Not at all. I don't think we'll ever quite agree on the issue, if only because we interpret evidence differently, but you state your points intelligently and I can see where you're headed.
New Yevon might share a name with Yevon, the priests might still be called priests, and they might use some of the temples as headquarters, but I still believe New Yevon is a political faction, not a religious faction.
The way Spira is set up in FFX-2, people react differently to the changes brought about by the Calm. New Yevon is the faction for those who are unnerved by the change. Their motto is 'One thing at a time' which promises some changes, but slowly. They're sort of the force of stability in Spira, while the others are forces for change.
The Youth League is founded as an opposition to New Yevon. Where the first faction maintains the central authority found in the first game, the Youth League stands for bringing authority back to the people. The spheres are central to this debate, as they represent a lost knowledge, even truth, and whoever has that essentially has a source of power.
I've seen the Trema cutscenes, although I don't think what Trema says represents what the current leaders of the New Yevon party believe. The idea Trema presents is the theme of FFX-2 taken to extremes. If what he says is true, Yuna needs to give up everything in her past, including Tidus, in order to shape her future in the best way possible.
His destruction of the spheres might have really stemmed from that belief, but it's also a strategic decision on the part of New Yevon. If knowledge is the main currency of power, at least right now, destroying spheres will make sure that their enemies don't get it. It's never mentioned in the game, but if someone in New Yevon watched those spheres before they were destroyed, they'd have a double advantage on the Youth League, as far as knowledge is concerned.
As for the temples, the ones that are still being used are used for non-religious purposes. The Al Bhed aren't worshipping Ixion (although I'm sure they have no qualms using the natural electronic energy there). New Yevon doesn't use the temples to worship; rather, it's a practical decision to use ready made buildings, already controlled by supporters than to build their own, or take over a non-supported structure. In Besaid, Beclem has no qualms with burning down the temples to get rid of the fiends, and though the rest of the people aren't so eager as he to see it burn, they would have still accepted it if it were a necessary end. Had it burned, would there have been other temple rebuilt there, or would something else have taken it's place?
I don't know about the Ronso, but the Guado converted for one reason: Jyscal became a Yevonite. I don't know if anything exists to say why he did, but once Jyscal became a Yevon convert, the rest of the Guado followed his lead. One of the things about the Guado shown in FFX and X-2, is that they are a very obedient people, who absolutely depend on their leaders to guide them. They willingly followed Seymour into genocide and in the first part of FFX-2, they are utterly unwilling to take action to protect themselves or keep Guadosalam.
I admit I don't have access to anything like a translated Ultimania Guide or the fortitude to translate the one I do have, so a lot of this is based on my own conjecture with what was shown in the acutal game. I simply imagine Spira being a certain way because that's how the FFX canon makes sense to me.
Otherwise, I'm enjoying this discussion, and I hope you are too, and not just trying to correct some incorrigable retard. =D
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Date: 2006-07-15 11:58 pm (UTC)New Yevon might share a name with Yevon, the priests might still be called priests, and they might use some of the temples as headquarters, but I still believe New Yevon is a political faction, not a religious faction.
The way Spira is set up in FFX-2, people react differently to the changes brought about by the Calm. New Yevon is the faction for those who are unnerved by the change. Their motto is 'One thing at a time' which promises some changes, but slowly. They're sort of the force of stability in Spira, while the others are forces for change.
The Youth League is founded as an opposition to New Yevon. Where the first faction maintains the central authority found in the first game, the Youth League stands for bringing authority back to the people. The spheres are central to this debate, as they represent a lost knowledge, even truth, and whoever has that essentially has a source of power.
I've seen the Trema cutscenes, although I don't think what Trema says represents what the current leaders of the New Yevon party believe. The idea Trema presents is the theme of FFX-2 taken to extremes. If what he says is true, Yuna needs to give up everything in her past, including Tidus, in order to shape her future in the best way possible.
His destruction of the spheres might have really stemmed from that belief, but it's also a strategic decision on the part of New Yevon. If knowledge is the main currency of power, at least right now, destroying spheres will make sure that their enemies don't get it. It's never mentioned in the game, but if someone in New Yevon watched those spheres before they were destroyed, they'd have a double advantage on the Youth League, as far as knowledge is concerned.
As for the temples, the ones that are still being used are used for non-religious purposes. The Al Bhed aren't worshipping Ixion (although I'm sure they have no qualms using the natural electronic energy there). New Yevon doesn't use the temples to worship; rather, it's a practical decision to use ready made buildings, already controlled by supporters than to build their own, or take over a non-supported structure. In Besaid, Beclem has no qualms with burning down the temples to get rid of the fiends, and though the rest of the people aren't so eager as he to see it burn, they would have still accepted it if it were a necessary end. Had it burned, would there have been other temple rebuilt there, or would something else have taken it's place?
I don't know about the Ronso, but the Guado converted for one reason: Jyscal became a Yevonite. I don't know if anything exists to say why he did, but once Jyscal became a Yevon convert, the rest of the Guado followed his lead. One of the things about the Guado shown in FFX and X-2, is that they are a very obedient people, who absolutely depend on their leaders to guide them. They willingly followed Seymour into genocide and in the first part of FFX-2, they are utterly unwilling to take action to protect themselves or keep Guadosalam.
I admit I don't have access to anything like a translated Ultimania Guide or the fortitude to translate the one I do have, so a lot of this is based on my own conjecture with what was shown in the acutal game. I simply imagine Spira being a certain way because that's how the FFX canon makes sense to me.
Otherwise, I'm enjoying this discussion, and I hope you are too, and not just trying to correct some incorrigable retard. =D