IAIN KELLY

AFTER THE FALL

The ruined building had only one window left intact. On it was a star.

‘Your star.’

‘What do you mean, Father?’

‘The star of David. It belonged to a religion, long ago.’

‘A religion?’

‘Like a belief, a faith. People gathered to worship their God.’

‘People believed Gods were real?’

‘Before science had given us all the answers, yes.’

‘It seems so primitive.’

‘Maybe, but now we were left with this.’

He opened his arms, gesturing at the devastation around them.

‘Beware false idols, Son.’

They shuffled on. With luck they would find something to eat soon.


roger-bultot-synagogue
Copyright Roger Bultot

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.


My first novel, ‘A Justified State,’ is available now
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70 responses to “AFTER THE FALL”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar

    It seems all gods must fail, even the true ones

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It makes for a good story that way.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Tannille Avatar

    The biggest question; is the world a better place without religion?

    Great story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Probably one that will never be answered. Thanks

      Liked by 1 person

  3. neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS Avatar

    Very apocalyptic. Timely fatherly lessons, too. Good story kelly.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Neel

      Like

  4. ceayr Avatar

    You’re in a cheery mood today, Iain.
    Post-apocalyptic doom, gotta love it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      All religion does this to me really…

      Liked by 1 person

  5. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    A very bleak story. Well written.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Rochelle

      Like

  6. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    When religion finally disappears, hopefully, the beautiful buildings will remain, even if they only become fast food joints!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m with you Keith – I have no interest in religion really, but if visiting a new city will head straight to the cathedral for a look – they don’t make buildings like ’em anymore!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

        You and me too – and I’m passionate about sacred choral music. What a hypocrite I am!

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Sandra Avatar

    I don’t know what to say. It’s hard to conceive of a time when no-one will believe in some creed or another.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I would think almost impossible, for a variety of reasons.

      Like

  8. ladieswholunchreviews Avatar

    Very dark and interesting! How are you, Iain? I have lots of catching up to do on posts

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you. I’m very well, not posting as much on my blog as I used to as I’m trying to get the second novel written – going well so far! Hope you are well 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. ladieswholunchreviews Avatar

        I’m good, thanks. Glad to hear the writing is going well!

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Dale Avatar

    Once upon a time, people believed. They believed so much they destroyed each other in defence of their supposed best god. They did it for millennia…
    Well done, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yup, I’m sure even when all the religion has gone, they’ll soon find something else to believe in that’s worth fighting over…

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Dale Avatar

        I’ve no doubt…

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Rachel Bjerke Avatar

    Ominous! I certainly hope it wasn’t science that destroyed them!

    Good one, Iain!

    -Rachel

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Probably a combination of science and something else, or competing versions of understanding the same science. I’m sure they’ll figure out something to fight about even if it’s not religion… 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  11. granonine Avatar

    How terribly sad. It doesn’t seem like science did much to help the people who no longer had faith in anything but the facts they could touch and see.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Science takes a level of belief and faith as well, otherwise what else have you got?

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    A likely end to humanity? Great poem, gave me pause and has me thinking 🤔

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Elizabeth 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  13. msjadeli Avatar

    Raw and provocative writing.

    Like

  14. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar

    Your story reminds me of “The Road,” movie and novel. What’s left at the end is base, the need to eat, with room for frills like structures for religion. Thought provoking piece, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar

      I meant “with no room for frills.” haha

      Like

    2. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Brenda that novel did pass through my mind as I wrote it! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  15. tedstrutz Avatar

    Excellent, I really liked this piece.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Ted

      Like

  16. aheartforafrica641064503 Avatar
    aheartforafrica641064503

    Unfortunately those who profess to be religious give religion a bad name.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Indeed, many do.

      Like

  17. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    A grim tale. But given its history, I’d be Judaism survives long after the more recent sects are confined to the dustbin.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s got a good record of surviving everything that has been thrown at it so far, even in the most extreme tragedies.

      Like

  18. gahlearner Avatar
    gahlearner

    A very bleak look into a possible future. I think we’ll never be able to live without faith, without the believe in something greater than us. The evil I see is religion, a power game since the beginning of time. My god is better than yours fed to the masses makes you powerful as cleric, bishop, pope… there’s a reason why younger sons of nobility took the cloth.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I confess to not being a fan of religions either, but at the same time you are right, it is hard to not believe in something more than just ourselves in the universe.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. draliman Avatar

    I like the turn-around – I’m seeing science as the false idol here, since it’s brought them to “the fall”.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Perhaps not science but the way science is being interpreted to justify behaviours – for example, denying that we are contributing to climate change – in much the same way that religion is twisted by those who wish to commit evil.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Abhijit Avatar

    Science is the new religion now. Like basic tenets of religion, we don’t understand much of basic principles of science either. We simply enjoy the perks.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I like your summation Abhijit.

      Like

  21. patriciaruthsusan Avatar

    A good story, Iain and well written. I also thought of the movie “The Road”. As religion has lasted for thousands of years I doubt it will totally disappear. It will probably change though as it has been. I just hope we last as a world for that long without causing the wild animals and breathable air to be destroyed. If we don’t get busy, we’re well on our way. It’s a shame we have to fight legal battles to keep those who should know better from making things worse for profit. —- Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s hard to not look at religion as flawed in our world today, but I think you are right, there will always be something ‘there.’ Perhaps a religion based on how we treat nature and the earth we live on rather than worrying about what might be in the heavens above us would be a good place to start!

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Liz Young Avatar

    Oh my word, that was bleak. Good story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yeah, I struggled to find an upside to it! Thanks Liz

      Like

  23. 4963andypop Avatar

    I read it as Full of double meanings and allusions. Adam’s fall from grace into sin;Satan’s fall from angel to devil; the false idols reference, applicable either to religion or science; in either case, inviting Heavenly retribution…And to complete the Adam analogy, on being ousted from Paradise, the pair must eat by the sweat of their brow.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      If you found all that in my 100 words, I am grateful! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Fabulous story. Gods fall and new ones rise. Or the loss is so profound all faith turns to ash. I wonder what would appear now? Sporting gods or internet gods

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Most likely Twitter or InstaGods

      Like

  25. Jennie Avatar

    Ooo… this was good!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Sascha Darlington Avatar

    Very dark. Well written, as always.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sascha

      Liked by 1 person

  27. spicedmullings Avatar

    Such a beautifully significant epitaph!
    We do need simple faith, don’t we?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      We have to believe in something, for sure.

      Like

      1. spicedmullings Avatar

        Yep.
        In one that has a good track record!👌

        Liked by 1 person

  28. Dawn Quyle Landau Avatar

    Wow! One of my favorites of yours. Deeply poignant and thought provoking.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much Dawn, very kind 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  29. rogershipp Avatar

    Not a place for me… Enjoyed the read.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Hopefully we won’t be around by then!

      Liked by 1 person

  30. lisarey1990 Avatar

    I like the questions this piece starts. A really great write.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Lisa

      Liked by 1 person

  31. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    Maybe knowledge is not the best thing… there are many ways to cause devastation.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Sometimes ignorance can be a virtue.

      Like

  32. subroto Avatar

    Wonderful take on the prompt. In approximately 5 billion years, the sun will start turning into a red giant star. Its outer layers will consume Mercury and Venus, and reach Earth. Hopefully by that time humanity would have found new planets to inhabit, would they still take their Gods with them?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Maybe some new ones please? 😉

      Like

  33. Dawn M. Miller Avatar

    I’m not very religious either, but I do love beautiful churches.
    Interesting take on that, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Dawn

      Liked by 1 person

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