I suspect you’re right about the new Calvinism, Peter, though I don’t really know what the “new” bit means. Surely my alter-ego the Sage would be intrigued by the old Calvinism, wherein he’s assigned to the category of “totally depraved and unatoned-for.” The atmosphere of “teasing playfulness” does permit a more relaxed way of addressing serious topics like this one. Potentially volatile disagreements can be defused by exploring “speculative heresies” to which no one need commit him-/herself in real life. Besides, if you really do find yourself feeling irritated with one of your fellow cabalists, you can always poison his ale or have him arrested.

Incidentally, I’ve begun tapping the basement floors and deploying metal detectors in search of hidden passageways leading to the Moderator’s Office. I’ll file an interim report outlining any anomalous findings.