fandomhigh | Hubris from Revelation: the Social Engineering of Ultimate Truths [Monday, Period 2]

"Good morning," Ghanima said cheerfully as the students trickled into class today. "I see most of you managed to survive your families! Thank whatever god you believe in and grab some coffee, because we have a lot to cover today."

"Polytheism is the belief in and worship of multiple deities, called gods and goddesses. These are usually assembled into a pantheon, along with their own mythologies and rituals. Many religions, both historical and contemporary, have a belief in polytheism, such as Hinduism, Shinto, Ancient Greek Polytheism, Roman Polytheism, Germanic Polytheism, Slavic polytheism, Chinese folk religion, Neopagan faiths and Anglo-Saxon paganism."

"Now, Polytheists do not always worship all the gods equally, but can be monolatrists, specialising in the worship of one particular deity. Other polytheists can be kathenotheists, worshiping different deities at different times," she said.

"The deities of polytheistic religions are agents in mythology, where they are portrayed as complex personages of greater or lesser status, with individual skills, needs, desires and histories. These gods are often seen as similar to humans in their personality traits, but with additional individual powers, abilities, knowledge or perceptions."

"Polytheism cannot be cleanly separated from the animist beliefs prevalent in most folk religions. The gods of polytheism are in many cases the highest order of a continuum of supernatural beings or spirits, which may include ancestors, demons, wights and others. In some cases these spirits are divided into celestial or chthonic classes, and belief in the existence of all these beings does not imply that all are worshipped."

"Some well-known historical polytheistic pantheons include the Sumerian gods and the Egyptian gods, and the classical attested pantheon which includes the Ancient Greek religion, and Roman Religion. Post classical polytheistic religions include Norse Æsir and Vanir, the Yoruba Orisha, the Aztec gods, and many others. Today, most historical polytheistic religions are pejoratively referred to as "mythology", though the stories cultures tell about their gods should be distinguished from their worship or religious practice. For instance deities portrayed in conflict in mythology would still be worshipped sometimes in the same temple side by side, illustrating the distinction in the devotees mind between the myth and the reality," Ghanima continued crisply. "Generally, mythology is considered one component or aspect of religion. Religion is the broader term: besides mythological aspects, it includes aspects of ritual, morality, theology, and mystical experience. A given mythology is almost always associated with a certain religion, such as Greek mythology with Ancient Greek religion. Disconnected from its religious system, a myth may lose its immediate relevance to the community and evolve—away from sacred importance—into a legend or folktale."

"Today's religion will be tomorrow's mythology, simply because that is how humanity operates. Things become lost to the corridors of time and changing belief, until no one remembers the source anymore."

"For your assignment today, I have handouts regarding various early polytheistic religions. Please pick a religion and a deity from that pantheon, and discuss with a friend or two why you think people during that era might have worshiped such a god."

[OCD up!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Definitely," Ben said. "My aunt's protocol droid was once worshiped as a god. It's kind of a family joke."

//That's the way of people, I suppose,// Jono mused. //Willin' to bow down to whatever looks the most shiny at the time.//

Which explained why he had spent entirely too much money on the Fender guitar when he could have gotten something just as functional for a sixth of the price, yes. He wasn't pointing fingers, truly.

"Threepio certainly was shiny," Ben replied with a rueful chuckle. "So other than the pants, why do you think Thor was so popular?"

//Well, I've never met th'guy personally,// Jono mused. //But I've heard he's got a bit of a commanding presence to him.//

He'd be laughing now, if he could. //It'd have to be, for people t'still look up to him in spite of the ridiculous wings he wears on his helmet. I suppose th'hammer has something to do with that, as well.//

"I wouldn't mock a guy with metal pants and a great big hammer," Ben agreed. "At least, not up close."

//From a distance,// Jono agreed, shaking his head. //We can mock th'gods from a distance. Like here, in class, where I'm fairly certain it's safe.//

A pause, and he found himself glancing around the room. //But only fairly certain. Never know who might turn out to be a god at the end of th'day, around here.//

"Or people who could be pretending to be gods," Ben said. "There's power in the name, especially for people who believe."

//Can't agree more with that one,// Jono replied, furrowing his eyebrows a little in thought. //Considering how many people there are with powers that go beyond those of normal humans, to a society where such things are unheard of, it'd be easy enough for someone t'pass themselves off as a deity.//

As a matter of fact, he was descended from an individual who had done just that.

Ben slanted his eyes toward Jaina. "It's been known to happen with Jedi," he said vaguely.

Jono glanced that way momentarily when he noticed where Ben was looking, but he mostly shrugged it off.

//I suppose there are right and wrong reasons to do something like that, as well,// he ventured. //World conquest is a far cry from, perhaps, 'if they think I'm a god, it will be easier for me to make peace among them.' Or... something of the sort.//

Not everyone was Apocalypse. Right? Right. Probably?

"The last time I can remember it being used it was more as psychological warfare against enemy forces," Ben replied.

Oooh. Jono kind of winced at that.

//That's a bit of an... unorthodox approach to it, mate.//

"Someone was really trying to tick them off," Ben said. "Turned out that being blasphemous got their attention."

//For those with enough faith, it would,// Jono agreed. //Dare I ask how that turned out?//

"It distracted them," Ben said, "and made them get a little sloppy, so it worked." He shrugged. "Assuming that the gods weren't real and that the people involved aren't now doomed to be punished for their crimes."

//It sounds messy, then.// Jono idly tapped a finger against the handout, thinking. //The unfortunate thing about gods is that yer can't be sure if they exist or not, until one decides to actually show up.//

Like Thor!

"...have you met one?" Ben asked a little nervously.

Jono blinked, and then raised an eyebrow a little.

//Me personally?// He shook his head. //Thor here is real, though. Bit of a hero where I'm from, actually.//

In his own special way. With the shiny pants and all.

"Does he wear the wings?"

Because that was important to know.

//He does,// Jono laughed. //And I think they look bloody ridiculous, mate.//

Oh, yes, Jono was really one to talk, here.

"What are they there for?" Ben asked, giggling. "Is his head that heavy? Is it going to take off on its own? Does he have a tiny engine in the helmet?"

Excuse Jono while he made an honest attempt to not die of a laugh that he couldn't actually form in the first place. It mostly involved him bending forward a little and closing his eyes and shaking his head in amusement.

//So far as I can tell, apparently th' members of th' Norse pantheon thought it was fashionable.//

Which was to say, Jono had no freaking clue.

"Glad that went out of style," Ben said, "though now I know what to get you for Christmas."

//It'll look absolutely stunning if I wear it next to th'metal trousers I'm going to get for yer, then, won't it?//

Oh, they were such boys.

Ben burst out laughing. "We'll have to go to Caritas to show off our new look."

Re: Class Discussion!

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