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

Re: Discussion Two: The Ethical Reaction

[momslilassassin]

Ben gave her a little nudge through the Force, looking concerned.

"What would be the guidelines for judging that?" he asked quietly. "Do you use your own perspective or what the natives find acceptable?"

Re: Discussion Two: The Ethical Reaction

[weetuskenraider]

"Both." Tahiri turned to look at him with a little self-conscious shrug. "But that only works if you can look at it from both sides."

Re: Discussion Two: The Ethical Reaction

[momslilassassin]

Need me around later? he sent before nodding. "That might be where things go off course," he said, "with the assumption of your perspective being the only correct one."

Re: Discussion Two: The Ethical Reaction

[weetuskenraider]

That might be nice, Tahiri agreed.

"That doesn't make it any easier," she added out loud. "And I suppose it also matters how you're using it to your advantage. Using the knowledge of the religion to know how to appeal to its followers is different from manipulating them through their faith . . . isn't it?"

She really had no idea just yet.

Re: Discussion Two: The Ethical Reaction

[momslilassassin]

"I'd think so," Ben said. "I mean, we expect certain reactions just by telling people we're Jedi, don't we?"

I'm done with classes for the year after this, he replied. Ice cream in your room? Or do you want to try the sixth floor?

Re: Discussion Two: The Ethical Reaction

[weetuskenraider]

"At home, at least," Tahiri allowed, "but assuming otherwise isn't relevant to the point here. Of course, that doesn't always work out in our favor . . ."

Sixth floor? It's too cold out for the beach, she suggested with a hint of regret about the weather. Cold winters were inconvenient.

Re: Discussion Two: The Ethical Reaction

[momslilassassin]

Ben snickered. "True. But at least you know what to expect if you announce that you're a Jedi to a Hutt."

Generally, being fired upon.

"But I think framing arguments in a way that the other culture would understand would be okay. Using their belief in their deities to manipulate them would fall into a different category."

And yes, they had been losing, and yes, Ben had been little, and no, he hadn't been consulted, but he wasn't exactly sure how he felt about that use.

Re: Discussion Two: The Ethical Reaction

[weetuskenraider]

Being fired upon might be an optimistic expectation.

"That's very shaky ground," agreed Tahiri, who wasn't sure how she felt about that either; Riina's opinion on the matter was much more clear. "Especially for someone who has the, uh, advantage of both perspectives. I'd imagine," or know, but she wasn't saying so, "that's not a fun position to be in."

She sent a quick pulse of gratitude through the Force for the laugh, however brief it had been.

Re: Discussion Two: The Ethical Reaction

[momslilassassin]

"I think I'd use it as a very last resort," Ben decided, avoiding looking toward Jaina.

Re: Discussion Two: The Ethical Reaction

[weetuskenraider]

Yeah, Tahiri wasn't looking that way either. It wasn't like she'd been privy to the discussion on the matter, but . . . yeah. She'd teased Jaina about it a couple of times, and Riina had not exactly been pleased. Maybe it was Riina's reaction that had Tahiri so uncertain about her own.

"Yeah," she finally said, a bit awkwardly. "Which I guess means we would have qualms about it."

Re: Discussion Two: The Ethical Reaction

[momslilassassin]

After Ben had realized how far he'd been willing to go in order to hurt Jacen, he might be overcompensating just a little in the opposite direction.

"Maybe a few," he admitted.

Re: Discussion Two: The Ethical Reaction

[weetuskenraider]

"It would be bad if we didn't?" Tahiri suggested hopefully.

Re: Discussion Two: The Ethical Reaction

[momslilassassin]

"We'd probably get Dad's disapproving look," Ben said, "and no one wants that."

Re: Discussion Two: The Ethical Reaction

[weetuskenraider]

It wasn't actually much of an effort to smile at that. "I've had plenty of it, thanks, so no."