4AM and I can't sleep.

As usually spawned by topics running through my mind over and over again as I'm trying to shut down for the night, religion popped up, and this scene came to me. I couldn't wait to share it, so here it is, out of context and incomplete, though anyone familiar with the story might be able to figure out where it'll end up.

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“God, this has been a long day.”

“Who’s this ‘God’ person you keep referring to?”

“Someone who people would pray to back home.”

“Ah, your deity. Are you a very religious man, James?”

Sigh. “Not really. I was raised to be, but, traveling all around the world with the military, I was made aware of a lot of different Gods. I started questioning which one was the right one to follow. After a while, I decided the easiest thing to do would be to not worry about it at all.” Chuckle. “I guess if there is a God on Earth, I’m pretty much out of his jurisdiction here, huh? Does Equestria have any Gods?”

“Well, while someponies have been known to take the Princess’ name in vain during an intense moment of fear... or passion... “ Cough. ”Equestria doesn’t have an established religion. Myths from long before my time talk of beings that live amongst the stars, who would appeal to the humble pleas of ponies in need, but those faded eons ago. However, the other races have ept their own ways to express their spirituality. The zebras venerate the sanctity and the wild beauty of nature. The griffons and the buffalo both call upon the spirits of their ancestors for aid, though in different ways. The donkeys are simply content with their material lives, as a race foregoing any sort of spirituality entirely.”

“What do you believe, Bookmark?”

He squared with me. “I believe that everypony is right about what he believes in, even if he believes in nothing at all... so long as he sticks by it. James, spirituality is something that relieves somepony’s doubts about what lies beyond what he can see, whether it’s trusting in the mercy of a benevolent deity, or simply being comfortable with the life he’s lead. Everypony believes in something that helps them sleep at night; what that is for you is up to you, and you alone, to decide.”

“Thanks.”

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I feel that this makes up for cutting God out of the story as a character. One of the reasons I started this story, honestly, was to see how many controversial topics I could successfully discuss in the narrative, and religion is probably one of the ones I want to cover the most. I really want to hear what you guys think of it, if you would please share your thoughts.

Yes, this does mean that I'm working on it. I'm not getting very far very fast, but I have time now, so we'll see.

Good night (morning).

Comments

[Jaohni]

...You should have included Egyptian or Roman gods *shudder*. They're brutal, surprisingly, not the Greek ones though.