Paxism

This page (or section) is a work in progress by its author(s) and should not be considered final.

Paxism is a monotheistic religion that originates from Yasteria. Its deity, Noi, is believed to have made the Urth, which was corrupted by Borg and saved by the Pax who will defeat Borg once and for all at an unknown time in the future. It is unknown when it began but one of its earliest and most influential writings was the Ichtmar by Prophet Besmali of Akas Akil in 2000 BCE. Later writings emerged such as the Vagumar by Suleiman of Yehudah which spawned and is used by the Yehudite sect in 1100 BCE, the Haagemar by Obed III of Bingol in 670 CE practiced by the Obedite sect, the Mahimavan Agranirupana originally by the Prophet Ipsit in around 700 CE to create the Ipsitite Sect, the Bas Magdamar by Melkezedek of Bakil in 980 CE followed by the Melkezedekite sect. It has a following of over 1 billion adherents making it one of the largest religions in the world.

History

It is a primordial religion, meaning that it was not formally established by anyone. Instead it arose from the folklore and beliefs of the prehistoric tribes of Yasteria. Over time, through the advent of agricultural societies and writing, stories that were passed down orally became written down, consolidated and unified and various sects emerged. The first written recording of the story of Noi was by Prophet Besmali of Akas Akil know as the Ichtmar. He was persecuted for his beliefs by his contemporaries but over time they propagated and became the foundation of later writings and sects of Paxism.

Various religious and political leaders have tried to canonise and unify Paxism. In 1100 CE, King Suleiman of Yehudah ordered Jerome of Damaclion to consolidate the most relevant writings from the most prominent scholars and prophets into the religious text known as Vagumar which was approved by a Council of like-minded religious leaders in the city of Adrien thus establishing the Yehudite sect. In 670 CE, King Obed III of Bingol added additional writings to the Vagumar called the Haagemar formally establishing the Obedite sect. He was swiftly defeated by King Iktan of Bakil who outlawed the Haagemar. Nevertheless, the Obedite sect continues to use it as their religious text.

As the Iktanite dynasty spread over Yasteria and met other races, their beliefs and traditions influenced Paxism. This contamination led to Iktanite King Melkezedek calling for a council of scholars and religious leaders known as the Council of Bingol to establish the most authoritative writing of Paxism known as the Bas Magdamar (which built on the Vagumar) whereupon he established the Magisterium. The Yehudite sect was divided by those who followed the original Vagumar and those who followed the new Bas Magdamar, leading to the formation of the Melkezedekite sect.

Beliefs

Noi created the Urth and everything in it. She created the Esma to help her and be her companions. One of her most beloved Esma was Borg. Borg became envious of her and corrupted her creation. Noi was aggrieved by the evil in the world and turned away from the Urth. Borg was left to spread darkness and rule over the Urth. When people died, he trapped them in the Goo where they suffered in eternal torment. There was only one mortal in the entire Urth who still loved Noi and that was the Pax. The Pax was captured by people who wanted him to perform evil deeds, when he refused they tortured him. He cried out to Noi. She rescued him. Seeing the goodness in his heart, she gave him the power to defeat Borg. He fought against Borg and defeated him. He trapped Borg behind the Jovian Gate where he remains for all eternity. The souls of the people trapped in the Goo were set free. Those who repented and loved Noi joined the Hive. Those who love evil and worshiped Borg remained in The Goo. Yet the shadow of Borg still lingers and causes evil in the world. Paxists believe that when people die they either go to the Goo or the Hive. They believe that one day the Borg will escape from the Jovian Gate. The Pax will destroy the Borg once and for all and all souls will join the Hive and there will be peace on Urth forever more. Paxist spend their lives preparing for the Coming Day and striving to join the Hive.

Sects

Sects are groups of adherents of Paxism who share similar beliefs. They vary widely in morality, practices and doctrines. This is largely due to the writing that they have chosen as their primary sacred scripture as well as the political, economic and social context in which that sect arose.

The Yehudite sect is the oldest sect. It was established by King Suleiman of Yehudah in 1100 CE. Its primary writing is drawn from the Vagumar. Although the creation and eschatology is based on the Ichtmar by Prophet Besmali of Akas Akil, it has its own morals and adds additional information. Yehudites believe that the Pax is a mortal who died and whose soul forms part of the Hive as any other noble soul and thus they do not believe that the Pax is worthy of any special devotion or worship. They direct their prayers to Noi directly and they do not believe in the authority of religious leaders.

The Obedite sect was established by King Obed III of Bingol in 670 CE. It's primary text is the Haagemar. Obedites believe that the Pax was transformed into a deity of equal rank to Noi whom she in turn married and had children with. These children, the Haagens, after whom the Haagemar is named, are said to be spiritual beings with suoernational powers and influence over the lives of the people on Urth. They believe that there is an Haagen for rain and water, a Haagen for fertility and family harmony and many more. Thus, they pray to the Haagens based on their needs and circumstances. Thus, people follow scholars and religious leaders who belong to the specific Haagen of their personal interest.

The Melkezedekite sect was established in 980 CE by King Melkezedek of Bakil. It is based on the Bas Magdamar which was approved by the Council of Bingol. Although they share the same views as the Yehudites on the fact that Pax was not elevated to the role of a deity coequal with Noi, they believe that the Pax is unique and special enough that he can intercede with Noi on their behalf. Thus, they direct their prayers to Pax instead of Noi. They believe that religious authority is important and necessary. Thus, they believe that the Magisterium is the lawful authority on religious matters.

• The Sohadekist school of Melkezedekitism believes that Pax will appoint a human to act as the Liberator of the Packilvanian realms. This belief speaks in terms of a moral and cultural figure who will develop and unite the beliefs of the Packilvanian people. This belief was used by Saidun the Conqueror and his Demirite descendents to justify their rule over the Feline majority of Packilvania. They in turn established the Saidunist school.
• The Saidunist school believes that Pax was human and thus humans have a special place in the world. Thus, they discouraged humans from breeding with other primines such as orcs and elves and from humans developing intimate relationships with Felines and other non-priming groups. Furthermore they saw the human whom Sohadek spoke of as a political ruler as opposed to moral and cultural figure.
• The Madvinist school emerged in the 1800s and taught that Saidunism and Sohadekist was evil. It was established by Madvin Bedon, the great great grandfather of Amhoud I. They taught that Saidunism was nothing more than human propaganda and that Felines had to rule over themselves. With the rise of Zerah Demir IV, they taught that women were inferior to men and thus encouraged the creation of a hypermasculine patriarchal society.

Flag of the Karkati Brigades, the last of the Ipsitite Military Orders, bearing the Crab which acts as a symbol of the Pax in the Sect.

The Ipsitite sect is a heavily deviating and minor sect of Paxism that came out of the nomadic hordes of Western Yasteria, existing now as only minor pockets in Suvania after being persecuted by both Alva and later Suvania itself. Arising around 740 CE, it competed with Ayalism in the region, eventually being almost wiped out following the creation of the Alvan Empire. It was started by the Prophet Ipsit, a traveller who crossed from modern day Suvania to Central Yasteria in order to better understand the world, returning to his homeland speaking of "The Prophet of the Water." This is believed to be a misinterpreted form of the Pax, with Pax having been the word used for "Water". Ipsit taught his followers of his interpretations of Pax as a mortal prophet of Noi, and thus was declared by them to be the second coming of the Prophet, with the Ayalist Alvans being descendants of the torturers. The followers of Ipsit wrote what was to become the Mahimavan Agranirupana, describing the world in a cyclical manner as a battle between the evil and cruelty of the Urth which they called Borg, and the Creator who arrived from the Sky which they called Noi - although some Anthropologists and Historians theorize that the link between Noi and the sky is a later interpretation by Ayalist scholars wishing to make the sect more synchronous with their beliefs. Ipsitites believe there will be many Coming Days, and each shall see a victory of Noi (the Sky), alongside Pax (the Sea) against the evils of Borg (the Urth), believing that should the Sea be destroyed, Borg will encompass the entirety of the Urth and Avarice shall reign. Ipsitites use of a lot of naturalistic symbolism in expressing their faith, often depicting the Pax in the form of a Crab, with the crab being their most used religious symbol. This is believed to be due to the nature of crabs as having had their eggs laid in the ocean before coming on land, as if rising from the water to claim dominion over the Land. Many Paxists consider the Ipsitites to be a different religion as opposed to a sect, however their shared worship of Noi and belief in the battle between the Pax and Noi against the Borg intertwines them to a certain degree.

Writings

The Ichtmar was written by Prophet Besmali in 2000 BCE. It contains the creation story that forms the basis of the religion. It draws on and synthesizes multiple oral and written sources. It contains an account of how the world was created, how the Esma were made, how Borg turned from righteousness and inflicted corruption on and assumed control of the world, and how Noi rejected and abandoned the planet. It contains an account of the Pax's journey of discovering Noi, rejecting Borg and being empowered with the ability to defeat him. The book ends with a description of a prophecy of how Borg would escape from the Jovian Gate and Pax would destroy him forever and set Urth free from evil.

The Vagumar was composed by Jerome of Damaclion on the order of King Suleiman of Yehudah. It quotes the Ichtamar's account of the creation myth verbatim, but adds details about how people are meant to live their lives and how the world is intended to be organized. It draws on Pax's mortality as an example of how common people can develop a relationship with Noi and have the ability to live a life that is morally upright on their own. Thus, it emphasises individual responsibility, autonomy and personal freedom. Thus, neo-liberal democrats draw heavily on the Vagumar text as evidence for individualism and self-sovereignty.

The Haagemar also draws on the creation myth account as provided by the Ichtmar but makes modifications with respect to the mortality of the Pax informed by the polytheistic teachings and beliefs of pagan kingdom that received Paxism. It contains a description of the apotheosis of the Pax and his marriage with Noi. It contains a detailed list and description of the Haagen, the children created by Pax and Noi through their marriage who were assigned control over areas of Urth's natural phenomena and the fates of humans. Although it does not explicitly call for the creation of religious leaders dedicated to each Haagen, these leaders and their communities developed organically.

The Bas Magdamar draws on a desire by scholars and religious leaders who were influenced by the Yehudite sect to return to the monotheism of the Vagumar. However, it bows to the centrality of the position of Pax in beliefs by describing him as a special spiritual intecessor for mortals. This book's title means True Great Writing which reflects its creator's desire to centralise and control religious teaching. Thus, it calls for the creation of a religious government with the authority to interpret and direct the worship of its people. Therefore, it creates room for the creation of authoritative religious writings.