Noi

Noi is the sole deity of the religion of Paxism. The oldest written mention of the name dates to 3,000 BCE but the oldest name known conclusively to refer to her dates to around 2,000 BCE in the first versions of the Ichtmar. Most of the ideas and beliefs about Noi emanate from the Writings of Paxism. Although often referred to in feminine terms, she is not a gendered being. Insulting her name is considered blasphemy and in countries such as Packilvania it is a criminal offence. The fundamental tenets of Paxism posit that Assimilation, the process of believing in Noi and living out her instructions as given by the teachings of Paxism, is necessary for salvation at the end of the world.

Origins and history

The first written evidence of the name Noi is a stole stele discovered in 1945 in the city of Kijal in modern-day Ashura in Packilvania. The stele suggests that the name had been in use as the name for the deity for centuries. Scientists at the University of Bingol carbon dated the artefact to around 3000 BCE. It is one of the very few examples of a primitive writing system in the world. Historians are not certain whether the name referred only to one deity or even the same deity known as Noi today.

The first concrete evidence of the name Noi referring to the same deity associated with modern-day Paxism in one of the original manuscripts of the Ichtmar, which is one of the Writings of Paxism that is believed to have been written by Prophet Besmali or one of his followers between 2000 and 2100 BCE. The Ichtmar suggests that it was based on oral teachings from the tribes of Central Yasteria thus it can be reasonably assumed that the belief in the deity Noi can be traced back even further. Scientists and historians have not unequivocally determined how far back this belief goes.

Creative evolutionist scholars (people who combine modern science with Paxist teachings) such as Tolmud Olwahad and Shahdan Wasayan suggest that belief in Noi whether by that name or a different name could date back to before the evolution of many modern sentient beings. Scholars such as Dewal Mudwahad had suggested that these links are tenuous. Although there is some evidence of proto-spirituality among pre-modern sentient beings, it is virtually impossible to determine based on scientific evidence whether the deity they worshiped (if at all it was a deity and not some ancestor) was in fact the same deity as Noi. Nevertheless, the theory is highly popular and is widely taught in Universities in Packilvania as a potential theory.

According to commentator Qayeed Kahad, this theory is popular among Creative Evolutionists because it presupposes that belief in Noi is intrinsic to sentience or exists in some corrupted form through other religions. He especially argued that scholars whose work focused on drawing links between religions with a view to displaying the Universalism of Paxism were susceptible to believing this theory such as Lord Kilian Asul who developed the theory of Yasterian Heroism which aims to unify the religions of Paxism, Vayanism and Ademarism under the same largely Paxist lens.

Gender

Noi is often referred in feminine language. For instance they are often referred to using feminine pronouns and with terms such "Goddess". However, the Magisterium of Paxism is largely united in the belief that Noi is not a gendered being. Further evidence to suggest this arises from the fact that pre-modern Central Yasterian languages had masculine and feminine gender classes which they ascribed to various animate, inanimate, physical and incorporeal beings without much consistency. In some dialects such as Ancient Yushovese referred to Noi using the masculine gender.

Divinity

Belief in the divinity of Noi is a fundamental element of adherence to the Paxist religion. Noi is regarded as the Creator of the Universe and all its creations and properties. Noi is regarded as being both immanent and transcendent in the sense that she is both within the universe and beyond the universe, existing outside of the constraints of its boundaries such as space and time.

As such, Noi is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (all present). Paxists believe there is no being equal to her in power or station or even similar to her in nature. All Paxist sects (except for Obedism) believe that Noi does not have romantic relationships or desires, nor does she have begotten children. All beings, whether spiritual such as the Esma or mortal as Sentient Beings are regarded as having being made by her.

Variations

Different sects (Kamif) have slightly varying views on their perspective of Noi. While all agree on her fundamental nature as described above, additional characteristics are attributed to her as follows:

• Ipsititism: Mainstream Ipsitites (Asakhites) perceive Noi is seen as the manifestation of or symbolised by the sky. A subgroup of the Ipsitite known as Aslists believe that the depictions and associations of Noi with the sky that is practiced by Mainstream Ipsitite is a infiltration and/or corruption of their religion by the Ayalists.

Exaltation

Noi is regarded as high above or exalted all other beings. As such, Paxists believe that her name is sacred and cannot be used callously or flippantly. Some Paxists believe this so strongly that the Law of Packilvania forbids the insulting Noi and using her name disrespectfully to the extent that such an action can be punished ranging from corporal punishment to imprisonment to force labour and in rare cases to capital punishment. Many Paxists prefer to use her titles such as Creator or Most Beneficent. Or when they do say her name, they follow that with Most Beneficent or Most Righteous or some other term. This applies even in academic literature produced in Packilvania.

Titles and references

Noi can be referred to by 99 titles recognised by the Magisterium of Paxism as per the Bull (Packilvanian: Fataw) "On the titles of the Creator" (Packilvanian: weleNomin amuKhalaqa) published around 980 CE by the first Supreme Magister, Imodin I, which builds on the Writings of Paxism and non-scriptural writings of other scholars and prophets published centuries prior such as "Names of the Most Blessed One" by Lord Tiraz Mawal, one of the followers of Prophet Besmali around 2100 BCE.

The most widely used titles are Most Beneficent (muRahmangurgur), Most Merciful (muRahimgurgur), Most Holy (muHalaalgurgur), Most Blessed (muBenaangurgur), Bringer of Peace (muShalomiya), Bringer of Righteousness (muShakhaniya), Our Ruler (muDonah), Our Banner (muNashah), Our Deity (muLohaam) Creator (muKhalaq), and Goddess (muLohaamlea).