Paxism: Difference between revisions
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==Practices==
The following practices are common but not universal among Paxists.
* '''Prayer''': 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. 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".
* '''Recitation:''' 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''': 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, no divisions exists and people simply enter the temple as they see fit.
* '''Fasting:''' 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''': Paxists are expected to give offerings in money, kind or their labor to temples and to the poor. Almsgiving in particularly 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.
* '''Diet''': 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
* '''Marriage''': 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, marriage is monogamous and same-sex marriage is permissible. According to both Madvinism and Sohadekism, marriage and sexual relations between species are forbidden. According to Obedism, polyamorous marriages are permissible. Obedism 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 sex with concubines if their wives cannot bear children. Obedism believes that extramarital sex is allowed with the consent of the partners.
* '''Clerical authority''': Most Paxists believe that there exists clerical authority. Yehudism believes that any recognised priest may train priests under them 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. Thus, Magisters are regarded as having the sole authority to determine religious interpretation and appoint priests and recognize prophets and scholars.
* '''Sacrifice''': Most Paxists believe that sacrificing food is required when a toning 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.
* '''Divination and supernatural interventions''': 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. Mosts Paxists believe that someone is a Prophet if their prophecies or miracles actually come true. However, Madvinists and Sohadekists believe that the Magisterium must verify miraculous acts for a Prophet to be recognised as such.
* '''Pilgrimage''': 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.
* '''Cleansing''': 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.
* '''Death and mourning''': 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.
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==Notes==
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