fandomhigh | Interactive Religion [Tuesday, January 15]

Biff was in the Danger Room, which was set up as hot, dark, desert town, sipping on a huge mug of coffee as the class arrived.

"Though they've fallen out of favor now," Biff said, "at least on this world, the major religion that dominated my time was a polytheistic one. The Romans had gods -- and graven idols -- for everything. We Jews have just the one. Um, God, not graven idols. We didn't do well with graven idols. I was told by a Phoenician that we wouldn't worry so much if we had more than one god, but he also told me that he'd screwed a turtle, so I'm not really relying much on his spiritual guidance."

He leaned against a pillar. "Your task today isn't to decide if there is a god, or multiple gods, and it's certainly not to rant at me about whatever wrongs you feel religion has inflicted upon you."

He waved a hand towards several giant statues of Apollo. "Your job today is to circumcise that statue of Apollo before the Roman centurions catch you."

He grinned. "It's a religious experience. Really."

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...

Seely blinked. A lot.

"But..." It was as far as Karal got before stopping and staring some more, mouth agape. "That's..."

What in Vkandis' name is the point of this?!

Altra started laughing so hard he fell over, waving his paws in the air.

"You are no help," Karal muttered.

"Bitchin'" Jamie said giving Biff a thumbs up.

Romeo liked Roman art. He figured that with his first name and the Italian family, he kind of had to.

But touch a statue that way? He was squirming a lot at the thought.

Being, as she was, from another world (dimension?) entirely, she wasn't exactly familiar with some of the more routine procedures involved in ... certain traditional ritual practices in the Judeo-Christian faith.

Which is to say: Rikku raised her hand, confused. "Uh. We have to what?"

"Take your mallet and chisel and whack the tip of him off," Biff said. "It's multicultural!"

"The tip of h..." Rikku stared. "You want me to chop his ... you-know off!??"

"Not all of it!" Biff said. "Just the edge."

"But I like you-knows!" Rikku flailed. "They shouldn't be chopped up!"

"Apollo won't feel a thing," Biff said with a mischievous smile. "Off you go."

Andrew frowned. It just seemed wrong to damage such a lovely piece of art this way.

Edited 2008-01-15 14:28 (UTC)

Reno smirked and leaned backward a little bit, giving his head a brief nod.

It was right then and there that he decided that he was going to like this class.

Aravis had only seen one...thing up close. And it was already...altered. Not that she had known that. She just thought they all looked like that.

So she was kind of staring, and thus raising her hand. "...what's wrong with his...him? Why does it have that extra bit? Is he being portrayed as sick?"

Biff shook his head. "In Roman culture, males weren't circumcised. They kept that flap of skin."

Aravis continued to look perplexed. "What flap of skin?"

And then it dawned. "You mean...they all look like that at first?"

That would be a very indiscreet, horrified look she just shot Seely, yes.

"Not necessarily this big," Biff said, missing her point, "and definitely not made of stone, but...yup."

"When does it go away?"

Aravis was now staring in terror at the chisels. "...or are they always...removed?"

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Seely eventually noticed the staring. "You okay?"

Aravis kind of whimpered and shot a deeply concerned look towards his waistline.

"What's wrong?" Seely asked, not that he couldn't guess by following her line of sight.

"...looks different."

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Sam was definitely boggling, and trying not to look at the statue for too long.

Billy laughed. "Okay I know we got off on the wrong foot, but you are so much cooler than a certain guy who doesn't get along with authority figures."

Inara was torn between horror and amusement. Her main question, though, was why?