God as network effect

"That infinite and ineffable Good,
which dwells on high, speeds toward love
as a ray of sunlight to a shining body.

It returns the love it finds in equal measure,
so that, if more of ardor is extended,
eternal Goodness will augment Its own.

And the more souls there are who love on high,
the more there is to love, the more of loving,
for like a mirror each returns it to the other."

- Dante, Purgatorio, XV 67-75 [1]

Brilliant. Just brilliant. Literally.

Once you get past the sheer perfection of the metaphor, it's worth reflecting on (heh) the fact that Dante, unwittingly perhaps, has lighted upon an argument that is as true sociologically as it is metaphysically. Organized religion is, after all, all about network effects.

[1] Translation by Jean & Robert Hollander. The original reads:

"Quello infinito e ineffabil bene
che la su e, cosi corre ad amore
com' a lucido corpo raggio vene.

Tanto si da quanto trova d'ardore;
si che, quantunque carita si stende,
cresce sovr' essa l'etterno valore.

E quanta gente piu la su s'intende,
piu v'e da bene amare, e piu vi s'ama,
e come specchio l'uno a l'altro rende."