Quote Originally Posted by Nutz View Post
In any case, I assumed MND represented some sort of attunement with nature/ aether based on my limited experience with the conjurer class quests.
Quote Originally Posted by Enkidoh View Post
Well, remembering how it was sort-of described in FFXI, 'mind' appears to be basically belief in a higher power (in FFXI's case - the goddess Altana), all 'holy' type spells, along with cure magic, used MND as it's guiding stat
The reason I suggested "empathy" as the variable measured by the MND statistic is that FFXIV's implementation of the scholar job — and its associated spells — kind of throws a spanner into those conventional interpretations of the attribute.

The Nymian scholar and his spiritual successor, the Limsan arcanist, are currently the only two jobs/classes other than the conjurer/white mage with inherent healing abilities. But unlike the conjurer or white mage, scholars and arcanists function more like medical doctors. This is reflected in the "flavour" of their spells, with names like Physick and Leeches, suggesting the application of scientific method to healing.

So, in that sense, while it isn't categorically wrong to imagine MND as a measurement of your character's religious belief, I don't immediately see how that interpretation relates to the scholars and arcanists' strengths as scientific doctors, rather than divine healers represented by conjurers and white mages.

Moreover, given that religious belief in FFXIV is far more widespread and diffuse than it was in FFXI, I rather think that PIE is a better representation of your character's devotion to the Twelve. Or the Lifestream. Or whatever metaphysical force there is in Eorzea that grants individuals command over aether.

Of course, I'm not suggesting that my interpretation is necessarily better. Just some food for thought for those who are inclined to think about such things.