In December, the Soviet Union initiated a comprehensive ideological rectification campaign.
Starting with government officials at all levels, everyone began to relearn progressive thoughts, breaking free from outdated concepts entrenched in their minds.
Meanwhile, the KGB conducted investigations into key individuals opposing the national laboratory project.
With the help of wizards, no one could hide their secrets, and under such scrutiny, no one could pretend to be a saint.
A pile of reprehensible acts was exposed, and the culprits were arrested, with the media widely publicizing these actions.
Soon, the opposition quieted down.
For the so-called "apparitions" that frequently occurred, the state dispatched special teams to first collect information on the locations and individuals involved in these "apparitions" through church records, and then the teams went to each site to collect "apparition" images and all Virgin Mary icons they could find for "study."
At the same time, to rectify the religious chaos within the country, the Soviet Union established a Bureau of Religious Affairs and issued a new law: the "Religious Affairs Management Act."
The contents included:
1. No government worker—officials of all levels in government departments, staff, judiciary, military, and other institutions—may practice religion.
2. All churches and other religious venues must apply for registration with the local government within three months. Unregistered venues would be considered illegal and immediately banned.
3. No hierarchy shall exist between any venues, and clergy are to be selected by religious institutions within the venue itself. No person or organization may appoint clergy to any other venue, or it will be banned.
4. No religious venue may engage in commercial activities, participate in commercial advertising, or spread doctrine for profit—such as through movies, TV dramas, etc.—or it will be banned.
5. Religious venues must keep real-name records of any donation activities and pay a 50% religious tax, or they will be banned.
And so on.
Upon announcement, the act immediately sparked strong backlash from the church, leading to protests and demonstrations, which were quickly quashed as the leaders were socially eliminated.
With so many religious leaders found guilty of heinous acts, acts not only against doctrine but also illegal, it highlighted the severe situation facing religious affairs in the Soviet Union.
Thus, the Bureau of Religious Affairs stated that it was necessary to vigorously rectify the religious atmosphere within the country.
The bureau immediately organized hundreds of action teams to conduct comprehensive investigations of religious groups led by churches.
Each team included a wizard from Arkaim capable of using mind-reading spells or carrying truth serums.
A great purge began.
Within a month, over a thousand high-ranking clergymen were brought down.
Another month passed, and three thousand people were jailed for various bribes, corruption, sexual scandals, and more.
Another month later, almost all bishops, and even patriarchs, began to give repentance speeches on television.
Thus, after four months, the atmosphere in the universe was finally cleared.
The hypocrisy of the church was undeniable. In the face of hard facts and countless information bombardments, the only ones who still maintained a strong faith in the church were the fanatics, and they were no longer within the range of those Murphy could "unite."
Meanwhile, after expert analysis and judgment, it was unanimously believed that the "apparition" events were an organized and premeditated foreign scam. The enemy's spies collaborated with traitors within the church, using cutting-edge photonic technology along with suggestions, hypnosis, chemical drugs, etc., to deceive the faithful.
Their goal was to hinder the development of Soviet technology, monopolizing technological supremacy forever.
Experts even demonstrated technology similar to the apparitions: using a new scientific discovery called "void particles" to create various ghost-like creatures, such as fire serpents and wind birds, and even showcasing cutting-edge technology for invisibility.
The experts warned the public, "The enemy has taken the lead in researching void particles, and it's through such means that they've infiltrated and deceived us."
"The study of this scientific discovery, void particles, will bring about a huge leap in productivity. To not fall too far behind our enemies, and more importantly, to improve people's living standards, the state must vigorously advance the research on void particles."
"And this is precisely why the construction of the national laboratory must proceed."
This time, there was no opposition.
...
"By using deception to implement your plan, aren't you leading the people into the abyss of ignorance and obscurantism?" The queen was somewhat puzzled. "Such behavior seems to contradict the pursuit of truth you've always advocated."
At this moment, the two were strolling through a royal garden in Arkaim.
It was now May again, half a year since the Soviet rectification campaign began, which had been remarkably effective, giving the entire country a new spirit from top to bottom.
"Your Majesty, most of the constructs that build up our understanding of the world are actually man-made concepts, such as society, morality, law, and nation. People believe in these concepts, live within them, and they gradually become real."
Murphy strolled slowly, playing with the exotic plants in the garden, picking up a small flower emitting a blue glow and rubbing it between his fingers, "Compared to God, 'void particles'—or magic—are at least not so ethereal, not entirely lies."
Sophia followed behind him, "You're equivocating. I just feel that your actions might be somewhat inappropriate."
"Your Majesty is keen," Murphy smiled. "I did swap concepts. You're referring to the legitimacy of actions, while I spoke of void particles. Well, sometimes, lies are easier to understand than the truth."
"Religion is a lie. Most of those willing to believe in it haven't undergone proper training in thinking and logic. Telling them those dry theories, revealing the entire truth logically from beginning to end, is both exhausting and ineffective."
"They prefer a story."
"As long as my story is better told than that of religion, they will believe."
"It's the most efficient way."
"But, it's not the most legitimate method," Sophia said. "Using lies to defeat lies is still wrong."
Murphy stopped and looked towards a pond in the garden, nodding, "You're right. If possible, I'd rather everyone could see all the truths clearly."
"But that's difficult," Murphy said. "Holding onto the ideal of supreme goodness, it's hard to accomplish anything in this imperfect world."
"Water too clean harbors no fish; a person too scrutinizing has no disciples."
"Your Majesty, you must understand, this world is imperfect, people are imperfect. To have imperfect people do a perfect thing in an imperfect world is neither possible nor desirable."
"If something can work 80% of the time and 70% of the outcomes are beneficial, I think it's worth doing."
"In our discussion, getting people to believe in my story, to invest their passion in a foreseeable bright future, is more beneficial for them, for me, and for this country than letting their energy be wasted on the ethereal heaven."
"I can't say using lies is the best way; there must be better methods to solve this problem. But as I said, the pursuit of perfection is an obsession that must be overcome. Compared to perfection, getting things done is more important."
Sophia came to his side and suddenly gave him a look, "Even when you talk about crooked reasoning, you always do so confidently."
Murphy turned to look at her, the corners of his mouth lifting in a knowing smile. The garden around them, a blend of natural beauty and magical enhancements, seemed to mirror the complexity of the world they were discussing—a world where the lines between truth and deception, idealism and pragmatism, often blurred.
"You see, Your Majesty," Murphy continued, his gaze returning to the pond, where the reflections of the sky and the surrounding foliage danced upon the water's surface, "confidence is key in convincing others, especially when the path you choose isn't the straightest."
Sophia sighed, a mix of frustration and admiration in her breath. "And what of those who find out the truth? Those who see past the stories and recognize the lies for what they are?"
Murphy picked a leaf from a nearby bush, examining its intricate patterns as if finding parallels between it and his web of plans. "Truth, Your Majesty, is a multifaceted gem. It shines differently depending on the angle of light. For those who seek it earnestly, even a lie can lead them to their own version of truth. What matters is the outcome. If the lie leads to a better future, a stronger nation, a happier people, then isn't it a truth in its own right?"
He paused, letting his words linger in the air between them.
"The challenge," he finally added, "is ensuring that the foundation we build, even if initially laid with stones of deception, is strong enough to support the weight of true progress. We must be prepared to replace those stones with ones of truth and integrity as we go along."
Sophia looked into Murphy's eyes, searching for the sincerity behind his words. "And you believe you can navigate this path without losing yourself, without forgetting the original purpose amidst the lies?"
Murphy's expression sobered, the playful glint in his eyes giving way to a deeper, more introspective gaze. "That is the greatest challenge of all, Your Majesty. But it is one I must accept. For the sake of the future, for the betterment of our people, I am willing to walk this tightrope. And should I falter, should I start to fall, I trust you'll be there to remind me of the man I once was, of the ideals I set out to achieve."
The queen nodded, her expression softening. "Then let us hope the path you've chosen leads us to a brighter future, one where lies can be cast aside, and truth, in all its glory, can finally prevail."
As they resumed their walk through the garden, the weight of their conversation hung in the air, a reminder of the delicate balance between idealism and pragmatism, between the world as it is and the world as they wished it to be.
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