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

[atreideslioness]

"In religion, a prophet is a person who has been contacted by, or has encountered, the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other humans. The message that the prophet conveys is called a prophecy," Ghanima began. "Claims of prophets have existed in many cultures through history, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, the Sybilline and Delphic Oracles practices in Ancient Greece, Zoroaster, the Völuspá in Old Norse, and many others. Traditionally, prophets are regarded as having a role in society that promotes change due to their messages and actions."

"And where prophecy walks, the concept of destiny is not far behind. Destiny refers to a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. It is a concept based on the belief that there is a fixed natural order to the universe."

"Some believe that divine guidence may be ascertained by divination. In the belief systems of many cultures, one's destiny can only be learned about through a shaman, babalawo, prophet, sibyl, saint or seer. In the Shang dynasty in China, turtle bones were thrown ages before the I Ching was codified. Arrows were tossed to read destiny, from Thrace to pagan Mecca. In Yoruba traditional religion, the Ifá oracle is consulted via a string of sixteen cowries or oil-palm nuts whose pattern when thrown on to a wooden tray represents the 256 possible combinations whose named "chapters" are recited and verses interpreted for the client by the babalawo. Every society has their own way of fortelling a future, from worm entrails to crystal balls. My empire put its fate in the hands of a family that can walk the veils of time, forward and back, to see what lies beyond, and now they're stuck with the future that the Mahdi chose. Oracles can be a tricky bunch, and you must always assume that they may have a hidden agenda of their own."

[OCD UP!]

Comments

Class Activity: Divination

[atreideslioness]

For when you get tired of talking about oracles, you can try your hand at being one. At various stations around the room, Ghanima has set up various fortune telling equipment. Tarot cards, books on chiromancy, crystal balls, the I Ching, and various types of runes. Pair up, and either try to divine your own destiny, or that of your partner, and discuss.

[OOC: As it says, have fun! Feel free to handwave, mod the equipment on your table, or use the power of the internet to get a reading for your character.]

Re: Class Activity: Divination

[trigons_child]

Raven decided to give the tarot cards a try, asking the question of if her father would ever find her in Fandom. The card representing "something to be embraced" made sense: Temperance, or balance, as did her role or attitude -- a fear of failure. She wasn't sure what to make of her environment being represented by The Fool (though she was sure Anakin would have a lot to say about impulsive actions, given the bomb incident). Her hopes and fears were represented by the Four of Coins -- a balance of power and suspension of conflict. The ultimate outcome card was the Two of Staves reversed, which was supposed to mean a stalemate. That had her a little worried. But they were just cards, right?

Re: Class Activity: Divination

[cataclysmicluck.livejournal.com]

Zayne glanced at a crystal ball and decided to take a shot at that. Maybe focusing on an object like that would help him open himself to a vision the Force might provide. It was worth a shot, right?

[OOC: I'm around for like an hour, then on a plane and afk until around 7 Central.]