THE ERUDITE MANIFESTO

With the advent of the Divergent film this springtime...  I have already picked my faction! Guess which?

The Ravenclaws of the Divergentverse.

The Erudite faction was formed by those who blamed ignorance for the wars of the past and other faults of society. Thus, they formed Erudite to eliminate darkness and ignorance from human minds (Enlightened worldview, justified!).

Jeanine Matthews, leader of Erudite.

Erudite are expected to delegate themselves in libraries, reading books and etexts.

Each member of Erudite is expected to wear at least one blue garment or accessory, having chosen this calm colour, due to its relaxing colours, as their symbol (the blue eye above), in accordance with their motto: "a calm mind is a clear mind". Most faction members also wear thick glasses (spectacles) to appear more clever. They are renowned for their eloquence (id est, they're well-spoken). Their choice drink is soda.

Wear blue. But don't feel blue.

This faction produces, in general, liberal professionals such as librarians, doctors, scientists, and teachers, and they are also responsible for keeping records of the factions (theirs and others' alike). All technological advances that the factions benefit from (for instance, agrarian methods and simulation serums) come from Erudite minds.

How to become Erudite? Every 16-year-old in the Divergentverse must undergo the so-called Choosing Ceremony to enter a faction (society in the 'verse is strictly based upon the factions, like a caste system, and being factionless is worse than death). The young people, after having undergone an aptitude test, gather in a great circular hall lined with concentric rows of chairs. The stage contains a table with five steel bowls containing the substances that represent the five factions (water stands for Erudite). A public official, representing one of the factions, stands with a knife beside the bowls. Each youth, in turn, is called out in reverse alphabetical order (Dermark would be one of the last surnames!) and given the knife by the official. The teenager must slash him/herself in the hand (I would slash my right hand) and let his/her blood drip on the substance of the chosen faction (my blood would, thus, mix with water).

Notice the bowls on stage and the factions' coloured "uniforms".
Erudite (not Sweden or France, yet could be) are the ones in blue.

Lastly, here is the Erudite Manifesto (Enlightened statements ahead!):

We submit the following statements as truth:

1. 'Ignorance' is defined not as stupidity but as lack of knowledge. Lack of knowledge inevitably leads to lack of understanding.
2. Lack of understanding leads to a disconnect among people with differences.
3. Disconnection among people with differences leads to conflict.
4. Knowledge is the only logical solution to the problem of conflict.

Therefore, we propose that in order to eliminate conflict, we must eliminate the disconnect among those with differences by correcting the lack of understanding that arises from ignorance with knowledge.

Information must always be made available to all faction members at all times. The withholding of information is punishable by reprimand, imprisonment, and, eventually, exile. Every question that can be answered must be answered or at least engaged. Illogical thought processes must be challenged when they arise. Wrong answers must be corrected. Correct answers must be affirmed. If an answer to a question is unclear, it must be put to debate. All debates require evidence. Any controversial thought or idea must be supplemented by evidence in order to reduce the potential for conflict.

Intelligence must be used for the benefit, and not to the detriment, of society. Those who use intelligence for their own personal gain or to the detriment of others have not properly borne the responsibility of their gift, and are not welcome in our faction.

It bears repeating: Intelligence is a gift, not a right. It must not be wielded not as a weapon but as a tool for the betterment of others.