Destiny & Free Will, #1 [Period 1, Monday, July 7]

[atreideslioness]

Ghanima was already in the classroom as the students assembled, leaning against her desk as they filed past her.  Holding a steaming mug of Spice in her hands, she subjected each person to an apparently disinterested inspection from her glowing blue-on-blue eyes. 

Not even a Bene Gesserit Truthsayer would have been able to tell what she was thinking. 

The moment the bell rang, her eyes snapped from the door to the children seated around the room.  “Good afternoon,” she said in a clear voice that carried effortlessly.  "This is Destiny and Free Will.  If you are in the wrong class, please consider this your opportunity to leave.  Although it is entirely possible that if you are here, then you are where you are supposed to be, no matter what it says on your schedule." 

"I am Lady Ghanima Atreides.  You may address me as Miss Atreides, Lady Ghanima, Miss Ghanima, or some variation thereof.  Be warned, however, that I do not answer to Lady Atreides.  Lady Atreides is my grandmother, the Lady Jessica, and I have no desire to claim that title from her.  For those of you whom I have had in class before," she smiled suddenly, looking far less severe.  "Welcome back."

"This class is designed to look at the differing opinions on predestination and freewill from a variety of religious, temporal, and philosophical schools of thought.  Regardless of any personal experiences you may have had on this topic, I expect everyone to maintain a respectful and open mind towards the subject matter and your classmates.  Mocking destiny is a dangerous pastime, and not one I will permit during class hours," she said, collecting a stack of papers from her desk and walking down the rows to hand one to each student.  "What you do on your own time, however, is your business."

"This is your syllabus.  Be aware that it is subject to change at any time, unless a particular class is predestined to happen, in which case the syllabus is moot anyway, isn’t it?"  The smile she flashed the students was decidedly impish.  

"For now, I would like you to go around the room and introduce yourselves, and state for the record whether you believe in destiny, free will, or are currently undecided."

[OOC:  Please wait for the OCD to go up!  Have fun!]

Comments

Sign In

[atreideslioness]

In an ordained manner!

Re: Sign In

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen Haras-Uquara

Listen to the Lecture

[atreideslioness]

Talk, pass notes, take notes, just don't get caught by teacher, or detention may be in your future!

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[ihaveniceteeth.livejournal.com]

Gwen listened, between scribbling on the back of her syllabus.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah was, of course, taking lots of notes.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[cheminthehead.livejournal.com]

Gladys loomed at the back of the class, paying close attention while her eyes flickered.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[withoutverona]

Romeo listened quietly enough to the lecture, weighing the contradictions in his own mind in the subject and wondering why he had taken a class guaranteed to mess with his equilibrium.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[time-flyer-5.livejournal.com]

Jen started out listening attentively to the lecture, but got caught up in reliving old memories and completely missed out on a good chunk of the middle section.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[endsthegame]

Ender had listened to Ghanima's words, and observed her carefully. He had a few of his own thoughts on destiny-- and it had little to do with mysticism or fancy titles. It was a theoretical course beyond what he had ever had, and he wondered if it would be worthwhile at all.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

As he listened, John wondered what he'd gotten himself into with this class.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[solo_sword]

Jaina was sort of glad to be back in one of Lady Ghanima's classes, and even if she wasn't taking notes, she was paying attention.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[key-of-heart.livejournal.com]

Sora was writing down everything he could, unlike some of his previous classes this one seemed to be the one the could be the thing he'd need to know the most for the future.

Poor poor boy...

Introductions & Discussion: Destiny, Free Will, or None of the Above?

[atreideslioness]

"I suppose it is only fair for me to go first."

"I will be perfectly blunt," Ghanima said crisply. "It is my personal opinion that to see the future is to be trapped by it. Destiny is a short leash and a cruel mistress. I am a firm believer in humanity's right to forge its own future, out from under the oversight of an oracle."

"The entire purpose behind this class, however, is to allow you, as sentients, to think critically and to make your own informed decisions. Not simply parrot what I say, or your religion says, or your parents think. No matter what you decide at the end of these seven weeks, it is my hope that it will be your voice speaking, and not simply the words of another being offered up without any thought behind them."

"Next."

[OOC: Yes, it's (theoretically) intros, but feel free to ping to anyone anywhere anywhen, once they've tagged in. Let chaos reign!]

Re: Introductions & Discussion: Destiny, Free Will, or None of the Above?

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"I am Helen Haras-Uquara. I believe very much in destiny, but I believe that it does not always turn out the way the priests believe it will."

Re: Introductions & Discussion: Destiny, Free Will, or None of the Above?

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

"A-Ano," she took a deep breath, hoping she wouldn't stammer too much. "I a-am Hinata Hyuuga, a-and I b-believe in f-free will rather t-than d-destiny."

Re: Introductions & Discussion: Destiny, Free Will, or None of the Above?

[ihaveniceteeth.livejournal.com]

"My name's Gwen Cooper and I believe in free will." She paused then added. "Except for those times when temporal paradoxes start getting involved, then it gets a bit fuzzy."

Re: Introductions & Discussion: Destiny, Free Will, or None of the Above?

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"My name is Savannah Levine and while I have been told that everyone has a destiny to fulfill, my belief lies in the course of free will."

Re: Introductions & Discussion: Destiny, Free Will, or None of the Above?

[withoutverona]

"Romeo Montague," he introduced himself. "I was taught that we were granted free will through God's grace, though to me it seems some things are simply left to the whims of fortune."

Re: Introductions & Discussion: Destiny, Free Will, or None of the Above?

[cheminthehead.livejournal.com]

"My Name Is Gladys. Destiny Is Something That People Believe In, But I Do Not Know If They Are Right. So Is Free Will, And I Do Not Know If They Are Right," she intoned, eyes a banked glow. This was extremely complex and unexplored territory for a golem. "I Do Not Believe, But I Think That There May Be Something Half Way In Between Them."

Re: Introductions & Discussion: Destiny, Free Will, or None of the Above?

[time-flyer-5.livejournal.com]

"I'm Jen Scotts," she began, once she'd finally collected her thoughts. Glancing around the room assuming Alex and Wes are in class, she paused for a few moments, choosing her words carefully. "I'm not sure if I ever really believed in 'destiny,' per se. I think it's maybe . . . more of a mental state than any kind of great cosmic plan, really."

Re: Introductions & Discussion: Destiny, Free Will, or None of the Above?

[imcalledandros.livejournal.com]

"I'm called Andros," Andros said, "I haven't decided if whether or not I believe in destiny,"

Re: Introductions & Discussion: Destiny, Free Will, or None of the Above?

[endsthegame]

"I'm Ender Wiggin," Ender said, sitting back quietly as he considered her words again. "Destiny is made by people. It's a story. You can use it to control others. What they think is going to happen, what they think they should do. Which makes it a lie that can turn into a truth because it's treated like one."

Meet Your TAs

[atreideslioness]

Please wait for them to ping in!

Re: Meet Your TAs

[raspberryturk]

Reno was there, leaning back against a desk and looking generally satisfied that he was fated to be TA this term.

Or something of the sort.

Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

She's around both before and after class.

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[raspberryturk]

"I trust this class is gonna make me think just as much as the last one did," Reno said, hands in his pockets as he walked up to Ghanima with a bit of a smile. "Hell of a habit to get into, yo. Might be addictive or somethin'."

OOC

[atreideslioness]

If the class is incoherent, I blame two cons in one week and being sick. *deds* Ping me on AIM if there's something Ghani should be responding to, and I'm just not seeing it.

Re: OOC

[time-flyer-5.livejournal.com]

. . . ahahaha I love that the one really good personal example Jen could use is the one she can't talk about without screwing up timelines. :D :D :D