this post was submitted on 23 Jun 2024
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Lovecraft Mythos - Cosmic Horror
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H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos is a shared universe far larger and more terrifying than that of humanity, where ancient, malevolent beings known as the Great Old Ones slumber in the depths of space or time. After Lovecraft's death, the Mythos has been expanded and developed by many authors, including August Derleth, Clark Ashton Smith, and Robert E. Howard. These and many other authors have helped to flesh out the Mythos into a rich and complex Dark Universe.
Rules:
- Please NO "Call of Cthulhu RPG" content (there are other great groups)
- PLEASE ONLY MYTHOS-INSPIRED CONTENTS
- Share stories, books, authors and any other works from the mythos
- Share reviews, analysis and theories on the lore
- Share videos, images and contents inspired by the lore
- Where possible share the link to the authors or the sources
- Ignore the call in your dreams as long as possible
๐ For more cosmic horror: !cosmichorror@lemm.ee ๐
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I mean, Lovecraft just went with OG Abrhamic stuff.
When they talk about angels in the Bible, they weren't talking about beautiful elves from Lotr with wings.
They were something that interacting with would break your mind. Because the people claiming to see them had broken minds already, that's why they were "seeing" them in the first place.
Which makes sense because what started the Abrhamic religions was a schizophrenic hearing voices to murder his family to appease the voice(s) in their head.
It's been whitewashed over the centuries, but that's all it is. The followers of a schizophrenic carrying on his delusions that began with murdering his brother. And they're still being told if they ever experience those symptoms, they should fucking listen instead of getting mental health treatment.
Also see the Oracle (s) of Pythia/Delphi.
Go into cave
Breathe fumes
Hallucinate
Tell local King he'll be victorious in upcoming battle
And ergotism. Don't forget ergotism.
I'm sure it happened some before, but the earliest known case was like, a thousand years or so after.
The danger of the Abrahamic religions is people who did experience hallucinations from things like ergot poisoning saw the similarities to the schizophrenic hallucinations their religions are based on.
So instead of their first thought being "clearly I'm seeing/hearing things that aren't there like a dream" it was "God has chosen me and is commanding me to do ____".
Like, under no circumstances is a higher power providing instructions, guidance, advice, anything.
And it's incredibly dangerous when people believe it's possible. Because if they experience hallucinations for any reason, there's a chance they treat it like a command.