A/N: Okay folks, here goes nuthin'. I want to preface this by saying this is a hot-button, often controversial topic, and is merely an outpouring of my own ramblings on the matter. It is in no way intended to belittle or nullify anyone's beliefs, and if there are those who find it in any way offensive, please accept my humblest apology, for that was certainly not what I had in mind.

This is actually a follow-on (or prequel really) to the chapter I did entitled 'Home for the Holidays – take two.'

This is dedicated to my dear friend T'Paya – my advisor and mentor for all things spiritual. I may not be able to live up to all her expectations in this area, but over the last few years she has given me much to contemplate – in the best possible way imaginable. :D You see, my dear – I have been listening most attentively. ;-)

Momentous Moments

"Spock," she called softly. "All done?"

"Yes, Mother," he answered politely, respectfully.

"Teeth brushed, face washed?" she asked playfully.

"Yes, Mother," he reiterated, unsure as to why she found it necessary to repeat herself – not literally, of course, but the second question had been implied by the first.

She patted his sheets, beckoning him to come and join her where she was seated on his bed. He complied, dutifully sliding his legs beneath the covers, leaning his back against the pillow, waiting expectantly for her to continue. "Are you excited about tomorrow?" she asked finally, a hint of a smile playing about her lips.

"I do not understand," the seven-year-old responded. "Tomorrow marks the most sacred holiday of the Vulcan people, celebrated universally across the planet, but it is not a time for excitement; rather for personal introspection and reflection. A way for Vulcans to appreciate the sacrifices and wisdom of our ancestors, which led to our acceptance of total logic as the basis for our current way of life, and as a means to preserve our culture; a way to prevent the total annihilation of our race – the path that was sure to follow had we continued to allow ourselves to be ruled by our passions."

"It sounds to me like you understand perfectly," his mother answered with a hint of pride, "But did you know that this year the Vulcan holiday of Gad Kaunsh'es corresponds with a significant holiday on my homeworld as well?"

The youngster considered that for a moment. At this point in his life he was only familiar with two Earth holidays – Christmas and the Fourth of July. A quick mental calculation to compare the two calendars, allowing for the differences in rotational times and the length of an orbital year for each world told him unequivocally that neither one was correct. "I did not," he replied truthfully.

"Well, the holiday in question is Easter. It is a religious holiday, celebrated by many different sects all across my home planet, but in a way, it is quite similar to Gad Kaunsh'es," she informed him, a twinkle in her eyes.

"Indeed," he responded in all seriousness. "I was not aware humans had ever attempted to cast out their animal passions," he finished with no small measure of surprise.

She chuckled softly. "Oh, Spock, they aren't similar in a literal way, but figuratively."

He raised an eyebrow at that, silently waiting for her to clarify her statement.

"Both represent a rebirth, of sorts. You already understand the rebirth commemorated by the Vulcan holiday. I wish to explain to you the meaning behind this holiday from my planet," she announced. "While Gad Kaunsh'es represents the intellectual rebirth of the Vulcan people, Easter represents rebirth for humans, both literally and figuratively. It is meant to commemorate the literal rebirth of the man Jesus Christ three days after he was crucified, but also the figurative rebirth of the human race," she continued.

Spock struggled to remember the name. "Jesus Christ was the child whose birth is commemorated on Christmas is he not?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Why would a child whose birth was deemed so important have been crucified later in life, Mother?" Spock had studied some of Earth's early history. He knew this was a particularly barbaric and cruel way to be put to death, and was often used for what would be considered minor crimes by today's standards.

"There are those who believe He was the Son of God, and He was sacrificed as a way to offer salvation for any of Earth's people who believed in Him."

The boy's dark eyebrows flew up in surprise. "Is there proof of this claim?" his logical mind asked. "How can one be the son of a mythical being?" For one whose life experiences were dedicated to all that was tangible, that which could be seen, touched, or explained through science, it was a most challenging hypothesis to grasp.

"There are many on my planet who do not believe God is mythical, but that He does exist, despite the fact that no one has ever seen Him. That is the primary tenet of faith. As for Christ, believers on my world see the teachings outlined in the Bible as proof of His lineage."

Spock considered this bit of information as well. The Bible was one of many religious works from his mother's world, other notable teachings being the Koran, the Tanakh, the Book of the Dead, and the Bhagavad Gita to name a few. "The Bible is a text many millennia old," the young man offered astutely, "often copied by hand by scribes who themselves were unable to read or write. Those who could were often given the task of translating the work in question into another language. How can we be sure that what was written so long ago has been accurately portrayed throughout the ages? And given that there are a significant number of religious texts on Earth, spanning numerous belief systems, how can we know with certainty which is correct?"

"That's the definition of faith, my son. It's not really important to know which is correct. All may be correct or incorrect in their own way. The importance is simply to believe in something, to have faith in that belief and draw strength from it."

"Forgive me, but I do not follow how these two holidays, these two principles, relate to one another. One is based in fact while the other is strictly conjecture."

"Do we know that for sure? Isn't it possible as well that that which has been written and passed down through the ages regarding the teachings of Surak and the casting out of emotions on this world have been distorted over the millennia? Or that the teachings of the Bible are accurate and come down to us without change? For those who believe this to be true, that is the epitome of the concept of faith."

"I do not understand. Please clarify this concept," the child asked, nonplussed.

"Faith is not based on something concrete, but rather is a belief not resting on logical proof or material evidence," his mother explained patiently.

"Then how is one to conclude that the events described are indeed, fact?"

"That's the biggest mystery of faith, for it doesn't come from without, but within."

"How is that possible?"

"On my world, belief in a Supreme Being stems from individual faith that despite not having seen this God, He does, in fact, exist."

"And why would one choose to believe such a thing without absolute proof?"

"It depends on your personal definition of 'absolute proof.' To Vulcans, who pride themselves on their logic and ability to explain all things rationally, it means believing only in what they can see, whereas humans sometimes believe in the intangible." At her son's look of confusion, she pressed on. "They look for ways to explain those feelings of unease that niggle at the back of your brain, perhaps dissuading one from getting on a Maglev train that later crashes, killing all aboard, or the person who wakes up one day, miraculously cured from a debilitating disease that modern medicine couldn't treat. How do these things come about? There is no logical explanation, and there are many throughout the galaxy who attribute these things to faith – whether it be in the form of a Supreme Deity, the belief that ancestors who have passed on watch over and protect future generations of their families, or a concept that we have yet to learn."

"I do not comprehend the meaning of this lesson, Mother. Vulcans do not practice a belief in faith, so how is this knowledge meant to impact me?"

"I'm just trying to open your mind to the wide variety of viewpoints expressed throughout the galaxy. I didn't bring this up in an effort to undue all the concepts and philosophies you have learned to date, but to make you aware that a diverse assortment of sentient life allows for just as many differing points of view, all of which seem quite normal and natural to the races who subscribe to them. Just as logic and the casting out of emotions worked for the Vulcan people, faith can and has proven to be a powerful tool for others. Unfortunately, differences in faith can also lead to horrible tragedies, to huge misunderstandings between people who cannot see eye to eye because their basic ideologies differ from one another.

"I just want you to realize that in some things, there may be more than one answer, and that each may be right in its own way. That just because we can't explain something, or understand it fully, that doesn't make it wrong by default."

A frown creased the youngster's brow. "It is a complicated concept," he admitted finally, confusion swirling in the dark eyes that met hers.

"Agreed," she conceded. "And declarations of faith, or what one group of people considers to be of supreme importance can often be difficult for others to comprehend.

"There will come a time in your life when your experiences are not solely limited to this planet, or how Vulcans view the world around them," she announced prophetically, "and you will therefore need to understand that there are many philosophies throughout the galaxy; that all races and sentient beings need to be mindful and respectful of these differences if we are to be able to live together in harmony."

The confusion suddenly lifted from the youthful face. "It is much like the concept of IDIC," he declared resolutely.

"Exactly. It was a lesson it took us a long time to understand and master on Earth, and is a lesson that is now being played out in the galaxy as we encounter more and more intelligent life. As Vulcan's Ambassador to the Federation, your father must juggle ideas such as these on a daily basis. They influence how he interacts with those around him, and rightly so. Faith may not be logical, but it is of great importance, especially for those who have it, and we must never forget that."

The boy pondered that in silence, sliding farther beneath his blankets and laying himself down upon the mattress. His mother pulled the covers up around him, smoothing them across his slender form.

"Just something to remember and consider during your reflections and private meditations of tomorrow," she stated softly, climbing to her feet, switching off the lamp, and pulling his bedroom door closed gently behind her.