fandomhigh | Comparative Religions--Monday, Period 3, Class #11--Starting a religion

"Hello, everyone," she greeted the class. On her desk was an empty box and a container of atomic fireballs. The box was labeled 'Papers Go Here' and the container said 'Take One'. "Once your papers have been handed in, we'll be discussing what actually defines a religion."

Yes, they probably should have done this back in the beginning.

"I've been doing some reading on cults, particularly of the nineteen sixties, and I see a tradition of a group of people, generally young, who follow a charismatic leader unquestioningly. This leader generally promises either redemption or armageddon, or sometimes both."

"So, my questions to you are: What makes a cult different from a religion? If you were a charismatic leader, what would you promise people to get them to follow you? What kind of people would you target for membership? How would you treat them? If you were a person who wanted acceptance, what would you look for in a leader?" Not that she'd be taking notes. "Why would you want to lead a group of people who were so easily led? What would you have them do?"

"Since you worked so hard on your papers and have the final next week--or maybe the week after--just discussion today."

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Luke frowned harder. "The Force isn't a diety, though," he said, spinning his pen through the air. "It just is. Like gravity."

"But you don't worship the force, do you?" he asked. "I thought it was more like magic, something which you use to do good with."

"I was taught that other beings worshiping gods was their way of seeing the Force in the world around them," Luke said softly. "So...yes and no?"

"So the Force, by your teachings, is the embodiement of," he hesitated, searching for words, "of good will in the universe, and deities are an expression of that good will?" Karal frowned, tapping one finger against the desk while he thought. "Does that mean that those gods are not a power in their own right, or exist only as an expression of the Force?" he asked doubtfully. "Because I have seen Vkandis manifest in the world, and He is real."

"The Force is neither good nor bad," Luke said. "It just is. And from what I was told, they exist only as an expression of the Force--a way to explain the unexplainable. Jedi have been confused with gods on some worlds, but we're not."

"Oh! I didn't know that." He sat up straighter, looking very intrigued. "I thought the Force was inherently good, but if it's neither good nor bad, that makes more sense. So," Karal studied his Vkandis medal, holding it up to consider, "so maybe gods, in your world at least, are an expression of the Force, or a way for people to understand it. Like Heralds, Jedi use their gifts to make the world better, but they don't follow a specific deity, they simply serve the good."

Luke nodded. "Right," he said with a smile. "And the less said about those who follow the darker path, the better."

"There are always those who want to twist power for their own ends," he said a little sadly. "And that's what I think makes a cult so different. The person who's the head of it is only interested in what they can get for themselves, whereas religion, or using the Force or some other power for good, is about what can be done for others."

Luke nodded again. "The Sith did that. It's practically their main purpose."

"The Sith?" he said. "I've not heard that word before."

"It's the opposite of everything Jedi are," Luke said, "selfish, power-hungry...evil."

Karal winced. "There are those who say that evil must exist, or otherwise we would have no way of knowing good, but I sometimes think I'd be just as happy to take the chance."

Luke gave him a wry smile. "You should ask my father about the prophecy he had to fulfill--he brought balance to the Force."

"I think that I won't do that," he said after a minute, eyes widening slightly. "He was kind to me when I met him, but I'm not going to push that, especially not now."

"Why not now?" Luke asked softly.

"It was Molly who introduced us, I think they are very good friends, and we are no longer together." Karal held his hands out, palm up, in a helpless gesture. "I don't imagine he'd be very pleased with me."

Luke opened his mouth to say that his father wouldn't hold a grudge over something like that, then remembered who he was talking about.

"Probably not," he said instead. "I'll tell you the story myself. Just, um, not here."

"I would be interested to hear it, but no, not here," he agreed, resting his head on his hand.

Comparative Religions--Monday, Period 3, Class #11--Starting a religion

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