004 + MY PRESENCE WILL GO WITH YOU [video]

[trenchcoatedly]

[Castiel is in his room. It looks extremely sparse and unused, with a neatly made bed and otherwise very little else. By the way, the walls are his room are scrawled with mysterious symbols in both black and blood-red. Ignore the handsome gentleman in the screen. He is not in Castiel's room.]

I've located a prayer room on the ship. I'm curious if anyone would be interested in a service or a sermon? Bear in mind this would be to my Heavenly Father, the Holy Lord, He Who Watches, and no other gods that are worshiped. I'll also try to answer any questions about His Everlasting Majesty, though I can't promise my answers will be sufficient.

Interruptions and blasphemy will not be permitted.

It will be on Friday, and there may be a Sunday service.

[LOCKED to DEAN (and bcc'd to BUFFY)]

My recent actions were tainted by the flood. I apologize if I disturbed you.

[LOCKED to BUFFY]

Have you heard of the "shadow barge"?


[OPEN - added later]

The service will be moved. Does anyone have a particular place, or should the deck suffice?

Comments

[shortsightedlove]

Out of sheer curiosity, what would you do if someone were to... blaspheme?

[trenchcoatedly]

Expel them.

[shortsightedlove]

What a terrible punishment. And I was wondering if you'd actually do something about it.

[trenchcoatedly]

If you don't share my beliefs, you're under no obligation to come.

[shortsightedlove]

I've no plans to. As I said, I was simply curious. I would feel rather silly attending this considering I've created a universe myself.

[trenchcoatedly]

Very well.

[huge_egomd]

Just so we're clear--what's your definition of blasphemy?

[trenchcoatedly]

On a regular basis, or during a time of worship?

[huge_egomd]

Let's say in general. Outside a church.

[trenchcoatedly]

I try to tolerate the Lord's name being used in vain and the worship of other beings, though I would sincerely prefer against such things. Though when the user's intent is obviously to offend me, I take offense.

[huge_egomd]

So your definition of blasphemy is something that offends you?

[trenchcoatedly]

No, my definition of blasphemy is disrespecting His Holy Name and worshiping false idols.

[huge_egomd]

Sure, but as long as I confine my worship of Shiva to somewhere private, where you can't see it, then it's okay?

That's actually a fairly reasonable approach. After all, claiming it offends God is just silly. I can't offend someone who doesn't exist.

[trenchcoatedly]

Certainly.

I assure you He exists.

[huge_egomd]

Really? [Now that just takes all the fun out of atheism]

And I should take your word for it...why?

[trenchcoatedly]

Because without him, I nor any of my brothers would exist.

[scarlet_discord]

Fucking Dominionists and their "our way or the highway" attitude. You're a walking example of why I'll never worship your god.

[trenchcoatedly]

"Dominionist"? I'm unfamiliar with the term.

You are welcome to not attend.

[scarlet_discord]

What I want is to be able to hold services in my own religion without monotheist assbags kicking up huge amounts of resistance. That chapel should be interfaith in a real way and treated as such. The gods who actually intercede and care about us should have equal rights within it. But if I were to make an announcement like you just did all you Jesus freaks and your friends would flip out. Why the hell do you think I've been holding ritual alone in my room or out in the cold the entire time I have been here?

[huge_egomd]

Oy.

That's a fallacious argument and therefore invalid. You might as well say without Bigfoot we wouldn't exist.

Human beings are the product of evolution. We are born of science, not theology.

[trenchcoatedly]

I'm an angel of the Lord. My creation was not in any way related to the biological evolution of humanity. I was born of my Holy Father's essence and little else.

[trenchcoatedly]

[Blink. Blink. He was not expecting that, Wanda.]

I was unaware of any sorts of limits on the room and would not seek to interfere in such a way in a structure like the barge. If you desire to hold an alternate service, I have no complaints and won't interfere, simply as long as you don't mind I don't worship or otherwise agree with your faith.

Alternately, I'm sure there is the possibility to create an additional prayer room if you desire.

I...presume you have had some difficulty with some other worshipper at some point?

[scarlet_discord]

Some difficulty...? Look. Maybe you come from a world where Pagans can build and run a temple without their Christian neighbors going nuts and trying to block the project, but I don't. Maybe you've never had some idiot after you trying to break your faith to "save your soul", but I have dealt with people like that my entire free life. You have no clue what it is like to be a religious minority. It's clear from your attitude.

When I came here the only thing the chapel was used for was Christian service. The people who ran and tended it? Christian. The services offered? Christian. The rest of us weren't exactly forbidden, but we weren't on the staff or the schedule either. It's always been uncomfortable. Now you want to just trumpet all over the place about the latest service aimed at Christians only.

And you wonder why I'm pissed off?

[huge_egomd]

You may have been born of your father's 'essence' but I'm pretty sure there wasn't anything holy about it.

[trenchcoatedly]

I have no connection to any worship, worshipers, or religion in your universe and being angry with me in relation to anything they've done is insensible.

I will hold a Christian service. You're not obligated to attend. If you would like to hold any other service in the chapel, that's your prerogative. I won't disturb it. You're free to "trumpet" any service you want. Quite frankly, I don't care. I'm strong enough in my faith to tolerate any other worship, especially when it does not offend mine or my Lord.

Your anger seems to be directed at people who aren't not me, who do not hold my opinions or have actions I have no association with, so I admit your anger is a bit still confusing.