Religion in Packilvania
Packilvania is a highly religious country. Paxism is the official religion and is practiced by the overwhelming majority of the people in the country. There are various religious communities in the country. Some of them have official recognition including having special status. Packilvania has at least a hundred religions practiced within its borders. 98% of the population is Paxist. Religious minorities are allowed to practice publicly in areas designated by the Sultan. A religious law enforcement body exists which ensures that religious laws are enforced but its powers are highly limited in cases involving religious minorities within designated autonomous zones. There are 58,576,349 adherents of minority religions and none have more than 2 million adherents.
Paxism
In terms of the Constitution of Packilvania, Paxism is the official religion. The Sultan of Packilvania is required to be a Paxist and to rule Packilvania according to Paxist values. Nevertheless, the Sultan is allowed to recognise and afford special protections to religious minorities. Although not mentioned in name, the version of Paxism that is recognised by the state as the true version is called Melkezedekism specifically Madvinism. Currently there are 1,148,096,458 adherents or 95% of the population.
Paxism originates from Packilvania. It was an unwritten religion which had many variations and forms. In 2036 BCE, the first attempt at codifying and uniting the religion was spurred by Prophet Besmali who wrote the Ichtmar. Despite resistance from his contemporaries, his followers continued practicing and proselytising the version of Paxism espoused in his teachings and writings, spreading the religion to other parts of the ancient world. In 1100 BCE, Suleiman of Yehudah, ordered Jerome of Damaclion to compose a second book called the Vagumar which was a collection of writings from Besmali's followers as well writings from Suleiman of Yehudah himself. These writings were approved by a council held in the city of Adrien as a valid religious scripture. In 980 CE, High King Melkezedek the Great ordered scribes to compose another book because he felt that paganism was creeping into the religion and that a religious government needed to be established to oversee the religion. From this arose the Bas Magdamar. Not all Paxists ascribed to the version of Paxism that his new book prescribed and they called themselves Yehudists while those who followed Melkezedek called themselves Melkezedekists. Through the political power of Melkezedek and his successors, most of the Yehudists were purged from Packilvania either through pogroms or forcible exile to foreign nations. In 1150 CE, Prophet Sohadek stated that a human would become the highest religious figure of and reunite the realms of Bakil, spawning a primarily humanocentric movement within Melkezedekism known as Sohadekism. It was used by Saidun the Conqueror to reunite Packilvania under a human-dominated government in 1675 CE. In the 1800s, Prophet Madvin, a prominent Magister predicted that a Feline would become Sultan and portended the fall of the human Demir dynasty. In 1918 CE, the human government was overthrown by the Packilvanian Communist Party led by Gideon Muktan. Thus, Paxism lost its special status and faced persecution. Its position as the state religion was restored in 1985 following the end of the Second Packilvanian Civil War by which Sultan Amhoud I reestablished a Paxist-dominated political system. In part to differentiate himself from the Communists and to reward religious minorities for their contributions, they received special status and protections which they have enjoyed ever since.
The Magisterium of Paxism in Packilvania is the organisation responsible for administering and overseeing the Paxist religion. While not a state entity, the Sultan and the Magisterium have an agreement whereby the Sultan upholds and supports the Magisterium in return for the Magisterium obeying and respecting his rule as well as that of the Bedonite dynasty. The highest official and head of the the Magisterium of Paxism not only in Paxism but all of Urth is the Supreme Magister currently Tawak Mudawaheen, a Packilvanian from Jumhurikesh. There is a part of the judicial system dedicated to Paxist related issues with Religious Appeals Courts staffed by judges appointed by the Sultan on the recommendations of the Magisterium's College of Great Magisters. Furthermore, there are courts of first instance specialising in religious matters. The country also has a religious police staffed by Magisters which enforces religious laws. The religious police has been accused of using extrajudicial procedures. Laws exist prohibiting Paxists from acting in ways that violate religious dogma and restrictions exist on other religions on the extent to which they can practice or proselytise.
Akuanism
Akuanism (Packilvanian: Akhanshme) originates from Central Borea (modern day Nystatiszna also known as Zaraar in Packilvanian) and during pre-syncretism with Ulvriktru. It was primarily a animist religion with a mixture of native Borean folklore however after it's syncretism in the 700s it started to included more pantheism elements. The religion entered into the historical record in 4th century BCE; with possible oral traditions dating back to the 1nd millennium BCE. It makes use of spirits or Brandisen which in Akuanist tradition are supernatural entities believed to inhabit all things, including manufactured and sapient-created objects or places. For example, Ny'amberock is an artificial lake which hosts over dozen spirits in its shrine. Vodkaniate is reserved for incredible powerful spirits or gods, example being the religion namesake Akua who protects her children (Urthians).
Akuanism has long history within Packilvania, with several of the oldest Akuanist text indirectly featuring the land in Akua's adventures. While the historical evidence shows that Akuanists settled in the northern reaches of the empire in late 790s CE, several religious texts make use of several mythological creatures from Paxism and natural landmarks found within Packilvania. Although settlements only occurred after the 790s, Akuanists interacted with Paxisn since mid 500s CE. In their early history, relations between Paxism and Akuanism were mostly benign, with practitioners of either religion sharing the same communities and taking part in each other's tamer rituals. Notably Pax priests gave assistance to the creation of Temple of Vindens Pust in late 960s CE thus historians often cite this as a example of the early cordiality between them. However historians debate the authenticity of the event, with several letters originating from Pax priests in the region discussing a variety of issues which were attributed to Akuanists such as increase drunkenness among the poor. Then later during the reign of Melkezedek the Great, started to establish the policy of restricting Akuanists movement and required brewmasters to be registered with Packivanian officials. Then later in 983 CE he required that brewmasters be approved by local officials and then travel to the capital to kiss the feet of the sultan. During Saidun in 1675 CE the hitherto amicable relationship became heavily strained, with Akuanism firmly rejecting any from of human-supremist ideals promoted by the new Sultan. This resulted in harsh reprisals and discriminatory laws targeting Akuanists but not out-right banning the religion. Later in his reign, Akuanists were required to live in only select quarters of cities and were not permitted to enter the city center or the markets. This forced Akuanist merchants to only sell within their own quarters.
During the communist take over of Packilvania, Akuanists pilgrims and brewmasters made the track of march towards the capital. Shouting sayings such as "Akua bless Muktan and the communists!" or "Akua watches over us" mistakenly believing that the new communist regime would lessen many of the harsh restrictions on Akuanists placed by the Demir dynasty. Instead they faced further persecution and arrested the brewmasters who organized the march. They later began the process of demolishing Akuanists shrines and temples through the quarters, including the important Temple of Vindens Pust. As a result, Akuanists became one of the first religions to align itself with Amhoud I during the Second Packilvanian Civil War. While traditionally Akuanists are incredibly pacifistic, the destruction of the Temple of Videns Pust caused such a uproar that brewmasters began openly endorsing the Bedonite dynasty in order to combat the communist government.
Im the modern day, Akuanism is a still present in the northern reaches and with moderate assistant from the Packilvania government. They have completely rebuilt the temples and shrines previously destroyed, while many of the artifacts and foci are forever lost to history. The Association of the Servants of Akua routinely grades the temples and shrines within Packilvania as some of the highest on Urth. Currently there are 1,928,416 registered Akuanists within Packilvania, primarily but not exclusively Kemonomimi in origin and the Association maintains a "special relationship executive" to help act as a middle man between the brewmasters and Packilvanian government officials. The current special relations executive, Kjellaug Elstead is a well-established figure within the local Akuanist community and keeps maintains ties with Packilvanian Akuanist priests in the country. The Akuanist Religious Appeals Court seated in Everyet, Jumhurikesh, receives appeals from and has jurisdiction over all Akuanist Religious Courts in the country.
Akronism
Akronism (Packilvanian: Akhranashme) is a monotheistic religion that originates from Tavaris (Packilvanian: Tavarash). The religion is believed to have been established between 1470-1496 CE when its titular deity, Akrona, allegedly appeared to seven bathing who went on to document and propagate her teachings and establish the Church of Akrona, over which they ruled as the Elders under the leadership of the Matron. The Church of Akrona in Packilvania is responsible for administering the affairs of Akronism in the country. The Akronist Appeals Court in Abdeker, Ukanar, is responsible for receiving appeals from Akronist Religious Courts. The judges of the Akronists court system are appointed by the Sultan and in line with the law in part on the advice of the Church of Akrona in Packilvania. As with other religious minorities, Akronists are forbidden from proselytising. Furthermore they are only allowed to practice their religion publicly in designated sections of a few cities in the province of Ukanar. Moreover, the Church of Akrona in Packilvania was required to sign an agreement with Sultan Amhoud I at the end of the Second Packilvanian Civil War swearing allegiance to the Sultan and the Bedonite dynasty. Senior members of the Church of Akrona in Packilvania have been appointed as delegates to the Consultative Assembly of Packilvania to represent the interests of their people once a year.
In other countries that host a sizable Akronist presence, the Church of Akrona often operates chains of hotels under the auspices of Crystal Hoteliers International, the Church's for-profit hospitality company. In Packilvania, however, the Church significantly curtails these endeavors to comply with local law and custom. There are only two Church of Akrona-owned hotels in Packilvania, both of which are located in legally-designated Akronist districts in Ukanar province. Unlike in other regions, Akronist holy texts such as the First Edicts are not placed in individual rooms, and are kept at the main desk, only to be provided to guests at their request.
In recent years, Church observers have noted a growing gap between Packilvanian Akronists and Akronists from other regions—primarily Tavaris and Metradan—on the issue of Communism. While the Church of Akrona readily signed the agreement with Sultan Ahmoud I after the Second Packilvanian Civil War, over the course of the 20th century, and especially into the 21st, Tavari Akronism began to gradually shift leftward in political orientation. Legally, until 2021, the Church of Akrona maintained political nonpartisanship and regularly made agreements and arrangements with governments of all affiliations around the world, but the Akronist ideals of egalitarianism, feeding the hungry, and sheltering the homeless, naturally gravitated many in the Church to left leaning, particularly socialist, political ideologies.
Over decades of political and social oppression from the non-Akronist majority in Tavaris, Akronists in Tavaris—including in the upper echelons of church governance—began to identify with Theocratic Socialism as a way of expressing Akronist religious ideals in the political sphere. This stood in stark contrast to Akronists in Packilvania, who remained steadfastly opposed to Communism not only as a marker of civic loyalty to their government but in opposition to the brutal Communist regime that had threatened their entire way of life, and existence altogether. To those who had been born and raised in Packilvania, the system of granting special districts and religious courts to religions including Akronism was not a restriction but a guarantee of survival and a legal enshrinement of their right to exist and to practice their faith; both of these were placed under threat by the rise of Communism among Akronists in Tavaris. While the Church has focused its outright political efforts to the country of Tavaris, the question of what will happen to political Akronism if the "Acronis question" is ever answered in Tavaris has placed the future of Akronism among anti-Communists in such places as Packilvania in doubt.
Tunseism
Thaerism
Lunarism
Ulvriktru
Ademarism
Ayalism
Clarityism
Vayanism
Vayanism (Packilvanian: Vayanashme) is a religion that originates from Vekaiyu. It was founded by Saint Aiya. It believes that a male human by the name of Jesus Christ (who is both the sole Progeny and Incarnation of the Second Hypostatis of their Trinitarian Deity) came to Urth and was crucified by other humans but was resurrected from the dead and rose to heaven. Vayanists believe that this human will return at an unknown date to fight an evil creature who have ruled the Urth. The eschatological roots of Vayanism and Paxism are extremely similar such that academicians such as Dr Pilom Akud of the University of Adrien have promoted the idea that Vayanism and Paxism arose from the same belief structures. Others such as Lord Anud Dural suggested that Vayanism and Paxism point to the same deity, messiah and creation mythology.
Vayanism entered Packilvania through the travel of Vulpines in Central Yasteria between 300 and 1400 CE. Today is it well cemented and is practiced in Jumhurikesh whose capital Everyet is also the seat of the Vayanist Religious Appeals Court. Vayanism has two branches: Vayan Catholicism and Voxian Catholicism (which is practiced in Listonia), but in Packilvania, Voxian Catholicism is regarded as part of Vayanism thus it is subsumed under Vayanism institutions despite the fact that they are different. Petitions to recognize Voxianism as its own religion have failed.