Magisterium of Paxism
| Part of a series on |
| Paxism |
|---|
 |
The Magisterium of Paxism also known simply as the Magisterium is a religious organisation which was founded in 980 CE by High King Melkezedek the Great to prevent the proliferation of heretical writings and practices within Paxism. It traces its legal identity and mandate to the Bingolian Additions to the Vagumar (see Writings of Paxism for more information) made by High King Melkezedek and approved by a conference of religious scholars who met in Bingol in 980 CE known as the Council of Bingol. The Magisterium is a distinct structure from the Priesthood in Paxism, but in Packilvania and in countries where Melkezedekists established roots, the priesthood is subsumed under the Magisterium.
Important documents
Scripture: According the Magisterium, the only recognised Scripture is the Bas Magdamar. The Bas Magdamar is one of the Writings of Paxism. It consists of the Ichtmar, Vagumar and Bingolian Additions made by the Council of Bingol and High King Melkezedek. Scripture is the official and sole religious text recognised for use in temples and universities run by or affiliated with the Magisterium.
Bulls: Bulls are documents which contain a detailed explanation of the interpretation of a religious matter by a recognised Magister and form part of the Canon law of Paxism. Bulls are binding unless they are overridden by a Bull issued by a Magister who is ranked higher than the Magister who issued it or until the same Magister who issued it issues another Bull which overrides it. When two Magisters of the same rank issue Bulls which contest each other, a more highly ranked Magister is required to decide which one is valid. They do this by issuing another Bull accepting the Bull they approve. The Magisterium has put in place a system of peer review, whereby only Bulls which have been approved by two other Magisters are recognised and added to the Catechism, otherwise they are relegated to Opinions.
Decisions: Decisions are any written document which documents the ruling of a Magister on a case. Whereas Bulls cover an entire topic, Decisions cover a specific case.
Opinions: Opinion is any written document thatis not recognised as part of Paxist religious law. An opinion is written by a Magister and the same Magister can state that it is merely opinion and they do not issue it as a bull.
Hierarchy
Supreme Magister: This is the highest official in the religion currently Tawak Mudawaheen. They are elected by other members of the College of Great Magisters. They chair and convene meetings of the College of Great Magisters and their Bulls override Bulls and their Decisions override Decisions issued by all other Magisters thus they have supreme power over the Magisterium.
Great Magisters: Great Magisters are elected by a sitting of the College of the Great Magisters. Great Magisters also outrank all other Magisters except the Supreme Magister. They control a Domain. Their duties include appointing and dismissing Magisters, excommunicating adherents, receiving appeals and ruling on cases.
High Magisters: High Magisters are appointed by a Great Magister. They control a Diocese and they outrank all Magisters within their Diocese. They have the power to appoint and dismiss Senior Magisters.
Senior Magisters: Senior Magisters are appointed by a High Magister. A Magister has to be a Senior Magister in order to control a Ward and they outrank all the Magisters within their Ward. Some Senior Magisters do not have control over a specific ward but nevertheless outrank normal Magisters.
Magisters: Magisters are the most basic tier. They have the power to issue Decisions and Bulls. They support and hold Priests under the Magisterium's authority accountable. Priests have to be trained and inducted under a Senior Magister. In most cases, a Senior Magister will be a professor at a university or seminary with authority over the education of Magisters. upon qualifying with a Bachelor degree or equivalent in Paxology, one will be recognised as a Magister.
Priests: Priests are the second oldest religious leaders under Prophets. There are priests who do not fall under the Magisterium's authority. However, a Magister can recognise a Priest and their Parish as though they are approved by the Magisterium. This gives them permission to approach the Magisterium for protection and resources. In the same vein, a Magister can strip them of their recognition. Priests maintain temples and lead their Parish (group of Paxists in an area who meet regularly).
Prophets: Prophets are the oldest form of religious official recognised in the history of Paxism. Specifically, Besmali is regarded as the first known prophet as he is the first whose existence is attested by historical and archaeological evidence. Prophets are almost always only recognised as such decades or even centuries after their death. This is because to be a prophet one must make a warning and/or prediction or perform a miraculous supernatural act. The prediction or warning must come true or the supernatural act must be recognised as real. The first point is the easiest to prove but the second is the hardest and it is becoming much more rare for the Magisterium to recognised prophets based on supernatural acts. No prophet has been recognised in over 100 years.
Administrative divisions
The Magisterium contains the following administrative divisions.
A Domain is the highest level and it is governed by a Great Magister. The list of Domains are as follows:
| Domain | Country | Seat | Great Magister |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ukanar-Kemer | Packilvania | Kemer | Yashuhad Mudawaheen |
| Fidakar | Packilvania | Halaler | Axatuhal Mudawaheen |
| Rigaryat-Gezer | Packilvania | Derengol | Yebehed Faduheed |
| Jumhurikesh | Packilvania | Everyet | Kestel Obayahed |
| Ashura | Packilvania | Akas Akil | Jhrahadoon Qasailari |
| Iganar | Packilvania | Zukaril | Akhamast Mudawaheen |
| Mekedesh-Bingol | Packilvania | Bingol | Ipahad Mudawaheen |
| Kharyat | Packilvania | Yukader | Lanad Akidek |
| Free Pax States | Free Pax States | Kuter Kebir | Leonard Palmer |
| North Allegheny | Allegheny | Kandarahan | |
| South Allegheny | Allegheny | Danaanshtar | |
| Great Morstaybishlia | Great Morstaybishlia | Sani Bursil | Salazar Manley |
| Drakkengard | Drakkengard | Vaskar | Ristron Zubayev |
| Phoenixia | Phoenixia | Wermont | Jynno Qaz |
| Cereneria | Tokapa | Mikaere Karuhiruhi | |
| Western Aurora | Aura | Hayden Stone | |
| Eastern Aurora | Akhalibisi | Viran Ashravili | |
| Greater Concord | Matthews | Evan Lee | |
| Eastern Yasteria | Volkgoroda | Duran Elendil | |
| Novaris | Luthernburg | Caster Dunwiddy | |
| Arcturia | Iphelstad | Wilhelm Hansen | |
| Gondwana | Nuvrenon | Bronin Andros | |
| Sempiterna-Olune | None | Bingol | Gurion Undar |
Politics
The Magisterium is a highly diverse organisation. The Magisterium is so decentralised and nationalised that some would call it a Confederation of religious bodies broadly sharing the same belief system. In reality, the Magisterium in each country promotes different values and navigates the politics of its country differently such that they are hardly similar.
For instance, the Magisterium in Packilvania is usually seen as promoting the conservative, authoritarian, nationalistic and militaristic values of the Bedonite dynasty. Conversely, the Magisterium in the Free Pax States is seen as progressive, liberal and inclusive. Furthermore, different Magisteriums have to deal with different contexts. The Magisterium in Packilvania and to a lesser extent in Drakkengard operates under the tyrannical rule of Sultan of Packilvania Namdun III whereas the Magisterium in Free Pax States operates in a liberal democratic society with freedom of religion.
In some ways, the Magisterium in Packilvania is complicit in the Sultan's authoritarian rule through allowing its parishes to exercise administrative duties on behalf of the state, its continued operation of a religious police, and its continued staffing of religious courts. Others argue that the Magisterium in Packilvania is harassed, underfunded and severely monitored. By contrast the Magisterium in Free Pax States supports LGBT rights, women's rights, minority rights and environmental causes. Sometimes, it is criticised as too liberal by other Paxists or even too closely linked to the Packilvanian government by conservatives in Free Pax States, and its members have been persecuted.
Aside from the local issues and contexts that the Magisterium is faced with, there are also conflicting interests at a global level. There is a push by the Magisterium in liberal democracies to promote women and members of the LGBT community to positions on the Magisterium. The Magisterium in Conservative countries continues to oppose these reforms. Vested economic interests are also an influencing factor as some countries have their Magisterium supported in part by commercial and political interests, leaving them exposed to external political and commercial forces. Others completely and solely rely on donations and fundraising to get by. Thus, there are ongoing debates about how resources are shared and whether to accept aid from one part of the Magisterium because of political differences with the governments and businesses that fund them.