In the end, governments didn’t need to ban religion. The numbers attending had dwindled away to almost nothing.
It was their arrival that had sparked the crisis of faith. They had laughed at the world and their primitive beliefs. They had shown them the universe beyond the tiny galaxy their Earth inhabited.
No God created this, they told their newly conquered servants, through mirthful laughter. We did.
Humanity acquiesced.
In a small synagogue, hiding in the darkness of the shuttered doors and windows, she stood to address her small band.
‘Today,’ she told them, ‘we start to fight back.’
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.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – ‘A spellbinding sequel…Get lost in the pages…through passages that may have you holding your breath.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – ‘A great read…Well paced and full of drama. A great sequel.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – ‘an easy series to get drawn into. Well written, the plot flows effortlessly…A gripping sci-fi’
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Reblogged this on Reena Saxena.
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Hmm, that “We did” makes me much less like to believe anything they said… Kirk to “God” – “Why does God need a starship?”
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It would again come down to the fact that we wouldn’t be able to prove it either way.
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Good point
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Excellent dystopia there. Reminded me a bit of PD James’s The Children of Men where the Omega children would use churches for their frenzy rituals.
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Thank you
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You’ve picked an interesting and thought-provoking premise for your story, and worked it through to a satisfying conclusion. I was particularly pleased that you picked a woman to lead the fightback. I wonder, though, whether humans would really abandon religion as easily as that?
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I’m sure not all of them would, although it does seem that the numbers are decreasing, especially in the western countries. Thanks Penny.
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You’re right that numbers are decreasing, but I think that there is a tendency for those who persist to be more fervent.
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Good story.
Not sure there is much difference between the aliens and religious organisations.
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I view them as one and the same…
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The seeds for another book series, Iain?
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Ha, I will need to finish the first one before thinking about that! 🙂
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Very thoughtprovoking. It took me a minute to figure out who ‘they’ (as in “their arrival”) were supposed to be. That made it a bit puzzling, as well as made me wonder, not why humanity would abandon their gods, but why they would be so eager to acquiesce and accept these new ones — on their own word, as it were. I picture many humans saying “Who sez, buster?”
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As a species I find it remarkable how acquiescent we can be sometimes! Thank you for reading 🙂
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Good story Iain
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Thank you Di
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It is true they are dwindling… IT is the perfect place to start a movement.
I really enjoyed this, Iain.
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Thank you Dale, much appreciated
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Well done! I don’t like them already, and I think I like her better … 😉
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She seems like a good person to be following at this time!
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Yep
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Dear Iain,
I find it gratifying that the leader at the end is a woman. Perhaps we have learned something after all. 😉 Intriguing story. Reminds me of a TZ episode where neighbors turn on each other when they’re street is cut off from the rest of the world. Two ET’s at the end agree that they don’t have to attack earth. Given the right set of circumstances, the earthlings will turn on each other and destroy themselves. Food for thought, eh?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I have no doubt in our ability to destroy each other without any outside help! Thanks Rochelle
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This reminds me of something from the Lovecraft mythos, the Great Old Ones, the old evil gods.
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Thank you
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She is bringing a profound school of thought. She is going beyond the narrow boundary of earth and galaxy and truly becoming global. Even if government bans her group, truth will eventually come out.
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Thanks
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Today a small band, tomorrow a growing one. Fiction or prediction?
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It could be the Brexiteers regrouping, or the Remainers!!
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It’s amazing how easily humans can be trained and led by the nose.
Thankfully, there are always a few who resist.
Great use of the prompt, Iain. Very creative and imaginative story.
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Thank you Russell
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The last bastion, the seed of a new beginning. Nice one!
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Got to start somewhere!
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Yay rebellion against alien rulers. My kind of story haha. Well done. I can see the dwindling churchgoers happening though.
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If aliens do come and take over, I don’t see the church goers as being our saviours, but the buildings might come in handy 😉
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Good point
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Nice read
Strange
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Thank you
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Ooh, well, if that isn’t the start of a sci-fi novel it damn well should be! Loved this Iain
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After I get the last of my trilogy out the way, I’ll be needing a break from sci-fi for a while! Maybe in the distant future I will be ready to take on some aliens 😉
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Ha! Yes, plenty of work to do before then I’m guessing. You’d be good at aliens though, if this snippet is anything to go by
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“We will fight back!”
Hmmm. reminds me of something! Another lady who had the same attitude. 🙂
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I can’t imagine who you are thinking of… 🙂
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LOL! Yeah, must just be my imagination.
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Yes! Love the ending. Loved it all, actually. Good writing!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Very believable. Judging from global population trends, Islam is/will be in the best position to push back against secularism.
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They do certainly seem to be the most deep believers, for better or worse.
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An absorbing plot, suggesting a godless future with one woman’s challenge. Made me reflect on actual regimes where a particular faith was suppressed, yet believers kept the flame burning. Well written.
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Thank you, those believers have such a strong faith, I’m not sure I could live up to those standards.
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Now, that, I LOVE! Great Story. As long as ONE still believes… just saying! 🙂 ❤
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Thank you – there will always be believers 🙂
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That was great Iain! Can’t help but think this could be the start, or perhaps the end, of a novel length story.
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Thanks Russell, certainly could be a springboard
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Reminds me of HG Wells or Jules Verne stories. It’s true religion is dwindling in the west. However, it is human nature to believe in something higher than themselves, be it aliens, science or universe. We just swop one god for another.
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Love both of those authors, thank you Fatima 🙂
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Oh I think the “we did” is more ominous than “God did”
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It certainly is ominous, thanks Bjorn
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Late to the party so all has been said. : (
Good story … Isadora 😎
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Thank you so much
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