Null When Void, a Fable

In a previous post, “Does Money Exist?”, I wrote:

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It seems absurd to ask if money exists; but the question improves upon acquaintance. It’s true that there are plenty of green pieces of paper claiming to be money, and people treat them as if they were money; but on the other hand, a church can exist, with preacher and flock, without its god existing.

Such a cult could intimidate everyone in town into worshipping the idol; but nonetheless prayers to the figment will go unanswered, and sacrifices to the image will not be rewarded. Nonexistence has consequences that will not be denied.

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I brooded upon this image awhile, and then wrote the following Fable:

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Null when Void

Once upon a time the parishioners of the Church of Stirch, Hew-hay and Hollo met to discuss the nonexistence of their gods.

The flock asked, "Why do we love our imaginary friends?"

The High Priest said, "Because we made them in our image. They're fictions, but they're our fictions."

The flock asked, "The Three are unreal, so to whom do we pray, and for what do we sacrifice?"

The High Priest said, "What does it matter that the Three don't exist? Aren't unbelievers shunned and vilified? Don't we have most of the money? Haven't we control of City Hall? Stirch, Hew-hay and Hollo unify us, and in unity there is strength."

The flock bowed down to the High Priest; then they prayed and sacrificed to golden Stirch, old Hew-hay and valiant Hollo.

But their prayers were not answered, and their sacrifices were not rewarded.

Moral:   Nonexistence has consequences.