Religion in Packilvania
Packilvania is a highly religious country. Paxism is the official religion and is practiced by the overwhelming majority of the people in the country. There are various religious communities in the country. Some of them have official recognition including having special status. Packilvania has at least a hundred religions practiced within its borders. 98% of the population is Paxist. Religious minorities are allowed to practice publicly in areas designated by the Sultan. A religious law enforcement body exists which ensures that religious laws are enforced but its powers are highly limited in cases involving religious minorities within designated autonomous zones. There are 58,576,349 adherents of minority religions and none have more than 2 million adherents.
Paxism
In terms of the Constitution of Packilvania, Paxism is the official religion. The Sultan of Packilvania is required to be a Paxist and to rule Packilvania according to Paxist values. Nevertheless, the Sultan is allowed to recognise and afford special protections to religious minorities. Although not mentioned in name, the version of Paxism that is recognised by the state as the true version is called Melkezedekism specifically Madvinism. Currently there are 1,148,096,458 adherents or 95% of the population.
Paxism originates from Packilvania. It was an unwritten religion which had many variations and forms. In 2036 BCE, the first attempt at codifying and uniting the religion was spurred by Prophet Besmali who wrote the Ichtmar. Despite resistance from his contemporaries, his followers continued practicing and proselytising the version of Paxism espoused in his teachings and writings, spreading the religion to other parts of the ancient world. In 1100 BCE, Suleiman of Yehudah, ordered Jerome of Damaclion to compose a second book called the Vagumar which was a collection of writings from Besmali's followers as well writings from Suleiman of Yehudah himself. These writings were approved by a council held in the city of Adrien as a valid religious scripture. In 980 CE, High King Melkezedek the Great ordered scribes to compose another book because he felt that paganism was creeping into the religion and that a religious government needed to be established to oversee the religion. From this arose the Bas Magdamar. Not all Paxists ascribed to the version of Paxism that his new book prescribed and they called themselves Yehudists while those who followed Melkezedek called themselves Melkezedekists. Through the political power of Melkezedek and his successors, most of the Yehudists were purged from Packilvania either through pogroms or forcible exile to foreign nations. In 1150 CE, Prophet Sohadek stated that a human would become the highest religious figure of and reunite the realms of Bakil, spawning a primarily humanocentric movement within Melkezedekism known as Sohadekism. It was used by Saidun the Conqueror to reunite Packilvania under a human-dominated government in 1675 CE. In the 1800s, Prophet Madvin, a prominent Magister predicted that a Feline would become Sultan and portended the fall of the human Demir dynasty. In 1918 CE, the human government was overthrown by the Packilvanian Communist Party led by Gideon Muktan. Thus, Paxism lost its special status and faced persecution. Its position as the state religion was restored in 1985 following the end of the Second Packilvanian Civil War by which Sultan Amhoud I reestablished a Paxist-dominated political system. In part to differentiate himself from the Communists and to reward religious minorities for their contributions, they received special status and protections which they have enjoyed ever since.
The Magisterium of Paxism in Packilvania is the organisation responsible for administering and overseeing the Paxist religion. While not a state entity, the Sultan and the Magisterium have an agreement whereby the Sultan upholds and supports the Magisterium in return for the Magisterium obeying and respecting his rule as well as that of the Bedonite dynasty. The highest official and head of the the Magisterium of Paxism not only in Paxism but all of Urth is the Supreme Magister currently Tawak Mudawaheen, a Packilvanian from Jumhurikesh. There is a part of the judicial system dedicated to Paxist related issues with Religious Appeals Courts staffed by judges appointed by the Sultan on the recommendations of the Magisterium's College of Great Magisters. Furthermore, there are courts of first instance specialising in religious matters. The country also has a religious police staffed by Magisters which enforces religious laws. The religious police has been accused of using extrajudicial procedures. Laws exist prohibiting Paxists from acting in ways that violate religious dogma and restrictions exist on other religions on the extent to which they can practice or proselytise.
Akuanism
Akuanism originates from Central Borea (modern day Nystatiszna) and during pre-syncretism with Asatru. It was primarily a Animism religion with a mixture of native Borean folklore however after it's syncretism in the 700s it started to included more pantheism elements. The religion entered into the historical record in 4th century BCE; with possible oral traditions dating back to the 1nd millennium BCE. It makes use of spirits or Brandisen which in Akuanist tradition are supernatural entities believed to inhabit all things. Including manufactured and sapient-created objects or places. Example being the sapient-made lake of Ny'amberock which host over dozen spirits in it's shrine. Vodkaniate is reserved for incredible powerful spirits or gods, example being the religion namesake Akua who protects her children (Urthians).
Akuanism has long history within Packilvania, with several of the oldest Akuanist text indirectly featuring the land in Akua's adventures. While the historical evidence shows that Akuanists settled in the northern reaches of the empire in late 790s CE, several religious text make use of several mythological creatures from Paxism and natural landmarks found within Packilvania. Showing while the settlement didn't happen til much later, Akuanists interacted the religion previously ever some time with in the mid 500s CE. History of the two religion in the beginning was mostly benign, with practitioners of either religion sharing the same communities and taking part in each other's more tamer rituals. Notably Pax priests gave assistance to the creation of temple of Vindens pust in late 960s CE, historians often cite this as a example to demonstrate the early pleasantness between the pair of religions. However historians are still debating the authenticity of the event, with several letters originating from Pax priests in the region discussing a variety of issues citing Akuanists as the cause of them, such as increase drunkenness among the poor. Then later during the reign of Melkzedek the Great, started to establish the policy of restricting Akuanists movement and required brewmasters to be registered with Packivania officials. Then later in 983 requiring brewmasters to be approved by local officials and then travel to the capital to kiss the feet of the sultan. During Saidun in 1675 CE the previously mostly pleasant relationship became heavily strain, with Akuanism firmly rejecting any from of human-supremist ideals promoted by the new Sultan. Resulting in harsh reprisals and discriminatory laws targeting Akuanists but not out-right banning the religion. Later in 1670 CE, Akuanists was required to live in only select quarters of cities and wasn't allowed to enter the city center or the markets. Forcing Akuanists merchants to only sell within their own quarters.
During the communist take over Packilvania, Akuanists pilgrims and brewmasters made the track of march towards the capital. Shouting sayings such as "Akua bless Muktan and the communists!" or "Akua watches over us" believing that the new communist regime would lessen many of the harsh restrictions on Akuanists placed by the Demir dynasty. Instead they faced further persecution and arrested the brewmasters who organized the march. They later began the process of demolishing Akuanists shrines and temples through the quarters, including the important temple of Vindens pust. As a result, Akuanists became one of the first religions to align itself with Amhoud I during the second Second Packilvanian Civil War. While traditionally Akuanists are incredibly pacifistic, the destruction of the temple for the Breath of the Winds (Vindens pust) caused such a uproar that brewmasters became openly endorsing the Bedonite dynasty in order to combat the communist government.
Within the modern day, Akuanism is a still present with the northern reaches and with moderate assistant from the Packilvania government. Have completely rebuild the temples and shrines previously destroyed, while many of the artifacts and foci are forever lost to history. The Association of the Servants of Akua routinely grades the temples and shrines with in Packilvania as some of the highest on Urth. Currently there are 1,459,626 registered Akuanists within Packilvania, primary nekomimi in origin and the Association maintains a "special relationship executive" to help act as a middle man between the brewmasters and Pax officials. The current special relations executive, Kjellaug Elstad a well established figure within the local Akuanist community and keeps maintains ties with several Pax priests within the region.