Comparative Religions

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

*is pristine today, with a huge feast prepared, to make up for the last one*

*has written on the chalkboard in an easy script, with elvish flourishes, but in five different languages common to his students the following message;

What is a covenent? Why is covenent important today?*

*is now sitting back in his chair, smoking his pipe*

Comments

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"A covenant is a promise - kind of a sacred promise. As for why it's important today... well, I think too many promises are broken these days, people don't take them seriously. So when you find someone who does keep them, if *enough* people kept them, maybe the world would be a better place." Lana can't help thinking about Archie - she knows without being told, that to him a promise is a sacred bond.

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

what kind of covenents do we have today, Lana?

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Well," Lana thinks for a minute. "Marriage, I guess. It's supposed to be a sacred covenant. And some religions believe that God entered into a covenant with his people."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

what else... can you think of anything?

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," Lana said a little uncomfortably. "I guess almost anything - any kind of promise could be considered a covenant. I'm sorry," she apologized, "I don't think I'm really at my best tonight."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

thats quite allright, Lana...

why dont you have something to eat, to drink, and then get back to me on paper?

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, Sir, I will." She looks a little embarrassed, "And I really am sorry, don't know why I'm so... distracted tonight." But she does know and just doesn't want to admit it to herself yet.

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

*nods*
you will...
and if you want to talk Lana, my door is always open to you.

But remember, you lose a part of yourself, when you break a covenent, Lana.

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"I know," she whispers, "I would never break one. They're too important."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

good girl, now eat. *bright smile, taking a long draw on his pipe*

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana smiles back at him, feeling strangely reassured. Perhaps if things with Archie progress the way she thinks they will, she might just take Gandalf up on his open door offer.

[m-samuelle.livejournal.com]

"A covenant is an agreement," Michael said simply.

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

go on.. explain...

[m-samuelle.livejournal.com]

"When two parties - people, organizations, whatever - make an agreement together. Maybe agree on a joint venture or even just agree to saty out of each others' way."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

so a contract then? *leading tone*

[m-samuelle.livejournal.com]

"I suppose, though not necessarily a formal written out one, but I guess contract is as good a term as any."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

so how does that affect you? to look at a contract as covenent?

[m-samuelle.livejournal.com]

"If it's one I'm a part of or my-" he hesitates, "One which one of my associates is part of, then I'm required to follow it. Whether I like it or not."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

it can be difficult, cant it?

[m-samuelle.livejournal.com]

"Life is always difficult when your choices are taken away from you."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

But there are always choices to make... just sometimes, they are difficult.

[m-samuelle.livejournal.com]

Michael's face is completely blank, hiding any emotion he might be feeling. "When making a choice will result in the death of an innocent loved one, it is as if one has no choice."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

sometimes people need to be sacrificed, for the good of the many...
do you not beleive that?

[m-samuelle.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Michael says quietly. "But if I do not do as I am directed, the death that follow will not be for the good of the many, but to punish me."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

then you must do what you must do.
I understand that.

[m-samuelle.livejournal.com]

"Somehow I thought you would, Sir."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

go eat, rest... be happy.
be away from all things, even just for a moment

[m-samuelle.livejournal.com]

Michael nods solemnly and heads over to get some dinner.

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

*watches them all through heavily lidded eyes, smiling slightly at nothing in particular*

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin turned in his essay about being a survivor, then thought about the day's question.

"Covenant? We prefer the term treaty, where I come from, or promise." Anakin frowned. "Some are more binding than others, obviously. The promise I made to the Jedi order--that is not one to be broken. In the 25,000 year history of the Order only 20 have ever left, and we are required to learn their names and their reasons." Anakin shrugged. "Treaties between governments are more...malleable."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

How does it change your point of view, to look at things as a covenent?

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure I understand the distinction."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

a covenent, in its definition, as one of the others tonight have siad, is something sacred... or can be.

If these treaties can be viewed as sacred.....*leading tone*

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin thought of some of the treaties he had helped broker and laughed. "Sacred? Hardly. Some of them don't last past the signing ceremony." He looked down. "There is very little that would be held sacred in my galaxy righ tnow."

He shrugged. "I think the closest thing to a covenant in my world world be my pledge to the Jedi. Or a marriage contract."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

Do you beleive that the lack of things sacred" then, is a good thing, or a bad one?

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"Cuts down on certain kinds of conflicts," Anakin ventured. "Not sure that it's intrinsically good or bad, though."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

*looks thoughtful*

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

Alanna turns in her essay from last week and nervously bites her lip. "A covenent is an agreement. I assume for this class it would be a religious one, though I can't think of how that ties in."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

try for me.. what other words do we use for for agreement?

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

"Um...partnership, contract, arangement. It could also be agreeing about idea, I guess."

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

contract, was the one that I was looking for, Allanna...

now - how is a covenent, a contract?

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

"Well, in my world, the Gods don't mess with our lives too much, and the people worship and honor the Gods. It's a contract between the two people's. Except for me. And my future daughter. And my future husband. And that weird friend I'll develop in about ten years. Who happens to be half goddess.

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

*Marty participates in class discussion*

[OOC: Sorry. Much Plottyness going on tonight.]

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

Alanna shoots Marty an enquiring look but doesn't say anything.

[brandnew-world.livejournal.com]

Hotaru blinks at the unfamiliar word, then scowls at her limited grasp of English. "...Ano..." Hotaru thumbs through a dictionary, making a face.

[marieann-d.livejournal.com]

Rogue thinks about the question. "The covenant between God and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and through them the country of Israel. It's important to Christians, Jews, and Muslims, because they all consider themselves children of Abraham."

[[Player is now off to bed.]]

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

very good...
now, why is covenent important today?

[stykera]

*Stark hands in his 100 words from last class and contributes to the discussion*


((ooc:but Stark's mun has had a killer headache since last night and so is not feeling commenty at all. ow.))