Melkezedekism
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Melkezedekism (Packilvanian: luMelkezedekishme) is a denomination of Paxism. It was named after Melkezedek the Great of the Iktanite dynasty. Its adherents recognize the Bas Magdamar as the only one of the Writings of Paxism that is actually scripture. They also recognize the religious authority of the Magisterium of Paxism over the priesthood in Paxism, martyrdom in Paxism and the canon law of Paxism. They believe in pilgrimage to the Temple of the Authority, the lesser role of women in public life and religious affairs, and they abhor sorcery. Branches and offshoots have formed namely Madvinism, Sohadekism, and Saidunism. Some people who are Melkezedists such as Paxists in Allegheny and Emberwood Coast have pushed back against some of these beliefs.
History
In the late 10th century CE, there was a large fire that consumed and severely damaged the Temple of the Restoration in the city of Adrien. Melkezedek the Great was the High King of Packilvania at the time and largely left the structure in ruin. This greatly upset the clergy in Adrien and many believers in the realm who went to pilgrimage to a heavily damaged building. Prophet Tokhaydek proclaimed that the High King of Packilvania at the time was committing a sin by not repairing it and that his reign would be cursed. Priests caught wind of and supported this message, leading to rebellions. High King Melkezedek the Great then had the temple fixed, nearly expending all the funds that the monarchy had to run the country that year.
He decided that the priesthood in Paxism was too independent and rebellious of the Iktanite dynasty. He decided to summon a Council of likeminded scholars to Bingol, the capital city, to approve additions to the Vagumar, the most important of the Writings of Paxism at the time. These additions consisted of writings collectively known as the Bingolian Additions. They described a body called the Magisterium of Paxism that would be responsible for the oversight of the priesthood and assume judicial and governance functions over Paxism more broadly. His stated reasons are that he wanted to stem the proliferation and infiltration of heretical and pagan ideals. Modern scholars have largely concluded that his desire to exert political control over the priesthood was the driving force behind his reforms.
The scholars that were summoned to Bingol vote for and approved the additions to the Vagumar. They called the new document the Bas Magdamar and declared that no further texts could be added to religious scripture and that the Bas Magdamar as they described it was the only lawful text that could be used in the teaching of the religion. Through the issuing of religious edicts known as bulls, members of the Magisterium (magisters), developed the canon law of Paxism and began to persecute practices and entities that hitherto were accepted as part of Paxism. High King Thumim IV completed the Temple of the Authority, a large majhid that comprised part of the Bingol Royal Palace complex. It was to be the head office of the highest official in the Magisterium, the Supreme Magister. The majhid was declared by the Magisterium as one of the three sacred sites, along with the Temple of the Restoration in Adrien and the Memorial of the Jovian Gate in Ashura to which pilgrimage for able people at least once in their lives was compulsory.
Priest and scholar Nekhosar, a follower of Prophet Tokhaydek wrote in the early 11th century CE that people who followed the additions made under Melkezedek the Great and who followed the teaching of the Magisterium were Melkezedekists (followers of Melkezedekism), the first recorded use of the term. The term has become used by people in academia as well as people who are not followers of the Bas Magdamar and the Magisterium largely in the way that Nekhosar intended. The term is not widely used by adherents of Paxism who ostensibly follow the teachings of the Magisterium. The term was used pejoratively by authors such as priest and scholar Khunotar in the 12th century and librarian and scholar Bashadek in the 15th century.
Differences with other sects
Religious authority
Melkezedekists believe that religious authority is vested in the Magisterium of Paxism. They believe that the Magisterium has the power to recognize priests, prophets and martyrs, to interpret scripture, to excommunicate heretics, to anathemise heretical teachings and practices, and to arbitrate disputes over religious matters. This means that Melkezedekists believe in the judicial, executive and legislative power of the Magisterium over Paxism. As such, they do not follow priests who have not been recognized by the Magisterium.
Pilgrimage
Melkezedekists believe that pilgrimage to the Temple of the Authority is equivalent to pilgrimage to the Memorial of the Jovian Gate and the Temple of the Restoration. They believe that it is compulsory for people who have the means to visit it at least once in their life time. According to the them, the Temple of the Authority is on equal spiritual terms with the other two original sacred sites.
Sorcery
Prior to the Magisterium, practices that are recognized as sorcery or witchcraft were not perceived as sinful by Paxists. In fact priests who claimed to have magical powers were called sorcerers. For instance, astrology, the use of incantations, potions and charms to induce supernatural outcomes such as healing of disease or to acquire good fortune, or to communicate with the dead were once considered acceptable practices if they were being performed by a Paxist priest. After the Magisterium, these practices were considered anathema (cursed, sinful and unholy). Historians such as Lord Jubeel of Askhar believe that the Magisterium only declared sorcery anathema because they wanted to bring the Sorcerers under their control.
Women
The Magisterium reserved the right to be a priest or a magister to men, to the exclusion of women. Instead women were allowed to read and teach to other women and children (for instance as is done in the Imperial Court of Packilvania). The Magisterium also made men responsible for the religious education of the women around them. Thus, women were demoted from positions of relative societal esteem to being second class citizens to men. This is seen in the strict enforcement of modesty laws and the inferior position that women occupy in conservative Paxist communities. Nevertheless, with changes in political attitudes and socioeconomic contexts, Melkezedekists, especially those outside of conservative countries like Packilvania, are starting to ignore the teachings of the Magisterium with regard to women, e.g., in Emberwood Coast and Free Pax States.
Branches and offshoots
There are schools of thought over various topics that have emerged over the years under the broad umbrella of the Magisterium. These include:
Sohadekism and Saidunism
Prophet Sohadek prophesied that a human would become the Sultan, the spiritual and temporal ruler of Packilvania. His followers were referred to as Sohadekists. His ideas were persecuted by the Zubraynite dynasty and were declared anathema by the Magisterium. Nevertheless, his ideas were used as justification by Saidun the Conqueror of the human Demirite dynasty to conquer Packilvania. The Magisterium reversed its ruling on Prophet Sohadek's teaching. The Demirite dynasty used this as justification to oppress the Feline majority population of Packilvania. By that time, the only people who subscribed to Sohadekism also believed in Saidun's anthropocentric racist ideals which some scholars called Saidunism. By that point Sohadekism and Saidunism were used interchangeably.
Madvinism
Madvinism was established by Prophet Madvin in the 18th century CE. This school teaches that Prophet Sohadek did not teach human domination over Felines in Packilvania nor did he say that the Sultan had to be exclusively human. Prophet Madvin strongly discouraged the consumption of alcohol, which was a practiced beloved by the human Demirite dynasty that ruled over Packilvania from 1675 to 1914. He also called for asceticism and for people to pursue martyrdom as the highest of the paths of assimilation.