IAIN KELLY

SHUTTERED

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.’


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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.


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61 responses to “SHUTTERED”

  1. Reena Saxena Avatar
  2. trentpmcd Avatar

    Hmm, that “We did” makes me much less like to believe anything they said… Kirk to “God” – “Why does God need a starship?”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It would again come down to the fact that we wouldn’t be able to prove it either way.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. trentpmcd Avatar

        Good point

        Liked by 1 person

  3. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. pennygadd51 Avatar

    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?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m sure not all of them would, although it does seem that the numbers are decreasing, especially in the western countries. Thanks Penny.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. pennygadd51 Avatar

        You’re right that numbers are decreasing, but I think that there is a tendency for those who persist to be more fervent.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. ceayr Avatar

    Good story.
    Not sure there is much difference between the aliens and religious organisations.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I view them as one and the same…

      Liked by 2 people

  6. granonine Avatar

    The seeds for another book series, Iain?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, I will need to finish the first one before thinking about that! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Eugenia Parrish Author Avatar

    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?”

    Like

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      As a species I find it remarkable how acquiescent we can be sometimes! Thank you for reading 🙂

      Like

  8. pensitivity101 Avatar

    Good story Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Di

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Dale Avatar

    It is true they are dwindling… IT is the perfect place to start a movement.
    I really enjoyed this, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Dale, much appreciated

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar

    Well done! I don’t like them already, and I think I like her better … 😉

    Like

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      She seems like a good person to be following at this time!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. rochellewisoff Avatar

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I have no doubt in our ability to destroy each other without any outside help! Thanks Rochelle

      Like

  12. Nobbinmaug Avatar

    This reminds me of something from the Lovecraft mythos, the Great Old Ones, the old evil gods.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Abhijit Ray Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    Today a small band, tomorrow a growing one. Fiction or prediction?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It could be the Brexiteers regrouping, or the Remainers!!

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Russell Gayer Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Russell

      Like

  16. draliman Avatar

    The last bastion, the seed of a new beginning. Nice one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Got to start somewhere!

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Yay rebellion against alien rulers. My kind of story haha. Well done. I can see the dwindling churchgoers happening though.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      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 😉

      Like

      1. Laurie Bell Avatar

        Good point

        Liked by 1 person

  18. Lynn Love Avatar

    Ooh, well, if that isn’t the start of a sci-fi novel it damn well should be! Loved this Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      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 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        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

        Liked by 1 person

  19. joyroses13 Avatar

    “We will fight back!”
    Hmmm. reminds me of something! Another lady who had the same attitude. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I can’t imagine who you are thinking of… 🙂

      Like

      1. joyroses13 Avatar

        LOL! Yeah, must just be my imagination.

        Liked by 1 person

  20. The Abject Muse Avatar

    Yes! Love the ending. Loved it all, actually. Good writing!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Like

  21. magarisa Avatar

    Very believable. Judging from global population trends, Islam is/will be in the best position to push back against secularism.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      They do certainly seem to be the most deep believers, for better or worse.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Woman walking Max Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, those believers have such a strong faith, I’m not sure I could live up to those standards.

      Like

  23. bearmkwa Avatar
    bearmkwa

    Now, that, I LOVE! Great Story. As long as ONE still believes… just saying! 🙂 ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you – there will always be believers 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Russell Avatar

    That was great Iain! Can’t help but think this could be the start, or perhaps the end, of a novel length story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Russell, certainly could be a springboard

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Fatima Fakier Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Love both of those authors, thank you Fatima 🙂

      Like

  26. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    Oh I think the “we did” is more ominous than “God did”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It certainly is ominous, thanks Bjorn

      Like

  27. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar

    Late to the party so all has been said. : (
    Good story … Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much

      Liked by 1 person

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