107,440
edits
Changes
From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
no edit summary
According to the Cult Mechanicus, knowledge is the supreme manifestation of divinity and all creatures and technology that embody knowledge are thus holy because of it. The worth of a single man is only the sum of his knowledge - his body is simply an organic machine capable of preserving intellect. It is by this motivation that the followers of the Cult Mechanicus follow the '''Quest for Knowledge''', seeking new technology and information to better themselves.{{Fn|1}}
The '''Machine God''', also known as the '''Deus Mechanicus''',{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|4a}} '''He who is three-in-one''',{{Fn|15c}} '''the three in one''',{{Fn|16c}} '''the triple god''',{{Fn|16a}} '''the prime architect''',{{Fn|15a}} and '''God-Machine''',{{Fn|11}} is the ultimate object of worship in the Cult Mechanicus. It is the Machine God that gave rise to all technologies and made them manifest through his chosen among mankind. To the Mechanicus, machines represent a higher form of life than those crudely formed from biological evolution. The planned perfection of form and function embodied in a machine are so great, that they could only have arisen from a divine source. Officially, the Cult Mechanicus maintains that the [[Emperor]] is the physical manifestation of the Machine God (the '''[[Omnissiah]]''') and part of a trinity that also includes the Machine God and the '''[[Motive Force]]''', the deity that gives all life and motion its continued existence.{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|4a}}
Organic life is the Machine-God’s greatest accomplishment within the scope of the Great Work. The Machine God created the complex weaknesses of flesh so his followers might learn metallic strength, and ascend to his level of machinic perfection.{{Fn|15c}} Thus striving to improve upon it and replace it, however, abandoning his numerous gifts is done at great peril. For to give up one's soul is the great sin of the Cult Mechanicus. The soul must be understood, not despised. Such is life’s great test.{{Fn|16b}}
