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

[atreideslioness]

"Welcome to our last class of the semester," Ghanima said. "Today, I'd like to hear from you."

"We've covered another of religions in this class, looking at how and why they developed, and their basic belief structures. Now I'm going to ask you to think about what you've heard, and use your imaginations."

"I'd like you to picture yourself dropped into a hostile environment. You have no money, no allies, and the natives are quite hostile to outsiders. Luckily, you are exceedingly familiar with the planetary religion and it's resultant myths and legends."

"Out of all the various religions we've covered, which one would you find the easiest to use to your advantage in this situation? Or if you cannot picture yourself in such a situation, what religion that we've studied has intrigued you the most?"

[OCD up!]

Comments

Discussion One: Choices

[atreideslioness]

If you had to pick a religion to manipulate, which out of all the ones you've studied in class would you choose? Why? What strengths/weaknesses appeal to you? Is it the culture as a whole, or some aspect of the power-dynamic? Would you rather be a prophet or a messiah?

Or if you feel you cannot answer that question: which of the religions studied this semester has intrigued you the most? Why?


[OOC: Feel free to ping off each other and discuss all over the place!]

Re: Discussion One: Choices

[bitten_notshy]

"What I'm wondering is whether the most effective thing might be making up a religion of our own," Jack offered. "I could say blond hair is a sign of favor from the Gods, if I was on a dark-haired and gullible world, and that might be better than any real religion."

"But if that isn't an option, I'd implement polytheism in the Greek or Roman model. It seems to be the most natural to primitive peoples, and with so many Gods, one is bound to agree with whatever I want. And it allows a fitting place for oracles -- like, of course, myself, or my lackeys."

Re: Discussion One: Choices

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"Something simple," Jonas said after a moment's thought. "Perhaps the Abrahamic religion since it's fairly straightforward - as compared to other religions - but also allows for some differentiation of people. It's a monotheistic religion which means everyone would worship one exclusive god thus eliminating the need for which god is better and why."

Jonas paused and pursed his lips. "Of course, you could then run into the issue of people not wanting to worship that god and branching off to become their own religion. Still, finding out which god is supported by the majority and using that to your advantage might mean an easier way into the society since you'd have the support of the many."

Re: Discussion One: Choices

[trigons_child]

A sick feeling started to develop in Raven's stomach at the question (and not just from the champagne last night). She knew her father was very accustomed to manipulating the religions of worlds he conquered so that he could proclaim himself their new god.

"I would consider it wrong to manipulate another culture's religious beliefs for my own benefit," she said shakily.

Re: Discussion One: Choices

[momslilassassin]

Ben caught the emotions coming off of Raven and gave her a worried look. "You'd rather get roasted over a spit or something?"

Han had told the story about the Ewoks a lot.

Re: Discussion One: Choices

[trigons_child]

Raven shook her head. "I know of claims of godhood that have been made merely to terrorize a world and force its inhabitants into servitude," she said. "I am uncertain what I might do if I had to protect myself or others, but to manipulate people through their religion is as repugnant to me as manipulating their emotions."

Re: Discussion One: Choices

[momslilassassin]

In that case, Ben was going to skip right over what Jedi do with emotional manipulation...

"Even if they wouldn't notice?" he asked.

Re: Discussion One: Choices

[trigons_child]

"I think it would depend on the intent," Raven said slowly, getting passed the initial knee-jerk reaction of shunning anything resembling her father's behavior. "If it were the only way to convince a people to move to a safer area, for example. But it should not be continuous or for selfish reasons, like power or riches."

Re: Discussion One: Choices

[momslilassassin]

"And would 'not getting killed' be a selfish reason?" Ben replied.

Re: Discussion One: Choices

[trigons_child]

"Of course not," Raven said. "I would prefer some other option, however. But if one does not exist...."

Re: Discussion One: Choices

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "Better to be guilty and alive than dead," he declared.

Re: Discussion One: Choices

[cataclysmicluck.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure how well I'd be able to manipulate it, but I'd probably choose Buddhism. It has enough in common with the Jedi way that I might be able to pass as a Buddhist if the situation called for it," Zayne said.

Re: Discussion One: Choices

[findingelena.livejournal.com]

"Buddhism," Elena said. "I could fake the meditation from what I've learned elsewhere, and they'd be less inclined to kill me on general principles."