Well, this got finished fast, didn't it? :D Anyway, I am sorely running out of questions. So if any of you have an offer, I'd be glad to take them! I had way too much fun writing this. I actually used a fake religion from the culture of an alien race I created (it was the dumped species of my first alien OC, but I decided to revamp it recently :3) but didn't use all the details. So I hope you also enjoy that!

EDIT: I updated some inconsistencies in this chapter; and have done so with other chapters as well. Thanks to Cyan Quartz for mentioning it; because I had actually kept pretty horrible notes for this in the start and ended up contradicting myself! So, they're mostly cosmetic fixes.

PART 7: Religions

"What is wrong with the question?" Zim asked.

"Religion can be a… uh… hard thing to discuss usually. They sort of just… I don't know, sprung up. Depending on what region you were born in depended on the religion you followed at first. Christianity is the most common as of now. But there are A LOT more. You'd have to read several books on them all to understand each one, and I don't know enough to try and explain them all."

"Why is it so important to you humans?"

"It just is. I'm not debating this with you, Zim."

"Why?"

"Why? Haven't you ever seen even ONE thing on the news about a religious dispute? Or even heard about any? They get nasty. A lot of wars in human history were started over religion. We've gotten better, but we're still pretty dull-minded about just respecting that someone is from a different religion if you ask me."

"Zim is."

"Then I just answered another question."

"…Zim will research on his own if he is still curious then."

"Do Irkens have a religion?" Dib asked suddenly. Zim gave him an odd look.

"Of course. What doesn't?"

Dib raised his hand sheepishly. Zim gave him a confused look. "We call not believing in, or having a religion, atheism. Though, I think I'm more agnostic? I don't really believe in God; I believe in Science and I believe science can explain anything."

"Is that not the same?"

"It's… it's complicated."

"Ah. Well, to most other alien societies that can be argued as a form of belief and therefore religion. But on to your question… Irkens do have a… what is the Earth term… "God"?"

"That's the one."

"Yes, well, we do indeed have our own "god" that we worship. We do not focus on it publically, is all."

"Is that why I've never seen you even make a motion to a higher being than your Tallest? You don't publicize it?"

"Exactly. It can be insulting to flaunt your belief into another's face. It caused unnecessary wars, so it was made law that we shouldn't flaunt it, but instead keep it to our own Irkens and ourselves. It has worked wonderfully, but resulted in most races believing we are "atheist" as you put it."

"I can see why. If you never even mention it, how is someone supposed to think that you do have a god?"

"I just figure it does not matter to them. It does not affect their lives in the least."

"True. Want to elaborate on it for me?"

"No."

"Why not?" Dib asked sadly.

"That would be flaunting it. It is against my laws to flaunt it around."

"But I actually want to know," Dib stated flatly, feeling slightly offended at this point. Zim raised an antennae skeptically.

"…Very well. Zim supposes he can make an exception this once. We worship a single god that can detach into several others at will and still retain its original form."

"…WHAT?"

"…It can… uh…" Zim started speaking with his hands, trying to find the right human words to describe the process. Dib smiled at the comical motions. "…Zim is lost on words."

"Keep trying, I got time," Dib said coolly. Zim gave him a short glare.

"It can… I suppose the closest to it would be it has "children" that it controls. Some are for elemental purposes before Irk was all metal such as the ocean's behavior, the weather, the sun's heat, and the seasons. Others explained such things as "envy", "love", and "greed"… a similar example would be Hinduism.. Zim believes that is the one with the thousands of gods."

"Heck if I know, I could never tell the two apart."

"Zim does not know what you mean by that. Nevertheless, it-"

"Why do you keep calling him, an "it"?"

"…Because there is no set gender."

"..Oh."

"That should have been obvious enough for you, Dib-stink," Zim stated. Before Dib could retort, Zim went on. "We have holidays surrounding it, and a set day for worship. Of course, not everyone will remember to worship that day if they are busy, so there is a second accepted day. If you miss both then you must worship for three days in a row without interference."

"That's.. really specific."

"It is not to me."

"You're used to it," Dib stated flatly. "What about the possibility that they can't worship for a long time; like if they were in the hospital or something?"

"Then they are pardoned for the missed days of worship," Zim stated matter-of-factly. "I would assume that was clear enough."

"Then let me just changed subject a little. I don't understand how it can become multiple gods and still be one," Dib stated.

"Zim told you, it is similar to it having children in a way."

"Dib! Get off the computer with your weirdo eyeball friends or turn it down, I can't hear the damn TV!" Gaz shouted. Right after the volume went up. Zim set a hand on his antennae in irritation to block out the heightened noise.

"Sorry about her," Dib apologized.

"Why do you apologize for her? She is capable of doing the act herself."

"I just feel like I have to."

"Well stop, it is aggravating and shows weakness," Zim stated stubbornly. He set his wig back on his head. "..Better."

"…Okay, so you have a religion… how about belief in myths?"

"Irkens do not believe in myths-"

"What? You believed everyone was a monster on Halloween last year! Some of those costumes weren't even good."

"Silence!" Zim shouted.

"Shut up, she'll hear you, you dumba–"

"DIB!"

"Sorry!"

"Do not apologize to her, either."

"Zim, it's hard to break old habits."

"…True.." Zim seemed to consider something and then stood, re-disguising himself. "I have to go."

"What? Why?"

"The computer is requesting I return, Gir is giving him a hard time, and I have the waffles," Zim stated, exiting through the window above Dib's bed. Dib looked out the glass after Zim and noticed that it had gotten very dark.

"In that case, just come back tomorrow," Dib shouted after him. "…But leave Gir behind!"