

If it's just my head on the chopping block, sure. I might buck the system. But I ain't gonna make my wife, kids, parents, siblings, other relatives, friends, neighbors, and casual acquaintances pay the price for my choice. There's a thin line between standing up for your ideals and stupidity, and that particular choice is WELL over that line.

Edit: and, perhaps more importantly, going against the CoI isn't going to accomplish anything to change things. You'd basically be killing yourself and everyone you know to satisfy your stubborn pride.

It is better to die for the emperor than live for yourself

Collective punishment is the victim's fault.

You heard it here first.