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Religious experiment novel - Coggle Diagram
Religious experiment novel
Plot outline
Setup
Unveiling
Spiral
Crisis
Climax and Resolution
Some of the new religious leaders declare the town founders to be heretics or impostors, part of a test of faith.
Rather than diminishing, the belief in the miracle spring and heavenly apparition intensifies. Due to the power of belief and the placebo effect, the water seems to gain even more "healing power." -> power of placebo
The town leaders are left to grapple with the ethical dilemma they've created. They started with a "white lie" to save their town, but it has grown into a complex web of faith, manipulation, and unintended consequences.
The original group of town leaders becomes increasingly uneasy as they watch their small scam turn into a full-blown religious movement.
They decide to come clean and reveal the hoax, believing that this will put an end to the madness.
Soon, the situation spirals out of control. Various "prophets" and "holy men" rise up from within the pilgrim population, each with their own interpretation of the miracles.
People start attributing more incredible phenomena to the water and the apparition: spontaneous healings, prophetic dreams, even claims of resurrection from the dead.
Sects begin to form, each with its own set of doctrines and rituals, including some that the town founders find deeply concerning or even dangerous.
News of the "miracle spring" and the "heavenly apparition" leaks out, first locally, then regionally, and finally internationally.
Pilgrims and believers start flocking to the town. Businesses boom, and suddenly the town is back on its feet.
The town is financially struggling and its main attraction, a natural spring, has lost its appeal to tourists.
1 A group of town leaders concoct a plan to revitalise the town. They introduce a harmless substance into the spring that provides temporary relief from minor aches and pains.
The same group also uses light projectors to create an image of a religious figure in the sky above the spring.
Themes
Parallels religious development
Questions about the origins of faith, similar to the founding myths of various religious traditions.
The power of collective belief.
The unintended consequences of "good intentions."
Gullibility of man
Manipulation
Archetypes/characters
1. Con artist
drives the idea
executes illusion & markets it
2. Principle victim
believes but later discovers truth
3. Secondary victim
believes con and doubles down on belief
4. Accomplice to con
Does it to help town but has a change of heart -> confronts con artists
5. Outsider who exposes con
is killed by true believer 3
6. Religion groups
A. Traditional Christian
B. New sect
Sect C
Sect D