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

Re: Introduce Yourself

[way-black.livejournal.com]

"I'm Blackheart," Blackheart said, jaw held square ahead of himself and his lips in a bit of a small smirk. "And I'm taking this class because, while my father has made certain that I'm well-versed in different aspects of our own..." He let that much stand as it was for a while. "Learning about other aspects might prove to be useful."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[spacepiratevala.livejournal.com]

Vala eyed Blackheart; something about his answer was making her uncomfortable. "Useful for what purpose?"

Re: Introduce Yourself

[way-black.livejournal.com]

"Whatever comes up," Blackheart replied smoothly. Student or no, he figured he really shouldn't have to answer to anyone. "Knowledge is power, is it not?"

Re: Introduce Yourself

[spacepiratevala.livejournal.com]

Yeah. For whatever reason, he reminded her of the Goa'uld. She'd watch Blackheart carefully. "It is, but unfettered knowledge is not always a positive thing."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[way-black.livejournal.com]

"Why have such a class as this one, if you consider it to be negative, unfettered knowledge?" Blackheart seemed somewhat bemused. "It seems counterproductive to offer a class, and then argue against students actually learning from it."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[spacepiratevala.livejournal.com]

"That's not what I said at all," she argued. "I do want you to learn, all of you. But this is meant to be positive information."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[way-black.livejournal.com]

"And I don't doubt that I'll find it to be very positive information," Blackheart argued back, not for a moment letting the bemused air slip from his demeanor. "I intend to make certain that I don't repeat the mistakes that others have made."

He was not going to become his father.