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No, I said being Vestal Virgins is was specifically disqualified them. You are not selling me on the whole "priest to god of X was expert in X" idea by starting - "Actually, they didn't even do X". I mean sure, they didn't, because it would be ludicrous for a woman forbidden under penalty of...

Did I say anything about Vestal Virgins offering sex advice? No, so don't throw your fantasies at me. What should be obvious however, is that Vesta was a goddess of hearth and family - and a Vestal Virgin would have very difficult time counseling other people on the matter due to the fact that...

Vestal Virgins were afforded plenty respect by Romans for their service to Vesta, goddess of hearth - despite their obvious and self-evident lack of expertise in the matter by the virtue of being, well, Vestal Virgins. Ditto for Roman calendar before Caesar - I pity the fool who would use that...

Maesters and the Citadel predate Faith of the Seven by significant margin. In general, since Andals are anti-Franks (they fled from their Rome instead of being integrated into it), it would be strange to expect Andal church to have the same interests as Catholic one.

Not really, no. The Conquest was rather counter-productive, perpetuating the worst qualities of Andal state building (state is basically non-existent, central authority is most fleeting) and bringing it to the whole new scale it was completely unsuited for (every major player tries to have a...

Well, that's an interesting question. Let's take your example of gold and Westerlands. What we know from pre-Targaryen era we know through a Maester's book. He can (in typical medieval fashion a la Privilegium Maius) allow his "modern views" to color his perception of the past. Hence reader's...

Basically all of it happens (save perhaps for colonization) in various forms, just not in Westeros. Because superficial appearances aside, Westeros is not Europe of ASOIAF world. Westeros is basically the equivalent of Imperial China/Mughal Empire. It is a region that's falling behind. "For now"...

Of course. Off the top of my Head, the Undying Ones, wood witch that started the whole "special Targaryen bloodline bears a savior" party, Cercei's Maggy, ancient Valyrian architects that built magical roads and citadels that stand to this day, fire staircase dude that marched into heaven... All...

First, that's not my theory. Second, your theory that ASOAIF gods provide magical powers is not supported by canon. It is at best left ambiguous. You said - "one major religion in the setting that lacks any supernatural power". Since we are discussing the religions in the setting, the fact that...

That's exactly the kind of thing I would say were I a lone wizard trying to convert ignorant savages to my religion. If mason and sculptor can utilize their gifts to overawe unbelievers with magnificent cathdral, why can't wizard put on a bit of show? Is it? Essos alone is choke full of...

Actually, modern Catholic Church insists on Pope's infallibility as a part of doctrine. Admittedly, it's all a part of larger discussion about Papal supremacy which modern Papacy is quite content to keep on the down low, because (at least for a moment) it is more convenient to let parts of the...

One should not confuse people being religious with people being pious. Medieval knights, allegedly highly concerned about being sent to hell for their misdeeds, thought nothing about chasing Pope Gregory VII into Hadrian's mausoleum and keeping him under siege at the behest of excommunicated...

No, that's what having a loose feudal state with a bunch of noble gentlemen ready to pounce the leader at first opportunity does. Henry's position was weakened by conflicts in the empire. To claim that the Pope just disabled Henry's ability to command with his excommunication would be a gross...