Comparative Religions, Monday, Period 3, Class #1

[spacepiratevala.livejournal.com]

As the students entered, Vala was perched on top of her desk (yes, she had a desk!), and looking over her notes and class lists. Once they were seated, she began,

"Good morning, everyone. For those of you who don't know me already, my name is Vala Mal Doran. Please feel free to call me Vala, or Professor Mal Doran if that makes you more comfortable."

"This class is about different religions," she explained, "and the first half of the class will focus on strictly the Earthen religions. The second half will be broader in scope and expand our study to inter-planetary religions. The only thing I ask--in light of the fact that more bloody wars have been fought over religion than anything else in human history--is that you have respect for the teachings of the guest speakers, and of the other students in this class. You don't have to agree, and I don't expect you to convert to their religion, but I won't tolerate any insults or baiting on the subject. With any luck, we'll all come out of this with a better understanding of religion."

"Today's class will be relatively simple--introduce yourselves, explain why you're taking this class, and explain your religion in broad language, if you have one. If you don't, explain why you don't. There are no penalties for not having one, by the way."

"As far as food and drink are concerned," she added, "I don't make enough money to feed you all every week, but you should bring whatever you want that you've provided for yourself."

She pointed to a student at random. "Okay, go ahead."

Comments

Sign In--CR #1

[spacepiratevala.livejournal.com]

Collapsey fashion, please

Re: Sign In--CR #1

[ecirpnellehada.livejournal.com]

Adah Price

During the Lecture

[spacepiratevala.livejournal.com]

Which for once is almost worth paying attention to.

Re: During the Lecture

[ecirpnellehada.livejournal.com]

Adah was neatly keeping notes on the introduction. Backwards. In French. Like you do. She was taking into consideration the teacher's name. Na Rod Lama Lav. She liked it.

Re: During the Lecture

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean doodled in his notebook as he listened. This class didn't seem like it was going to be as practical as the last one Dean had taken of Vala's, but hopefully it would still be interesting in an academic sorta way.

Re: During the Lecture

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

Gwynn was taking careful notes.

Re: During the Lecture

[im-afrog.livejournal.com]

Adam took notes occasionally, but also doodle random things in the margin of his notebook.

This class seemed like it would be very beneficial in the long run. Adam was happy he signed up for it.

Re: During the Lecture

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana paid close attention and took lots of notes.

Re: During the Lecture

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke was taking lots of notes.

Or at least writing a lot of things down.

It might be the same thing.

Re: During the Lecture

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal, wearing his robes, was listening carefully, more than a bit surprised that Vala was teaching a class on religions, and making tidy, precise, notes.

Re: During the Lecture

[flamingbonehead.livejournal.com]

Johnny pulled out his somewhat beat up notebook and started writing down notes for the lecture.

About partway through the class, he started doodling decal-style flames in the margins of his pages.

Re: During the Lecture

[turtle-techie.livejournal.com]

Donatello took notes, quite happy to have a class that actually felt like a class for once.

Introduce Yourself

[spacepiratevala.livejournal.com]

You know how this goes by now, right?

Re: Introduce Yourself

[ecirpnellehada.livejournal.com]

This was certainly not anything Adah had expected; Bethlehem High was small enough that no one needed introductions because everyone knew everything about everyone thanks to whispers over picket fences and barbecue revivals. She panicked slightly in her seat as she waited for her turn to come around, and, when it did, she blinked at the other students for a moment of not knowing what to say. Of not being able to say. She drew in a quiet breath, and started writing, as quickly as she could, and then held out a paper toward Na Rod Lama Lav. She shook it, a little insistently, for her to come take the paper.

Re: Introduce Yourself

[likethegun]

Sam glanced around the room and gave everyone a friendly smile. "I'm Sam Winchester," he said, "and I'm taking this class because I'm familiar with a lot of Earth-based religions, but I don't know much about religions that exist on the inter-planetary level. Personally, I'd probably classify myself as a Christian, because that's the God I pray to."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

"My name is Gwynn Hood and I am taking this class because it seemed interesting and I was curious about how religions and beliefs in this time would differ from what the belief that some hold in my homeland."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[multiplez]

"Um, hi, I'm Z Delgado, and I'm taking this class because in my future career I think it'll be helpful for me to understand other cultures' religious beliefs. Personally, I'm Catholic--um, a very lapsed Catholic. Catholicism is a subset of Christianity, and Christians believe that there is one God, who sent his son, Jesus, to be our savior. He died to forgive all our sins and was resurrected. Catholics in particular believe Jesus made the head of our church, the Pope, his representative here on Earth. And some other things that are more complex."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

"I'm Eve Levine, and I'm taking this class because... well, why not?" She grinned. "Seriously, though, I'm taking it because I had one of your workshops over the summer and you rock. And because since I'm a practicing witch, a lot of people automatically assume I'm Wiccan, which got me interested in the religion, which in turn got me interested in other religions."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"I'm Dean Winchester," Dean began with a grin when it was his turn. "I'm taking this class, well, mostly because I really liked the last class I took from Vala. I know at least a little about a lot of Earth religions and mythologies, but I wouldn't consider myself an expert or anything. As for what I believe in..." He shrugged. "I believe in what I can see, what I can experience. I've faith in myself and my family. Beyond that..." He shrugged again.

Re: Introduce Yourself

[im-afrog.livejournal.com]

"Hi, I'm Adam Park, and I'm taking this class because it seemed cool and I'd really like to learn about religions other than the ones we have here on Earth."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"My name is Lana Lang and I'm taking this class because it sounded interesting. I don't actually practice any religion because the woman who raised me really wasn't religious at all."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"I'm Luke Skywalker," he said quietly, "and I'm a Jedi, which utilizes the power of the universe. We call that power the Force, but back home there are tens of thousands of religions that call the Force by different names. I need to learn the language in order to be an effective representative of my order."

Who was pretty much just him at the moment, but he didn't see how that was all that relevant.

Talk to the TA

[spacepiratevala.livejournal.com]

As soon as he is established and pings in.

Re: Talk to the TA

[likethegun]

Sam was looking very pleased with himself at the moment.

Talk to Vala

[spacepiratevala.livejournal.com]

After class, and I should be mostly around

OOC

[spacepiratevala.livejournal.com]

So no one falls out of the post