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 Thaerism, but it diverges so heavily from the main tenets of Mainland, Reformed and Valerian Thaerism that some scholars believe that it is a different religious branch altogether - a claim which Polynesian scholars and spiritual leaders vehemently deny. In fact, they do not use the name Mauism but prefer the Insular Thaerism.
History
The Oan Isles and surrounding island nations largely practiced the worship of the ancestors, several gods and nature spirits. Their beliefs were varied and diverse depending on their needs and circumstances. From 700 to 900 CE, missionaries of Thaerism from Aurora landed on the Polynesian Islands and spread their religious beliefs. Many people converted to Thaerism but they disagreed on some of its tenets and continued to practice syncretism with their native religions. Several scholars held their own interpretations. The Purist school believed in sticking to Thaerism and disavowing other Deities and religions. The Moderate school called for a combination of Thaerism and folk beliefs. The Traditionalists believed that folk beliefs held precedence over imported ideals.
Around 1000 CE, the islands of the West and South Pacific faced many challenges such as natural disasters, population pressures and political disagreements which exacerbated religious differences. Ahua the Great was the leader of an influential tribe and his tribe was notoriously well-trained and had great ships. According to legend, Ahua the Great saw a vision of Maui in the form of a Spix Macaw which gave him the power to unite the Polynesian people, gave his bloodline the right to rule forever and taught him about the universe.
Ahua the Great used this to claim the divine right to rule. He brought together the teachings of folk religions and the Thaerist purists in a way that appealed to moderates and undecided people. People rallied around him and established a cult of personality. Many joined his forces and ascribed to his teachings. He eventually defeated most South West Pacific tribes and united them as the Oan Isles (named for Heaven, the divine realm of the Almighty Atea). The word for the Creator deity, Atea, is derived from the proto-Yasteruon word Thaer or Daer which was used in Aurora as the name for the Creator deity.
Prominent scholars arose who built on the beliefs that Ahua established. Ahua was venerated for bringing Thaerism to the Polynesian people and for the favour that Maui bestowed on him. Ahua's line has remained unbroken for a thousand years. People continue to see his descendant - the modern Emperor of Polynesia - as the head of the Mauist religion and spiritual Incarnation of Ahua the Great. Scholars such as Tamatea Waitangi, Aotearoa Marama and others shaped the modern religion. Each one supported a different school of thought or sect. Today, there are many sects and the Mauist religion is highly diverse.
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 is a Polynesianisation of the word "Thaer". 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.