Clarityism: Difference between revisions

Clarityism (Chiarezzismo) is a henotheistic religion originating from the beliefs of [[Fortunan Mythology]]. Clarityism is one of Urth's smaller religions, but it plays a major role in the Fortunan Archipelago where it was first founded. Most followers consist of Fortunans with around 35,000,000 followers worldwide, the majority located within Fortuna and the Aspirian Isles. Clarityism was formed based off the works of Guiliano Bardi where Unus, one of the creatorsmajor gods of Urth, created the islandsAspirian now known as the Fortunan ArchipelagoIsles as a haven for his chosen people. In recent years Clarityism has been used by the Fortunan Government to set High Commander Tristan[[Tristano LytleLyone]] as a deity, also known as "The Chosen One" by Claritists, based off of a prophecy by the prophet Leonardo Marchello.

Clarityism was first formed off the works of the prophet Guiliano Bardi in the early 9th century who received visions and prophecies from thean unknown being Unus. Following his first recorded vision, Bardi left his home in Emili and set off on a journey onthrough themainland mainlandYasteria to better understand who sent him the vision. During his 10 year trip, he experienced other religions such as Islam and Christianity while continuing to receive dreams and visions, all of which he recorded. Once his journey came to an end, Bardi came to believe that the one who spoke to him was Unus, the main deity from Fortunan Mythology. He came to believe that the people of Fortunathe Aspirian Isles were Unus' chosen few to care for, such as other parts of the world had their own higher beings to take care of them. Upon arriving back to Fortunathe Fortunan Archipelago, Bardi set to work compiling all of his findings, visions, and dreams into a book to be morebetter clearer to understandunderstood, hetitling wouldthe later name itbook "The Book of Clarity: A Clearer Understanding of Unus' Plan for Us," better known as simply "The Book of Clarity."

Within this book, Bardi first explains that there are multiple deities around the world based around the regions of their followers. He further twists Fortunan Mythology to where theirthere is onjust one major deity, Unus, that controls the fate of Fortunathe Aspirian Isles instead of the multiple small deities. Also in the book Bardi shares his visions and prophecies, manythat ofhe whichreceived tieduring into presenthis eventstravels. In 851, Bardi published his book and beganworked diligently in having it distributed throughout the islands, all alongthe preachingwhile alongtraveling between the streetsislands to further teach his beliefs. Many people began following Bardi and spreading the ideas and beliefs of the book across the archipelago, manyfavoring beginningthe toteachings favorof its beliefsBardi over their previous religions. By the 860s, Bardi gained thousands of followers who found this new religion more clearer and understandable for FortunansAspirian inhabitants. By his death in 864, his ideas had spread to every corner of the archipelago, marking the beginning of Clarityism.

With the ideas and beliefs set by Bardi beginning to firmly root itself into Fortunanthe region's culture and backed by King Valence III of Fortuna, religious leaders decided to come together to set thea base offor Clarityismthis new religion. In 968, religious leaders from around the region came to the Council of Destino where the base of Clarityism was set such as who was head of this religion, which days were to be kept holy, and which chapters should be put in or removed from the Book of Clarity. One of the major debates that took place during the council was on whether there was more than one higher deity, and if so who should they worship. Within Bardi's writings, he accepts that there were other beings at work in other places of the world suchbut asthat GodUnus forshould Christianity,be Allahthe forone Islam,worshiped andas finallyhis Unusdomain forwas over the Aspirian FortunansIsles. Bardi also put the many goddesses of Fortuna as merely lower deities of Unus who acted as servants, this was of concern as Unus and the goddesses were heldusually considered at the same level. Through much debate and a few leaders walking out, these beliefs were accepted asa canon for Clarityism was finally solidified. The council would last six months of tiring debate and discussion, but by June, of 968 the base of Clarityism was founded and the first high priest, Ferdinand I, was elected to lead this newly created religion.

Following the Great Civil War in the 1640s, a young noble and noted nationalist by the name Leonardo Marchello started receiving dreams which he interpreted to be visions from Unus himself. Within his writings, Marchello describes that in the future a great leader would rise up and reunite the islands as they were before. Marchello states that Unus allowed for the split of Fortuna as a punishment for becomingthe toorampant lenientcorruption and leniency towards outsidersoutside beliefs, but a time would come where Unus would reveal "The Chosen One" as a sign of forgiveness. In 1657, Marchello had his writings distributed and personally presented himself to the current Highhigh Priestpriest at the time, declaring himself a prophet of Unus.

Marchello's writings quickly led to controversy, especially around his self declaration as a prophet, with many stating that Marchello was merely delusional due to the war. However, many of those who were disheartened by the split of their nation accepted Marchello's writings as canon, believing and hoping in The Chosen One's arrival. These people became known as Marchellic Claritists, who demanded the church to raise Marchello up to the level of Bardi and demanded that his writings to be placed into the Book of Clarity. Fearing that their hope in a reunited nation would lead to revolution and chaos, religious leaders in the church, many of who were heavilyunder influencedheavy byinfluence of the three separate governmentsaristocracy, denied these demands and instead declared all Marchellics as no longer part of the church. Although they believed that the split of Fortuna was a form of punishment by Unus, they also believed that it was up to mankind to make claims in an effort to change Unus' mind. Instead, Fortunans were to continue down the path laid out by Bardi all the while assuming Marchello as a fraud. These Claritists became known as Bardic Claritists who stayed faithful to the original teachings.

Following Marchello's death in 1672, a little less than one tenth of Claritists were Marchellic while the rest considered themselves Bardic. Bardic Claritists would remain to be the more popular denomination due to its support from the three existing countriesaristocracy, however this would later change intoin the 1900s as Marchellic Clarityism quickly gained more popularity withinwith the rise of nationality and later Tristano Lyone's rise to Fortunapower.