Paxism: Difference between revisions

===Prayer (''Silah'')===

Paxists are required to pray at least once a day and at least twice on a Friday. Paxists generally pray by facing the Memorial of Jovian Gate and going on their knees and lying prostrate. Ipsitites have traditionally made allowances for those without knowledge of the location of the Gate, and many Ipsitites pray four times in each Cardinal direction instead. Prayer is not strictly regulated in structure and duration but it is encouraged to include verses from holy scripture and to end the prayer with "Mag adem" (a Packilvanian phrase meaning "May (it) be". It is required that you wash with water (or sand in most sects, if you have no water) before praying. The infirm and pregnant are exempt from daily prayer.

===Recitation (''Qiran'')===

Paxists are expected to read the Holy Scriptures at least once a day. Furthermore, during gatherings, the Priest recites verses from the Holy Scriptures. It is regarded as highly encouraged to read the Holy Scriptures in full at least once in one's lifetime. Obviously not all writings are included in the holy scriptures by all sects.

===Gathering (''Mijhal'')===

Every week on a Friday, Paxists are expected to gather at a Temple for prayer and recitation. Depending on the society and sect people may be separated by gender, age or status. In Madvinism, and Sohadekism a complex system of separation exists between men and women, the old, middle aged and children, as well as different species. In Yehudism and Ipsitism, no divisions exists and people simply enter the temple as they see fit, though in the latter it is generally encouraged families enter together, led by the Head of the family.

===Fasting (''Rudamin'')===

Once a year on the week of the Start of the New Age (i.e., the New Year), people are expected to fast i.e., not to eat or drink from dawn until dusk. In some countries like Packilvania this is mandatory for all citizens except the sick, pregnant women and young children.

===Offering and charity (''Zakat'')===

Paxists are expected to give offerings in money, kind or their labor to temples and to the poor. Almsgiving in particular is strongly encouraged by the Holy Scriptures. As a result of this philosophy, Packilvania has the highest rate of non-state foreign aid in the world. Ipsitites follow what is known as "Charity by the Blade", a practice in which labor may be offered in the form of taking up the duty to defend an Ipsitite Temple or community. This is most notably seen in the [[Third Suvani War]], in which the Karkati Brigades are comprised mostly of Volunteers giving such charity in order to protect Ipsitite Communities from incursion by [[Ayalism|Ayalist]] or Secularist Forces.

===Diet (''Kisher'')===

In Paxism certain foods are forbidden because they are seen as dirty and unholy. The meat of reptiles, all insects except grasshoppers and consumption of blood or dead animals (i.e., animals that died due to disease or other strange causes not intended or known by the person consuming the animal) are forbidden. Animals must be slaughtered with a sharp knife, cleanly and swiftly and with a blessing before they can be regarded as holy and suitable for consumption. Ipsitites are notably exempt from some of these restrictions, allowing for animals to be slaughtered in any which way so long as a prayer of thanks is given after eating, and the animal's bones are picked clean, with Ipsitite doctrine heavily discouraging the wastage of food.

===Marriage (''Zawaj'')===

Marriage is a highly contentious issue within Paxism and the sects do not agree. According to Madvinism practiced in Packilvania, marriage is restricted to men and women and men may have more than one wife. According to Yehudism and Ipsitism, marriage is monogamous and same-sex marriage is permissible. Some Melkezedekists agree with same sex marriage and practice monogamy. According to both Madvinism and Sohadekism, marriage and sexual relations between species are forbidden. According to Obedism, polyamorous marriages are permissible. Obedism and Ipsitism believes that premarital sex is allowed. Yehudism, Madvinism and Sohadekism believe that pre-marital sex is not allowed. Madvinism and Sohadekism believe that men may have intimate relationships with concubines if their wives cannot bear children. Obedism believes that extramarital intimate relations are allowed with the consent of the partners.

===Clerical authority (''Imamiyat'')===

Most Paxists believe that there exists clerical authority. Yehudism believes that any recognised priest may train priests under them and both Ipsitism and Yehudism believes that women, queer and non-felines may serve as clerics. Melkezedists (Madvinists, Sohadekists etc.) believe that religious authority emanates from the [[Magisterium of Paxism|Magisterium]]. Thus, Magisters are regarded as having the sole authority to determine religious interpretation and appoint priests and recognize prophets and scholars.

===Atonement (''Kipur'')===

Most Paxists believe that sacrificing food is required when atoning for ones sins. The general formula is to set up a specially designated altar and to burn the sacrifice thereupon while asking Pax and Noi for forgiveness. Some sects and even individuals believe that one should sacrifice crops while others believe that one should sacrifice animals. Others believe that a priest or Magister may sacrifice on behalf of the community or nation respectively.

They also believe that sacrifices are necessary when making a Covenant (an unbreakable vow) which includes marriage to seal the bow in heaven and Urth.

Ipsitism purely endorses the latter, and does not accept the possibility of atoning for sins without strife, with it only being possible through being felled while in service to the Faith or performing a pilgrimage, with the only other option being through the sacrifice of your own life to Pax via suicide by drowning, though such a practice is increasing uncommon.

===Prophecy (''Nawbiyat'')===

Paxists believe that there are people who have been imparted with a special anointing to conduct supernatural healing, to reveal hidden and unknown truths, to cast out evil spirits and to impart messages from Noi to the nation. These people are called Prophets. Most Paxists believe that someone is a Prophet if their prophecies or miracles actually come true. However, Madvinists and Sohadekists believe that the [[Magisterium of Paxism|Magisterium]] must verify miraculous acts for a Prophet to be recognised as such.

===Pilgrimage (''Uj'')===

Paxists are encouraged to make pilgrimage to at least one of the three holiest sites of the Paxist religion if they are able to: the Temple of the Remembrance (i.e., [[Memorial of the Jovian Gate]]) in Akas Akil, Temple of the Restoration in [[Adrien]] and the Temple of the Authority in [[Bingol]]. Pilgrimage involves prayer, fasting, cleansing, sacrifice etc. The cities of Adrien and Akas Akil are off-limits to non-Paxists and the Temple Mount in Bingol on which the Temple of the Authority is located is forbidden to non-Paxists. While historically there have been less Ipsitite Pilgrimages on account that Ipsitism demands pilgrims cross the land only by foot and the sea only by boat, Ipsite pilgrims tend to be highly respected within their communities for undertaking such a task.

===Exorcism (''Xitarishme'')===

Paxists believe that evil spirits as well as the spirits of the dead can haunt places or people and cause destruction, sickness or misfortune. Thus, they believe that through sacrifice, baptism and prayer, those places or people can be exorcised of the spirits contained there.

===Mourning and burial (''Jinaza'')===

Paxists believe that the body must be washed, covered and buried. Madvinists and Sohadekists believe that cremation is an appropriate punishment for those who commit high crimes as recognised by the Holy Scriptures. They also believe that a cleansing ceremony as described above must be conducted after a period of mourning (which varies by sect but the Madvinists believe that women must mourn for a month and men for a week). Non-Paxists traditions have arisen such as wearing black.

===Consecration (''Hawsul'')===

When a child is born, their umbilical chord must be sacrificed to Noi to bless them. When they are born, a child is blessed by their parents and/or a priest. In Ipsitism, it is mandated such includes a baptism.

===Baptism (''Baptashme'')===

Baptism is a ritual conducted by which someone converts to Paxism. This ritual is only relevant for people who were not born Paxist but were born into another religion. It is the practice of a Priest or Magister submerging the convert in water after the person recites the Creed (Shahada): "There is one deity and that deity is Noi and her emissary is Pax" ("''Luilah luikht naluilaharud muNoi na luwasiyu adhun muPax''")

===Temples (''Majhid'')===

Temples are buildings specifically constructed as a place of worship for Paxists and thus under most circumstances, non-Paxists are not allowed to enter these venues. Their construction varies widely, but Paxists art is highly variable according to time and location. The most important component is to contain a large space for prayer as well as an altar for sacrifices.