17th☆

[adropofjupiter]

[Phone]

So, since he's a little shy, I'm calling to let everyone know that Pope Alessandro is going to have a meeting this afternoon in the Park to talk to those of us that believe in non-Christian faiths. He wants to understand the other religions out there, like Buddhism, Shinto or some others, like any good religious leader should do!

So, come down to the Park at 3pm and talk to the Pope. Maybe everyone will get some understanding out of this.


[Action - Park - Afternoon]

[Marisa had picked Alessandro up from his house in the car and drove him to the park. Now the two of them sat on a bench by the statue of the mayor and waited to see if anyone showed up for the meeting. Marisa knows she railroaded the Pope into this, but she really thinks he needed to talk to the non-Christian people of faith and learn that calling them heretics just isn't nice.]

[ooc: Replies to the action prompt will be from Marisa or Alessandro. If you want one of them specifically, toss it in the subject, plz!]

Comments

[Atchun]

[true_administrator]

[... She's going in on good faith Marisa won't try to make fireworks happen this time. Really, one moment the girl was friendly and then Miko was cold and miserable. But not having such a connection to such things? Such was the Way, and so, as a Taoist, perhaps it would be best to speak to one of the Western religious followers.]

[Atchun]

[adropofjupiter]

[Totally noticing Miko as Marisa stands next to the Pope. She's only intending on zorting anyone that tries to harm Alessandro. Play nice, Miko, and so will the witch.]

[true_administrator]

[... She still doesn't understand the hostility, either.]

[adropofjupiter]

[Blame it on Marisa having been half-asleep through the beginning of TD.]

[true_administrator]

[Fair enough.

But she isn't here to cause trouble, the guy's not Byakuren, there's no rivalry here :|]

[adropofjupiter]

[But Byakuren's around. And, by the way, Marisa knows Miko done killed Byakuren. Not that she cares about Byakuren, but it is telling...]

[true_administrator]

[Don't even try to hold moral high ground, Marisa. Don't even try it.]

[adropofjupiter]

[Not trying. Just noting that Miko is a killer. That's all.]

[true_administrator]

[My, that must be a very long list of people Marisa has to keep her eye on.

Unless she's deluding herself, as well. In which case then all of her judgement is rendered completely moot.]

[adropofjupiter]

[She just didn't know before. Now she does. Deal with it.]

[true_administrator]

[She does.

Marisa still doesn't have any semblance of moral high ground here though.]

[Atchun]

[shotapope]

[He was already starting to feel overwhelmed, but he was trying his best.]

[Atchun]

[true_administrator]

[Well, here it went.]

So, what precisely is it you wish to know? Do you want more technicalities, or do you wish to know why people tend to follow the path they do? I can speak on behalf of both Buddhism and Taoism.

[Alllll business; such is a political leader.]

[Atchun]

[shotapope]

Um... M-Marisa just said I n-needed to know more about o-other religions....

[He has no clue at all, such is the puppet political leader.]

Re: [Atchun]

[true_administrator]

Well... let's go with one that isn't well represented here.

Have you heard of Taoism?

[Atchun]

[shotapope]

N-no. I've n-never heard of it.

Re: [Atchun]

[true_administrator]

Taoism is comprised of both a philosophy and an actual spiritual practice. This is worthy of note because they can be taken completely separately; for instance, many Shinto and more current Buddhist practices, as well as general political and societal ones come directly from Taoist philosophy. I have seen the way it has shaped the eastern world while I was asleep, and I must say it was quite interesting.

The base can be surmised as such: there is no 'god' or 'gods' to this religion and philosophical practice. This is why it meshes so well with other religions. Instead, you have what Taoism is and what it means: a 'Way' or 'Path'. It's a set of ideals and a method for living a life.

[With her so far, Alessandro?]

[Atchun]

[shotapope]

[He nods slowly, but first he has a question.]

Wh-what's Shinto?

[He's heard Buddhist since he's talked to Byakuren a little.]

Re: [Atchun]

[true_administrator]

Shinto is the original faith of Japan. Whereas Buddhism and Taoism both came across the sea from China, Shinto developed entirely in Japan itself. It's a polytheistic religion in which... well, pretty much anything and everything has a god or spirit associated to it, and there are many shrines all over the land to honor those things. Some shrines have a specific god known for bringing good fortune in business, or love, for instance, and so you could go to those shrines to pray for those things.

[Atchun]

[shotapope]

[He raises his hand slowly having another question.]

Wh-what are China and J-Japan like...? And... wh-where are they?

Re: [Atchun]

[true_administrator]

[Er...

... Well, he's obviously not from her world, so she'll have to humor at least that]

Despite the earth being a sphere, Japan is considered the furthest eastern country - the land the sun touches first when it rises. It is a group of islands, though most refer to the main, large island as 'Japan' properly.

China is a part of the larger world a bit west of Japan. It is a much larger country, with its own set of workings and customs, though there are many similarities between the two if you're simply looking on the surface. For instance, one of the major alphabets of the Japanese language is directly borrowed from one of the major alphabets of the Chinese language.

[Atchun]

[shotapope]

They s-sound like countries that u-used to be east before the d-darkland was formed.

Re: [Atchun]

[true_administrator]

Hmm... I can't say I'm all too familiar with the world you come from to yet know of those things. But, perhaps they are.

[Atchun]

[shotapope]

W-well... a l-l-long long time ago there was a w-war, it was the e-end of the world. M-most the world was scorched and made u-unlivable. N-nothing is known to exist E-East of E-Europe.

Re: [Atchun]

[true_administrator]

... I see.

Well, in that case yes. It is one of those places.