Martyrdom in Paxism
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Martyrdom in Paxism (Packilvanian: luTashiyashalvishme) is the act of sacrificing one's life for Paxism. This entails committing an exemplary act under the threat or risk of death which results in death. The Magisterium lists recognised martyrs upon recognition by the Supreme Magister. Although martyrdom is listed as one of and among the highest of the paths of Assimilation and the greatest of acts of righteousness in the Writings of Paxism, the nature, form and intention which underpin it are hotly contested in Paxist circles. Venerated Martyrs can be buried in a Majhid and have a dedicated commemorative feast.
Veneration
The Magisterium of Paxism has an official list of martyrs known as the Roster of the Most Noble Martyrs of the Faith (Packilvanian: luTaqabad ameTashiyashalvatan meNabeel meBas). The Supreme Magister alone has the authority to venerate a Martyr. He often accords this veneration from the recommendations of the Council of Great Magisters. Veneration affords the individual a posthumous title. The individual may be buried in a Majhid (Paxist house of worship) and an official of the rank of High Magister and higher may declare a Commemorative Feast in honour and memory of the martyr.
Criteria
Criteria to be a Martyr vary by sect but the Magisterium of Paxism's Council of Great Magisters passed the Veneration of the Martyrs Bull (Packilvanian: luBuleem aluWaloofiya ameTashiyashalvatan) in 1934 in which the criteria for inclusion were outlined. The criteria drew from the opinion by Supreme Magister Rulwaad II in 1896 entitled the Recognition of the Sacrifice of the Martyrs (Packilvanian: luNazrafiya aluTashiya ameTashiyashalvatan). It stipulates that:
The criteria goes on to describe that the person must have been aware of what they are doing. They must have dedicated their cause to the benefit of the Faith and the believers, this can be through a formal oral declaration or a written document, or who was known to have been a faithful believer and whose intention can be reasonably construed from the context. The person must not have been doing the act for their own glory, but for humble service. Furthermore, the person must not have been attempting to spread arbitrary violence. The act acknowledges that death is not always the intention of the martyr but a consequence of their resistance to "evil" and thus accounts for such cases. They must have actually died as a direct result of performing an Exemplary act of faith (Refer to section below for more details).
Cause of the One Faith
The Cause of the One Faith (Packilvanian: luMuhima aluSlamiya luIkhtimiy) refers to the interest and mission and purpose of belief in Paxism. It is a collection of missions and purposes that are suitable for recognition of excellent faith and for recognition of martyrdom. These are also called Exemplary or Venerable Deeds. They must have been done under the threat of death or despite the risk of death and having resulted in actual death. These are expressed in the following actions:
- Protection of the life of another
- Preaching of the true and one message of the Faith
- Refusal to commit apostasy, idolatry or other grievous sin under the duress of another.
- Protection of a religious relic, artefact or place from hostile
- Advancing by advocacy the rights of the faithful or the safety of its holy relics
- Showing mercy to another, even if undeserving
- Performing an act of worship or praise to the Most High
- Contrition for committing or on behalf of those who commit grievous sons against the Most Beneficent and Sapientkind
Controversies
There are disagreements among Paxists about what constitutes a valid Exemplary Act for which martyrdom is permissible. Some schools teach that someone who dies in armed combat for whom the mission of the war or battle is a cause of the One faith. Other scholars believe that death by the detonation of an explosive device or in an incindiary act for the sake of destroying a heathen government or heathens and heretics who are harming believers or threatening the religion is a just cause for recognition. Others consider these acts as expansionism and terrorism and consider them unworthy of veneration. For the most part, the Magisterium has been reluctant to recognise martyrs who are associated with the aforementioned acts.
Notable Martyrs
A disproportionate number of people who have been recognised and venerated as Martyrs died during the reign of the Packilvanian Communist Party. The Magisterium of Paxism has been reluctant to recognise the deaths of people who have died under the Paxist dynasties (the Iktanite, Zubraynite, Demirite, and Bedonite dynasties) as martyrs because they believe that it is not possible to legitimately resist a government that is ostensibly obedient to the Magisterium for disobedience to the Magisterium. They agree that there may be a just cause for which the person ends up dying but that just cause (e.g., Civil Rights) is not a Cause of the Faith. The following is an inexhaustive list of Martyrs:
- Eron Dohal was the Director of the Packilvanian State Security Agency and former head of intelligence of the Carriers of Mercy. He was recognised because he rescued millions of humans from genocide by the Packilvanian Communist Party and for his self-imalation in atonement for his complicity thereto.
- Lashmiya Sahaldek was a nun who was executed by the Packilvanian Communist Party for her fervent preaching of the Message of Noi even after she was arrested and abused.
- Arkhanaden Wansuljin was killed by the Packilvanian Communist Party for smuggling thousands of Paxist artefacts that were going to be destroyed by the Packilvanian Communist Party which are today housed in the Temple of the Preservation.
- Princess Terjin of the Demirite dynasty for refusing to renounce her faith after the Packilvanian Communist Party threatened to execute her.
- Gabraal Furkhameed, a member and judge of the Packilvanian Communist Party who was executed for refusing to cast judgement on believers.
- General Khumandeer Bansayam of the Imperial Army of the Demirite dynasty who allowed himself to be perforated by a volley of gunfire in protection of children
- Lord Khenam Parkhadeem, the Earl of Porheed, who was stoned for refusing to throw his Bas Magdamar into a burning pyre built by the party to burn all copies in the town of Exnahad.
- Sameed Qabal-Ibrafiya who froze to death after leading an evacuation of believers from a prison camp in the Jumhur Mountains.
- The Persham Field 100 were a group of 100 people who continued to hold a prayer ans worship service even as the People's Liberation Army was attacking.