Religions (Terra Cognita)

Hellenism
For more detail see Hellenism (Terra Cognita)

Hellenism belongs to the religious branch called Gentilism.

Believers of Hellenism are known as Hellenes. It is the predominant religion in Romania, Cambria, Hibernia, Francia, Africa, Sicilia, Morea, Acolua, Goa, and Wallachia.

Hellenism is a reformed belief system from the polytheistic classical Graeco-Roman tradition. Hellenism is a polytheistic, substance monistic, monolatric, henotheistic and panentheistic religion, based on the teachings and writings of Flavius Iulianus, Iamblichus, Plato, Numa, Pythagoras and Sallustius among many others. Hellenism is largely philosophically backed by Iamblichean Platonism. Hellenism believes that the noblest ambition is to imitate the Gods by having the fewest possible needs and doing good to the greatest possible number.

Hellenism believes that the supra-essential principle is the One, the supreme and unknowable Godhead which manifested the Cosmos through the overflowing emanation of its superabundant goodness. The One is of a singular, unitary nature and is totally transcendent, being beyond the quality of Being ( Ousia )

Hellenism believes that below the One is a hierarchical pantheon of Gods, who are lead by the three suns:The first sun is Aion, the One reflected in the Intelligible Realm which acts as its ruler. Aion gives rise to the quality of Being and can only be worshiped through silence. From Aion comes the Magna Mater, the Mother of the Gods, who births the following Intellective and creative Gods and co-reigns as both the mother and spouse of the second sun. The second sun is Zeus-Helios, who reigns as the King of the Gods, ruling over the Intellective Realm. He is the Celestial Demiurge, the creator God brings the superabundant goodness of the One into order through His shaping of the Phenomenal Cosmos through His Logos. The third sun is our own Visible Sun, the pneumatic vehicle of the Celestial Demiurge that we naturally reach out to when we pray towards the heavens.

Hellenism believes that under the Celestial Demiurge lies various realms with a variety of Gods residing in each, with the three Intelligible Realms divided by Zeus-Helios through the zodiac to create 12 divinities that rule the Hypercosmic Realm in the Phenomenal Cosmos, who are then divided by again to create 36 Deacons who rule the Encosmic Realm, who are then divided a final time to create 72 Hylic Gods in the Sub-Lunar Realm, a portion of the Encosmic Realm where we resides, which is ruled over by the Sub-Lunar Demiurge. Among these Gods are also a wide variety of guardian divinities of particular individuals and nations.

Hellenism believes that the human soul is immortal and a fallen divinity, and that salvation is attained through theurgic rites, ritual activity (such as prayer and sacrifice) which through imitation of the Gods aims to perfect oneself to achieve union with the divine, or  henosis.

Hellenism believes in the reincarnation of humanity as continued by humanity and denies the reincarnation of humanity into beast, but only from human into human and on.

Principles in Hellenism:
 * The Gods exist.
 * The Gods concern themselves with things of this world.
 * The Gods are responsible for all kinds of good and are responsible for no evil or injury, neither to humankind nor one another, being without jealousy, envy or enmity.
 * Upon death reincarnation of the soul is directed by the Gods into successive bodies to fulfill divine order.
 * Humans can only reincarnate as humans
 * Gods refuse the sacrifices of those who approach Them with "unwashed hands" (without ritual purity)
 * Preoccupation with Castitas and Pollutio is a significant feature of Hellenism
 * Castitas (ritual purity) is essential for every human being to maintain, especially during worship, as otherwise all of their spiritual work is fruitless
 * Pollutio or Miasma is a spiritual pollution or lingering aura of uncleanliness
 * Miasma results from transgressions against the Natural Law
 * Natural Law is disturbed or diverged, we weaken our own receptiveness to the benevolent light of the Gods
 * Sacrifice brings us into henosis, or union with the divine, and rids us of Pollutio
 * Prayer, sacrifice, and virtue lead us back to the light of the Gods
 * Virtue comes from good works and good deeds, such as charity and kindness

Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism belongs to the religious branch called Aryanism

Believers of Zoroastrianism are known as Zoroastrians. It is the predominant religion in Persia, Kurdistan, Zazaistan, Alania, Avaria, Circasia, Tsetsenia, Nogaia, and Albania.

Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest continuously practiced religions. It is a heterodox yet orthopraxic faith centered in a dualistic cosmology of good and evil and an eschatology predicting the ultimate conquest of evil with theological elements of henotheism, monotheism/monism, and polytheism. Ascribed to the teachings of the Iranian-speaking spiritual leader Zoroaster, it exalts an uncreated and benevolent deity of wisdom, Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), as its supreme being.

The most important texts of the religion are those of the Avesta, which includes as central the writings of Zoroaster known as the Gathas, enigmatic ritual poems that define the religion's precepts, which is within Yasna, the main worship service of modern Zoroastrianism. Zoroaster proclaimed that Ahura Mazda was the supreme creator, the creative and sustaining force of the universe through Asha, and that human beings are given a right of choice between supporting Ahura Mazda or not, making them responsible for their choices. Though Ahura Mazda has no equal contesting force, Angra Mainu (destructive spirit/mentality) is considered the main adversarial force of the religion standing against Spenta Mainyu (creative spirit/mentality), whose forces are born from Aka Manah (evil thought).

Asha (truth, cosmic order), the life force that originates from Ahura Mazda, stands in opposition to Druj (falsehood, deceit) and Ahura Mazda is considered to be all-good with no evil emanating from the deity. Ahura Mazda works in gētīg (the visible material realm) and mēnōg (the invisible spiritual and mental realm) through the seven (six when excluding Spenta Mainyu) Amesha Spentas (direct emanations of Ahura Mazda) and the host of other Yazatas (literally meaning "worthy of worship"), who all worship Ahura Mazda in the Avesta and other texts and who Ahura Mazda requests worship towards in the same texts.

In Zoroastrianism, the purpose in life is to become an Ashavan (a master of Asha) and to bring happiness into the world, which contributes to the cosmic battle against evil. Zoroastrianism's core teachings include but are not limited to:
 * Follow the Threefold Path of Asha: Humata, Huxta, Huvarshta (Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds).
 * Charity is a way of maintaining one's soul aligned to Asha and to spread happiness.
 * The spiritual equality and duty of the genders.
 * Being good for goodness' sake without hope of reward
 * Ahura Mazda is the Supreme and Universal God, He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent
 * Zoroaster is the prophet of Ahura Mazda
 * The world is battle ground between good and evil forces; the good will ultimately triumph and the evil forces would be destroyed
 * Death is as a result of the spirit leaving the body. The sanctity and purity of the body is lost once the spirit leaves it.
 * Upon death the Spirit is led to the Chinawad bridge, where an angel assesses its actions and decides whether it should go to the heaven or hell for a temporary residence till the Last Judgment Day.
 * At the end of current cycle of 3000 years, Ahura Mazda will destroy the evil forces in a final conflagration and herald the Judgment Day.
 * On Judgment Day He will resurrect the dead and subject their lives to another scrutiny.
 * Those pious and obedient to His instructions will obtain eternal life in heaven and the rest will be condemned to an eternal suffering in a purgatory.
 * Yasnas (sacrificial rituals) are important observances and the best means to communicate with Ahura Mazda and His entities

Christianism
Christianism belongs to the religious branch called Abrahamism

Believers of Christianism, or Christianity, are known as Christians. It is the predominant religion in Syria, Grecia, Cappadocia, Armenia, Jorgania, Slavenia, Gepidia, Egypt, Makuria, Dalmatia, Lombardy, and a notable minority in Cerola

Christianism is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Its adherents, known as Christians, believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and the savior of all people, whose coming as the Messiah was prophesied in the Hebrew Bible, called the Old Testament in Christianism, and chronicled in the New Testament. It is principally found in southeastern Europe, northeastern Libia, and western Asia.

Christianism began as a Second Temple Judaic sect in the late eighth century in the Roman province of Judea. Jesus' apostles and their followers spread around Syria, the Levant, Europe, Anatolia, Mesopotamia, Transcaucasia, Egypt, and Ethiopia, despite initial persecution. It soon attracted gentile God-fearers, which led to a departure from Jewish customs, and, after the Fall of Jerusalem, AUC 823 which ended the Temple-based Judaism, Christianism as a religion began.

Emperor Constantine the Great converted to Christianism (AUC 1065) and decriminalized it in the Roman Empire by the Edict of Milan, later convening the Council of Nicaea where Early Christianism was consolidated into what would become the State church of the Roman Empire until the reign of Julian the Philosopher. The Church of the East split after the Council of Ephesus and Oriental Orthodoxy split after the Council of Chalcedon (AUC 1204) over differences in Christology.

The creed holds the belief in Jesus as the Son of God — the logos incarnated — who ministered, suffered, and died on a cross, but rose from the dead for the salvation of mankind; as referred to as the gospel, meaning the "good news", in the Bible (scripture). Describing Jesus' life and teachings are the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John with the Jewish Old Testament as the gospel's respected background.

Its main points include:
 * Belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit
 * Believers are saved by grace; Salvation cannot be earned by human efforts or good works
 * Those who reject Jesus Christ will go to hell forever after they die until the Day of Judgment
 * All people have sinned
 * The Bible as the Word of God
 * The Bible in its original manuscripts is without error
 * Jesus is the only way to God the Father
 * Worship no other God but God. Do not make images to worship.
 * The death, descent into hell, resurrection and ascension of Christ
 * The holiness of the Church and the communion of saints
 * Love God with all your heart, soul and mind.
 * Satan is the antagonist of God; Hell is a place of punishment ruled by Satan
 * Christ's second coming, the Day of Judgement and salvation of the faithful
 * Christians will be raised from the dead when Jesus returns
 * God is infinite and eternal. He has always been and will ever be God

Islamism
Islam belongs to the religious branch called Abrahamism

Judaism
Judaism belongs to the religious branch called Abrahamism

Manichaeism
belongs to the religious branch called Aryanism

Isiacism
info soon

Buddhism
Buddhism belongs to the religious branch called Dharmism

Hinduism
Hinduism belongs to the religious branch called Dharmism

Shintoism
Shintoism belongs to the religious branch called Taoism

Shenism
Shenism belongs to the religious branch called Taoism

Vodunism
Vodunism belongs to the religious branch called Mulungism

Badimism
Badimism belongs to the religious branch called Mulungism

Katondism
Katondism belongs to the religious branch called Mulungism

Andriamanism
Andriamanism belongs to the religious branch called Mulungism

Unkulunism
Unkulunism belongs to the religious branch called Mulungism

Heathenism
Heathenism belongs to the religious branch called Gentilism.

Vedism
Vedism belongs to the religious branch called Gentilism.

Romuvism
Romuvism belongs to the religious branch called Gentilism.

Tschidism
Tschidism belongs to the religious branch called Manitism

Gaihwism
Gaihwism belongs to the religious branch called Manitism

Lalawithism
Lalawithism belongs to the religious branch called Manitism

Believers of Lalawithism are known as Lalathins. It is the predominant religion in Hasina and Osajia and has a minority of adherents across central Hesperia.

Lalathins believe that Aasha Moneto, the Lord Above, or Master of Life, Good Spirit, is the supreme and only God. Xinesi, the priests of the religion, commune with the Lord Above and direct much of society. Priests drink a purifying sacrament made of wild olive leaves. The belief holds a largely conservative world-view and sees European and the northeastern Hesperian traditions as 'great evils', forces for the Evil Spirit. Alcohol is forbidden among other 'Eastern Morals'. The belief in an apocalyptic end of the world where the Evil Spirit and his followers will be destroyed is a pinnacle belief of the religion.

The religion was founded in the late 2453 in Shaouenia by Lalawethika and developed a strong following in Central Hesperia.

Lalawethika had a series of religious visions that transformed his life and led him to reject his old ways. He experienced his first vision when he fell into unconsciousness during one of his alcoholic stupors and was thought to be dead. Unexpectedly reviving as his body was being prepared for burial, he recounted a powerful vision of two different worlds, one filled with ample blessings for the virtuous ones who lived as the Master of Life intended, while the other world was filled with pain, hardship, and terror for those who refused to follow His ways.

Lalawethika became known as "The Prophet," began preaching and gathered a growing number of followers. He soon emerged as a powerful and influential spiritual leader. More visions followed in succeeding months, including revelations that the Europeans from the east were "the children of the Evil Spirit" and the Ganonsians in league with the Evil Spirit. Lalawethika denounced the Roman traders and influencers and decreed that Gaihwism was bad for the soul.

The Prophet's developing purification movement caused him to urge his followers to reject European habits, such as consumption of alcohol. Lalawethika also encouraged his people to follow traditional gender roles (such as women as farmers, men as hunters and warriors). He accused his detractors, and anyone who associated with the Romans, of witchcraft, and virtually the entire nation of Ganonsia as well. For Lalawethika, witches remained the most active agents of the evil spirits on earth, and he sought to identify and destroy them, culminating in the Great Hesperian Witch Trials.

Lalawithism would diminish in Shaouenia after a failed war with Ganonsia saw The Prophet perish and Shaouenia's hopes for territorial regain from Ganonsia withered. The religion would find a following in Iowe and Illiniwe as well as creeping into Comancheria. Lalawithism would prove to have no staying power in those Hesperian states however, save for minority status. It was in Hasina and Osajia that the belief found root and it would come to dominate those nations to this day.

Lalawithism has today decidedly moved from its Shaouenian origins and taken much of its flavor from Hasina and Osajia, linguistically especially.

The belief holds that for a true believer to gain the virtuous life as a Spirit they much shun the ways of the Evil Spirit. The teachings of The Prophet are paramount: Alcohol must never be consumed, the wisdom of the Xinesi must be heeded, traditional gender roles must be adhered to. European ways must be shunned - much of "modern society" is part of this and it is expected that a true believer will shun popular music and culture, as it stems largely from those societies guided by the Evil Spirit. The family and community must be taken care of and one is expected to live a virtuous life.

It is believed that when the world was created Aasha Moneto gave the world to the Hesperian peoples and that the Shaouenian in particular were the first of the First People. Other peoples came into being by Modchi Moneto's machinations.

Its main points include:
 * Aasha Moneto, the Lord Above, is the only God and the savior of the world
 * Lalawethika is Aasha Moneto's Prophet and Messenger, contacted by the Lord Above to save the Chosen People, the Hesperians, from damnation by the Evil Spirit
 * Those who reject The Prophet's message will spend eternity in a world filled with pain, hardship, and terror
 * Those who accept the Prophet's message will spend eternity in a world filled with ample blessings and bliss
 * The Prophet's words are the words of Aasha Moneto
 * Modchi Moneto is the Evil Spirit, intent on corrupting the Chosen People and damning them for eternity
 * Modchi Moneto is aided by the corrupting forces of The East
 * Lalawethika will return with Aasha Moneto to banish the Evil Spirit and the world will be destroyed, made again as an blissful world for the Chosen People.