The Faith That Fuels the Loot

Dear Lootius,

Religion and belief in something beyond have always been a part of human nature. Some may wonder what place belief in Lootius or Lootzifer has in an online world like Entropia Universe. But whether you identify as a devoted believer in a higher power or consider yourself a firm atheist, belief and faith flow through all of us. Even atheists often hold their convictions with a fervor akin to religious belief. Undoubtedly, it is belief – whether in Lootius or in ourselves – that defines and guides our journey through Entropia and beyond.

The word religion comes from the Latin religare, meaning to bind, moor, or commit to something. And whether we acknowledge it or not, we bind ourselves to various things throughout life: childhood fascinations like LEGO, intense first loves, or political ideologies. Each can become a form of personal religion, defining the choices we make and how we live. From whether you eat meat (or not) or follow a specific brand / football team, to living off the grid, we all adhere to our own set of beliefs and rituals, knowingly or not.

Recently, I watched Franklyn (2008) with a very good and wise friend, and, Lootius, did that world remind me of our own parallel existence between real life and Entropia Universe. The dystopian world of “Meanwhile City” felt eerily close to the way Entropia operates. In both, everyone clings to a faith – whether it’s how to play the game, what to expect in loot returns, or how to interpret skills.

As in all worlds and universes, chaos and order are intertwined. Without chaos, there can be no order, and without evil, there can be no good. The balance between them is what shapes every reality – virtual or otherwise.

In Meanwhile City, people wear masks, nothing feels quite real, and death isn’t the end. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? The control over individuals seems tied to faith. And much like Entropia, where everyone holds their own “religion” about what works and what doesn’t, Meanwhile City echoes that belief can be a powerful means of control.

But there’s another side to faith, one that hides in shadows. Faith, religion – even in a virtual sense – can also be a way to escape from yourself. Just as playing a virtual Nun and creating a virtual God can be an external projection of an inner faith, so too can these roles shield us from the harshness of reality. Or who wouldn’t long to be the ever-young and beautiful Eva Green, slipping between the lives of Emilia and Sarah, living in a world where reality bends to belief? In times of uncertainty or fear, we sometimes craft beliefs or characters to protect ourselves, to give us a sense of control in a chaotic world. It becomes a way to run from the deeper questions we may not want to face.

As in all worlds and universes, chaos and order are intertwined. Without chaos, there can be no order, and without evil, there can be no good. The balance between them is what shapes every reality – virtual or otherwise. Entropia, like the rest of life, follows this cosmic law: there is no gain without loss, no success without the struggle to achieve it.

The film introduces us to Mr. Preest (Priest), and the double-crossing Wormsnake. The all-seeing Janitor watches, while the ‘Individual’ – the ego-driven, narcissistic self – spins a world of lies and betrayal. These characters mirror the complex dynamics in our virtual lives. Just like in Entropia, it’s hard to distinguish what is real and what isn’t.

One of the most striking lines from Franklyn was, “When you’ve lost, you’re willing to believe anything.” This couldn’t be more apt for life, both real and virtual. When we lose in Entropia, whether it’s time, PEDs, or hope, we start to look for answers and often cling to whatever belief seems to explain our situation.

Death, in this context, can be both a release and a prison. In Meanwhile City, you can die and be reborn. In Entropia, failure is temporary, a stepping stone to the next success. But the cycle of belief – whether in life, loot, or skills – never ends.

In the film, there’s a poignant line: “It isn’t just about your family, your friends, the people you leave behind. It’s about the people you haven’t met yet.” This quote is told to Emilia, a girl who attempts to commit suicide once a month – not with the intention of dying, but to be found again. It’s her desperate attempt to wake up her narcissistic mother and feel a love that has been absent. Emilia’s father abused her, and her mother, in denial or simply too focused on herself, tries to ignore or forget what happened. Emilia’s struggle represents the longing for connection and understanding, a yearning for care that she has never fully received.

In many ways, this quote mirrors the experience of those in online worlds like Entropia. Here, we often form meaningful relationships with people we’ve never met in real life. The virtual space gives us a place to feel understood, connected, and appreciated – sometimes in ways that the real world hasn’t offered. Our interactions with those we have yet to meet, in these spaces, can be just as significant as any real-world relationship, if not more so.

Oh, Lootius, we both know your importance in guiding us through this web of belief and reality. Yet not everyone understands. But maybe, just maybe, with faith in you, we’ll navigate these worlds with a little more clarity.

“Anywhere can feel like a prison when you don’t have any faith.” This rings true not only in real life but in the virtual worlds we inhabit as well. In Entropia, faith is crucial. It keeps players going, whether it’s faith in the loot system, in their own skills, or simply in the hope that tomorrow will bring better results. It’s important to not only hold onto that faith ourselves but to let others have the belief they’re entitled to. Each person’s faith – whether in Lootius, loot, or even in themselves – should be respected. For without faith, these worlds we navigate can quickly feel like prisons, trapping us in doubt and uncertainty.

Because, after all, “… if you believe in something strongly enough, who’s to say if it’s real or not?“

In loot we trust!
Yours faithfully,
TheNun

Dear Lootius is 85% Danish content translated to English via Google Translate and 15% refined by ChatGPT.