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

Talk to the TAs - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

Talk to Krycek and Sam!

Re: Talk to the TAs - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

Krycek looks not at all guilty. It's necessary information that people should know. Yes.

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

[sideburnsofwar.livejournal.com]

'Seely' came up and leant against the desk. "Interesting choice of topic today."

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

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

Krycek looked at him impassively a moment. "We thought so. Interesting enough to apparently attract people who aren't even in this class."

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

[sideburnsofwar.livejournal.com]

"Hey, I've always been in this class," he replied. "But aren't you worried what teach may think when he finds out?"

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

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

Krycek's eyes narrowed slightly, but he shrugged. "Not particularly. We're just presenting additional information," he said. "If he's really a god, then he probably hates the pretenders just as much."

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

[sideburnsofwar.livejournal.com]

'Seely' shrugged. "I guess he might," he said. "But what about the implication that he's one of them?"

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

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

"If he's not one, then he's not got much to worry about," Krycek pointed out. "If I were a god, I'd prefer my followers have the presence of mind not to take everything at face value."

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

[sideburnsofwar.livejournal.com]

"Point," 'Seely' replied, rubbing his chin. "Of course he could take it as an attempt to undermine his authority."

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

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

"Well, if it's that easy..." Krycek shrugged again.

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

[sideburnsofwar.livejournal.com]

"You're not worried he might take it out of your hides?"

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

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

"Worst he can give us is detention." Krycek didn't seem terribly worried.

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

[sideburnsofwar.livejournal.com]

"You sure about that?"

Re: Talk to the TAs - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam wasn't feeling guilty either, and wished she could have given this lecture when Camulus was still around.

She also spent some time wondering how Krycek knew what he knew, though.

Re: Talk to the TAs - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

"So what do you have against gods?" Alanna asked, her cuiriosity fairly innocent. Faithful was peaking out of her bag.

Re: Talk to the TAs - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I don't have anything against Gods, assuming they're real. As a scientist, I admit I'm skeptical of any being making that claim, though, and will be a bit reluctant to believe just what I'm told," Sam explained, "but my real issue is with false gods--those who say they are, when they're not, and do it to take advantage of people who want so badly to believe that they'll follow him or her blindly."

Re: Talk to the TAs - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

"So how can you tell when a god is a false god?"

Re: Talk to the TAs - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam looked at her funny. "I thought we just covered that?"

Re: Talk to the TAs - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

"I meant you personally. You seem to have a lot invested in the subject and all."

Re: Talk to the TAs - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam shot Kawalsky a look that clearly asked why he hadn't told Alanna everything. If he had, why she was so invested should have been obvious. They kept killing her friends. "Because I think that blind obedience to any leader is wrong and false gods cause nothing but harm." She stunned herself with that statement--apparently she really was no longer Air Force material.

Re: Talk to the TAs - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

Alanna nodded. "Can't help but agree." She smiled. "You'd have a blast in my world. We have hundreds of gods, and every once in a while? They decide that they just have to medle."

Re: Talk to the TAs - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"That sounds very intimidating," Sam decided, smiling back. "Do you have false gods, too, or just the real ones?"

Re: Talk to the TAs - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

"As far as I know? Only real ones. Some more important than others."

Re: Talk to the TAs - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"How do you decide that?"

Re: Talk to the TAs - TGaY [Class Eleven]

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

Alanna shrugged. "More powerful and have been around longer." She fiddled with her necklace. "My patron goddess is Great Mother Goddess and she's considered to be one of the most powerful. I still say Faithful was a gift from her." Her bag coughed politely and Alanna rolled her eyes.