Mauism

Mauism is the majority religion in the Oan Isles, Asian Pacific Islands and the Kohatu Isles. It is practiced by small communities of Oan expatriates and descendants living in Morstaybishlian and other Auroran countries.

Mauism originates around 1000 years ago, when Ahua the Great united the Polynesian Peoples and became the Emperor of Polynesia. It is regarded as a branch of Abrahamism, but it diverges so heavily from the main tenets of the Abrahamism religion and other Abrahamic religions that some scholars believe that it is a different religious branch altogether.

Deities and prominent beings

Mauism teaches that there is an all powerful, all knowing and all present supernatural and infinite being called the Creator (Atea). Atea created the Universe and all that is in it and guides the evolution of living things. Atea is believed to be holy, self-sustaining and fully independent, eternal, immutable and immortal. It is believed that Atea created two types of sentient beings: angels and humans. In Mauist philosophy, humans are seen as all sentient physical beings regardless of species. This includes Lupines and other beings which live in the physical universe. Atea inhabits the non-physical universe.

Angels are spirits. They consist of angels of light and angels of darkness. Angels of light are holy and good and they serve Atea. Angels of darkness are malevolent and wicked, leading humans to evil and destruction. The Chief Angel of Darkness is the Accuser who attempted to usurp Atea as the sovereign of the universe, but was defeated by the Angels of Light. One of the Angels of Light is Maui. Maui was appointed by Atea is the Protector of the Polynesian people and the intermediary between them and Atea. Maui also cares for and transports the spirits of the Polynesian people to the Place of Waiting when they die.

Creation

Mauism posits that Existence consists of the physical universe including Urth and the non-physical universe. Sentient physical beings called humans for simplicity regardless of species live in the physical universe while angels – spiritual beings primarily but not exclusively inhabit the non-physical universe. Mauism posits that Atea controls and directs the growth, change and destruction of the physical and non-physical universe according to their will.

The non-physical universe consists of three dimensions or aspects: Heaven, Hell and the Void. Heaven is the place of light and life where the Angels of Light and Atea primarily live, while Hell is a place of suffering and darkness where nothing lives. Unlike most Abrahamic religions, Mauism believes that Hell is empty and that the Angels of Darkness and the Accuser live in the Void, an unlit and empty portion of the non-physical universe.

Eschatology

The Mauist religion teaches that Atea will destroy and remake the universe and expunge from it the corruption that the Accuser brought. In this process, the Accuser and all evil will be cast into the destruction of Hell. Unlike other Abrahamic religions, Mauism does not believe in the Day of Judgment where humans and angels will be judged and transferred to either heaven or hell.

Mauism holds that all humans and angels of Light will be reincarnated and placed in the new universe according to their deeds in life while in the Present Universe. They do not believe that human souls or angels will be cast into eternal damnation. Nevertheless, they believe that the end of the universe will be characterized by increased hardship and difficulty arising from an evil regime that the Accuser’s human agent, the Destroyer, will institute across the inhabited physical universe.

Human life and morality

Mauist sects have wildly divergent views on human life and morality. There is no central point by which human deeds can be easily judged Nevertheless, they are united in the general philosophy that morality is a natural predisposition to all beings that reflects the foundational tenets of divine law. Some scholars have tried to guide human thinking through propounding various models and views such as utilitarianism, emotivism and Consequentialism to guide human morality. Mauism holds that Human Morality is subject to Logical Reasoning and Consistency. They hold that humans are intrinsically morally upright beings who have been corrupted by the temptation of the Accuser.

Humans can overcome the darkness in their hearts through faith, prayer and good deeds. Mauist believe that good and bad deeds and thoughts enrich and diminish the immortal soul respectively. They exhort people to pursue goodness in their deeds and thoughts as this will determine their position and glorification in the New Universe. Mauism teaches that ultimately, human life is concerned with the following Five Purposes: Emulate Atea, Glorify Atea, Serve Atea through serving humans and nature and Spread the news of Atea.

Rituals and ceremonies

Mauists hold that their intermediary is Maui. Thus, they direct their prayers to Atea through Maui. Prayer is very informal and there no rules for praying or worship. Different sects encourage different practices. Some sects encourage dancing and singing, other encourage incense and others encourage gifts to an idol of Maui. Mauism encourages like minded believers to gather frequently, sharing the Good News, exhorting each other to do Good, counseling and supporting one another. In practice, Mauists form small organizations and meet regularly. Some organizations have fixed place such as a building or a field while others meet in different places such as the home of a member.

Members believe that some people are imparted with special supernatural gifts such as the ability to foretell the future, to discern and cast out Angels of Darkness, to interpret and speak in Angelic Languages, and to impart supernatural healing of injuries and disease. This has led to a wide range of people promising a variety of services with other building cults of personality. The Oan government has clamped down on some of these to discourage extremism or harm to People’s lives. Special days which mark special religious occasions are celebrated as holidays. One of most important days is the Day of the Crown, when Maui, in the form of a Spix’s macaw, gave Ahua the power to unite the Polynesians and taught him about Atea and himself.

Relations with other religions

Mauism believes that each group of people has a different Angelic Protector and their relationship with Atea is different based on the teaching of their respective Angelic Protector. Thus, they hold all Atea-centric religions as being legitimate and rights. Thus, Mauism has highly positive relationships with other religious beliefs and traditions. Most people in the Oan Isles and other Polynesian countries practice a form of Mauism and syncretism with another religion.