Tremble Foolish Mortals: The Gods and You, Class Eleven [Period 5, Thursday]

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

When everyone had been sitting in the classroom a good ten minutes without Ares showing up, Krycek and Sam took matters into their own hands. A rushed and impatiently whispered conference later, they were standing in front of the class, neither of them looking as though they were entirely sure where to start.

"So," Krycek began, after an awkward pause. "We normally cover legitimate gods in class, but there are also those who play at being gods. False gods."

Sam took a seat on top of Ares's desk, "And it's very important to be able to spot a false god, because they can wreak just as much, if not more, havoc than a real god. Yes, I know that sounds impossible, but trust me that it could happen. People who believe in a false god can follow just as unquestioningly as those who believe in a real god, but a false god usually feels less of a responsibility to his worshippers. First thing to look at is the eyes. For instance, flashing, glowing eyes are not a good sign."

"Or completely black eyes," Krycek added. "Gods also shouldn't have to, say, possess the body of a human in order to interact. Real gods should have the ability to either need no physical body, or have one of their own."

Sam glanced at Krycek quizzically over the black eyes part, but then nodded, "No, they definitely shouldn't have to enter a human body, particularly through either the mouth or the base of the neck, leaving a small scar or irritation in their wake." She very carefully didn't look at Kawalsky assuming he was there.

Krycek gave her a quick look of his own, frowning slightly. "They might have powers that are more than human, or, at least, abilities that may make them seem godlike, but that could very well be advanced technology instead. It may be impressive, but that doesn't make them gods for weilding it, especially if they have less than generous intentions towards people in general."

"One of the easiest, if not most covert, ways for an alien to conquer a society," Sam continued, wondering exactly what Krycek knew and how he knew it, "is for the alien life form to infiltrate a human being and tailor their actions to fit an existing religious belief structure. As Krycek said, they will use their technological advantages to achieve their own ends. Also, in many cases this technology has also been adapted so that only the alien in question can use it, further supporting their claims to godhood. Let me repeat, however, because this is important--technology and glowing, or black, eyes, do not make someone a god. For that matter, neither does bad fashion sense."

All set to pick up the thread of the speech, the sudden turn to questionable clothing choices made Krycek give Sam a suddenly baffled glance, pausing a moment. "Right. So, really, the burden of proof lies on the so-called 'gods', but even in the face of a very convincing example, it's better to doubt first, beg forgiveness - or say 'I told you so' - later."

Sam wasn't sure what the baffled glance was about. "Anyway, there are two parts to today's assignment. The first part is to come up with at least two reasons--based on your own observations and today's class--as to why Ares isn't a god. Any theories about what he could be instead are also welcomed. The second part is to figure out how to contain Ares's 'godlike' powers, or how to get him to leave Fandom. Um, you might not want to take any notes on that part of the discussion."

[ooc: Class today is cowritten with carter_i_am, who also came up with the activity, because she is awesome. WAIT FOR OCD IS UP.]

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Comments

Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

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Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part One

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

Observations and theories go here!

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part One

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

This? Was going to be hard. Ares had such a godly package. She's seen it. It was...definitely godly.

"Hm, he does just like to sit around a lot and look pretty. And I haven't really seen him do anything godlike. Not really. Maybe there was that one time, but that could totally be blamed on science. Or a freak act of nature. Hm."

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part One

[the_merriest]

Rikku shrugged. "How do we know any of them are real? People thought Yevon was and he totally wasn't. I don't think I buy this 'god' thing."

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part One

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"I can't really say, I don't really know any gods except for Ares and I only believed him cause he is our teacher. But I'm sure he was lying."

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part One

[the_merriest]

"People called Yevon a god for a thousand years and he was a big demony-thing that killed people. And they blamed us for it. This whole god thing is out of control."

Rikku: Possibly Has Issues With Religion.

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part One

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

Alanna shrugged. "Minus the self-centerdness and over-all jerkiness, Ares acts exactly like the gods back home."

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part One

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Well, what *is* a god?" Evie said, going into academic mode. "Someone who becomes more powerful when worshipped, right? So if we don't worship him, he loses power." She frowned. "Although that doesn't stop anyone else from doing so... and isn't this how religious wars start? Perhaps a different theory...."

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part One

[sideburnsofwar.livejournal.com]

"What makes you so sure he isn't a god?" 'Seely' asked.

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part One

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I'm just posing the question of why other people might not think he was a god," Sam explained to Seely, "but not offering an opinion of my own." Which, admittedly, was a bit odd for Sam.

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part One

[sideburnsofwar.livejournal.com]

"But surely you've got to have an opinion," 'Seely' replied. "Otherwise what's the point of asking us to give ours??"

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part One

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"It's an academic exercise," Sam explained, "to make you think. My opinion is irrelevant to the discussion."

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part One

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

"It was more of an example," Krycek said. "And seeing as he claims he's a god, it seemed convenient."

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part One

[sideburnsofwar.livejournal.com]

"That mean you don't think he's one, or you do?"

Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part Two

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

Containment and how to get him to leave Fandom ideas here!

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part Two

[the_merriest]

Rikku put her hand up and waved it. "I killed a god once. The false kind. Why aren't we trying that?"

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part Two

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

Alanna blinked. "I killed two. They weren't false, just insane and more than a little evil. Where are you from?"

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part Two

[grenfelzer.livejournal.com]

"I blew one up." Carmela contributes. "He was a little mad about that."

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part Two

[the_merriest]

"Oooh, really? I thought he said you couldn't kill the real ones! I'm from Spira, what about you??"

She made a face. "The Yevonites said that Sin was around because we didn't follow Yevon's teachings and blah blah blah and all along Yevon was Sin. People don't ever think for themselves."

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part Two

[kawalsky.livejournal.com]

"We should start a club."

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part Two

[the_merriest]

Rikku grinned. "Wow, I guess so! I didn't know there were so many of us. Was yours fake, too?"

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part Two

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"We could...throw stones? Sneak up behind him and choke the crap out of him? Uhh, steal all his leather?" Yeah, Annette was just smart like that. "Or we could tell him there was a war on the opposite side of the globe, galaxy, universe, whatever, and he is desperately needed?"

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part Two

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"But, but...." Evie's expression might be hinting that she doesn't *want* the yummy professor who wrestles squid to leave. "Why do we want him gone, precisely?"

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part Two

[sideburnsofwar.livejournal.com]

"You sure that's really a good idea? What with the whole smiting thing, and all."

Re: Assignment - TGaY [Class Eleven] - Part Two

[the_merriest]

Rikku shrugged. "Can't smite us if we get him first."