Akronism

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The diamond is the symbol of the goddess Akrona, the goddess of the Akronist religion. Orange is considered to be the sacred color of Akrona. This shade of orange, as well as a solid version of the diamond symbol, feature on the flag of the Acronian Empire.

Akronism is a monotheistic religion practiced predominately in the Acronian Empire, where it is the established state religion. It is centered on the belief in and worship of Akrona, the goddess held by the faith to be the protector of all life on Urth. Adherents of Akronism almost exclusively belong to the Church of Akrona, the only formally established organization of the Akronist faith. As of 2017, the Church of Akrona counted 47,297,005 members both in good standing and not in good standing, with all but 1,208 of those also being citizens of the Acronian Empire. The figure of 47,295,797‬ Acronian citizens who are members of the Church is equivalent to 99.8% of the population of the Acronian Empire as of that country's 2017 census.

Beliefs

Unlike the gods of many other monotheistic religions, Akrona is not considered the creator of the universe or the creator of life on Urth. Adherents believe that Akrona entered into existence at a finite point in time after the creation of the Universe, although this exact time is unknown. The identity of the creator of the universe and the source of life are both considered "mysteries" for the faithful to consider on their own. Many Akronists do not believe there is a divine explanation behind the Universe at all, instead believing the theory the Big Bang and in evolution, neither of which are held to be in opposition to Akronist teachings. Akrona is titled "the Protector of Life" and "the Benefactor." As put by the Matron - the leading official of the Church of Akrona - in 1954, "the Goddess Akrona is not the creator of life, but she is its custodian." She is believed to see and know everything where there is life and to guide the destiny and course of life for all living things. Akrona's domain is over both animal and plant-based life.

The Church of Akrona holds that the country now called Acronis has been particularly blessed among nations as Akrona's chosen people. Indeed, the country Acronis is named after Akrona. The word "Acronian" first referred to a follower of the Akronist religion, before it was used to indicate a nationality. While the exact date is not certain, the Church holds that sometime between 1470 and 1480 AD, Akrona appeared from the sea before a group of seven bathing women and blessed them, charging them with a mission to spread her word and her blessing. This event, known as "the Emergence," is considered to be the moment in time in which the Akronist religion began, but it is not the moment in time in which Akrona began her custodianship of life on Urth. There is a group of Akronist religious and historical scholars who have dedicated themselves to determining when this moment occurred, known as the Seekers of the Assumption. The Seekers of the Assumption were formed in 1504 and have been extant since. They have never released a report to the public.

The primary religious teaching in Akronism is thankfulness. Akronism teaches believes to be thankful to Akrona for her stewardship and protection and to express this thankfulness in everything that they do. The Church of Akrona commands that members pause their work to verbally thank the Goddess for something seven times a day. For members of the clergy, this is increased to seventy-seven times. Those who are properly thankful of Akrona, the Church teaches, will have their own work more appreciated by the Goddess.

Akronism also teaches members to respect and protect life in their own actions and words. As life is Akrona's responsibility, to act against life is to act against Akrona. As such, members of the Church are commanded not to kill any land animal for any reason, including for sustenance. Plants, while also held to be alive, can be eaten so long as they are grown specifically for the purpose of sustenance and proper rituals of thankfulness are performed upon their planting, during their harvest, and before consumption. As such, plants that grow in the wild are not considered edible. However, the Church of Akrona holds that a person who is dying of starvation may consume wild plants, or animals who have died of natural causes, in order to preserve their own life. There is one exception to the Akronist ban on eating meat: seafood. As Akrona emerged from the sea, it is believed that everything within the sea is a gift from Akrona to the people of her chosen nation. Fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and any animal that lives entirely within the water may be eaten. The commandment to respect and protect life also means that Akronists are forbidden from recreational hunting, and the death penalty, euthanasia for people and animals, and abortion are banned. The Church does allow for the termination of a pregnancy in the event that the lives of both the mother and unborn child are in mortal peril, but only with the permission of a member of the clergy.

Actions in self-defense are considered to be acceptable under the command to respect and protect life. If a person is under attack and in danger of losing their life, they may act to protect themselves with any force needed to protect their own life. However, any member of the Church who kills any person or animal in self-defense must undergo a ritual of penance that requires isolating from the outside world for a period of 28 days, spending that time fasting and praying. This doctrine is also used to justify the existence and actions of the Acronian Armed Forces.

Worship

A local temple in the city of Crystal Coast, Acronis

The primary act of worship in Akronism is to thank Akrona. Traditionally, Akronists verbally thank Akrona upon waking up in the morning, upon eating each of three meals, and upon going to sleep. The Church commands the faithful to find at least two other reasons to thank the Goddess each day, for a total of seven things.

Formal worship services are held in temples according to a lunar calendar. The day of the full moon is reserved exclusively for the worship and celebration of Akrona. As such, businesses in Acronis typically close and work is commanded to stop on this day, except for work considered to be essential for the protection of life - such as hospitals, pharmacies, and providers of food and water. Worship services are led by a priestess at dusk on the day of the full moon at local temples all across Acronis. These services typically involve several group prayers, the singing of religious hymns, and the priestess speaking to the attendees about how to apply the teachings of Akrona in their daily lives. For Akronists who are not in Acronis or near a temple, they are expected to go outside at the time of dusk and say a particular prayer known as the Canticle of the Benefactor. Akronists who are not physically able to attend temple or go outside - for reasons such as physical handicap or being held against their will - are encouraged to say the Canticle wherever they can, but especially at a window or some other place they can see outside, if possible.