The Transmigration Of Timothy Archer by Philip K. Dick

Author:Philip K. Dick [Dick, Philip K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Philip K Dick, Non-Science Fiction, Dystopias, Post-modern
Publisher: Gollancz Books
Published: 1982-07-10T03:20:31+00:00

Chapter 9

BISHOP TIMOTHY ARCHER conceived in his mind after much prayer and pondering, after much application of his brilliant analytical faculties, the notion that he had no choice but to step down as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California and go-as he phrased it-into the private sector. He discussed this matter with Kirsten and me at length.

“I have no faith in the reality of Christ,” he informed us. “None whatsoever. I cannot in good conscience go on preaching the kerygma of the New Testament. Every time I get up in front of my congregation, I feel that I am deceiving them.”

“You told Bill Lundborg that night that Christ's reality is proven by Jeff coming back,” I said.

“It's not,” Tim said. “It fails to. I have exhaustively scrutinized the situation and it fails to.”

“What does it prove, then?” Kirsten said.

“Life after death,” Tim said. “But not the reality of Christ. Jesus was a teacher whose teachings were not even original. I have the name of a medium, a Dr. Garret living in Santa Barbara. I will be flying down there to consult him, to try to talk to Jeff. Mr. Mason recommends him.” He examined a slip of paper. “Oh,” he said. “Dr. Garret is a woman. Rachel Garret. Hmmm ... I was certain it was a man.” He asked if the two of us wished to accompany him to Santa Barbara. It was his intention (he explained) to ask Jeff about Christ. Jeff could tell him, through the medium, Dr. Rachel Garret, if Christ were real or not, genuinely the Son of God and all the rest of that stuff that the churches teach. This would be an important trip; Tim's decision as to whether to resign his post as bishop hinged on this.

Moreover, Tim's faith was involved. He had spent decades rising within the Episcopal Church, but now he seriously doubted whether Christianity was valid. That was Tim's term: “valid.” It struck me as a weak and trendy term, falling tragically short of the magnitude of the forces contending within Tim's heart and mind. However, it was the term he used; he spoke in a calm manner, devoid of any hysterical overtones. It was as if he were planning whether or not to buy a suit of clothes.

“Christ,” he said, “is a role, not a person. It-the word-is a mistransliteration from the Hebrew 'Messiah,' which literally means the Anointed One, which is to say the Chosen One. The Messiah, of course, comes at the end of the world and ushers in the Age of Gold which replaces the Age of Iron, the age we now live in. This finds its most beautiful expression in the Fourth Eclogue of Virgil. Let me see ... I have it here.” He went to his books as he always did in time of gravity.

“We don't need to hear Virgil,” Kirsten said in a biting tone.

“Here it is,” Tim said, oblivious to her.

” 'Ultima Cumaei venit iam carminis aetas; magnus-' “

“That's enough,” Kirsten said sharply.

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