Thaerism
| Thaerism | |
|---|---|
 The symbol of Thaerism | |
| Belief | monotheism |
| Deity | Thaer |
| Region(s) | Worldwide |
| Founder | The Prophets;
|
| Founded | 7th century BCE |
| Origin | Thaerist Mythology |
| Parson of Matilda | Cedric II |
| Churches | 130,121 |
| Followers | ~1 billion |
Thaerism, also known as the Thaerist Faith is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings and wisdom of Thaer. Its adherents, known as Thaerists, believe in a single deity (Thaer), who passed on his teachings to the Prophets; Matilda, Eldwin and Tybalt. Through his guidance to life on Urth with prophets, it is taught that Thaer is all-existing and all-knowing. He is not depicted through incarnate being but through colour. It is one of the major world religions with over a billion worldwide followers with various branches such as Traditional Thaerism, Reformist Thaerism (colloquially Valerian Thaerism; Vaerism), and Mauism in Greater Oan nations like the Oan Isles and Jus tribes in Jusdelva.
Thaerism remains culturally diverse in the world. Its teachings do not conflict with culture and so over it's existence has seen a huge growth of following.
Etymology
The word Thaer comes from the Old Staynic word Đær which evolved from the proto-yastauroran word Đer.
Belief
In Thaerist Belief, Thaer is believes to be made up of the conscious of all living beings. Thaer is all-existing and all-knowing. Matilda found Thaer's existence during deep meditation. He set out a list of edicts and conducts for the Prophet Matilda to teach followers of Thaerism. Thaerists are told to stay faithful to these precepts, and regularly question whether they understand it. Thaerists, no matter which country, are raised patriots.
Meditation is a part of Thaerist lifestyle, believing a calm mind can be achieved through meditation and contemplation. Thaerists meditate often to maintain a clear mind.
Six Core Precepts
Thaerists are told to believe in six core precepts:
• Peace. This principle guides all meditation and interactions with all others. It preaches to act without recklessness, and to view the actions of others, even your friends, with a restrained mind.
• Knowledge. Those who don't understand this basic precept are quick to fear. Thaer adherents are taught to accept knowledge and an understanding of the world and laws of nature around them.
• Serenity. A subtle extrapolation of the first precept, this reminder to act dis-passionately in every deliberation.
• Harmony. Those who cannot comprehend the threads that unify all life will view existence as random and without purpose.
• Family. The bond between you and your partner is unbreakable. Children are a venerated gift of Thaer.
• Transcendence. Despite that death is inevitable to everyone, your quintessence will surpass your mortal being into the Luminiferous Aether, where the end of mortal existence is not to be overly mourned. We are part of an energy larger than ourselves, and we play roles in a cosmic fabric that outstrip our incarnate understanding.
History
Spread to Greater Oa
In the 8th to 10th Centuries CE, proselytes from mainland Aurora introduced Thaerism to the Greater Oan Islands. In the 11th century CE, the King Ahua of Toka who became Rangitanga-a-te-Moana Ahua the Great of Greater Oa established a mid-way between Thaerist purists and Folk religion traditionalists that integrated their ideas and beliefs. This new Greater Oan branch of Thaerism, called Mauism, evolved separately from the Thaerist sects on mainland Aurora. Shaped by the political and social realities of the Greater Oan island nations, it gradually drifted from mainland beliefs. The ideological tenets that would arise from the later Valerian and Reformation movements did not make it to Greater Oan nations like the Oan Isles.
Today, mainland and insular branches of Thaerism are barely comparable. Some of these differences including belief in supernatural spiritual beings which act on behalf of or against the divine law of Thaer (Atea) to bring goodness or ruin on humanity, respectively. One of them is Maui, who is believed to be the Angelic Protector of the Greater Oan people, who granted the Ahua clan the right to rule over Greater Oa forever. Moreover, they believed that souls are distinguishable, rational, and efficacious in the Luminiferous Aether. This had massive consequences in that it established a basis for eschatological beliefs that wildly differed from Mainland Thaerism such as prophecies of the end of and reconstitution of the mortal universe with the effect of the expurgation of Dark Angelic beings and evil from the mortal universe. Mainland Thaerists believed that many of these beliefs were heretical.
Mauist scholars, spiritual leaders and fundamentalists have rejected the name "Mauism" and consider themselves Insular Thaerists. Thus there are ethno-centric and ecumenical elements of Mauist belief. The ethno-centric concepts relate to Maui, the line of Ahua the Great and the Greater Oan people. The ecumenical concepts encompass the nature of creation, the nature of Thaer, the eschatology of the Universe and so on. Thus, Mauist teachings are considered heretical by Mainland Thaerist churches. The proliferation of Mauist/Insular Thaerist ecumenical beliefs in Morstaybishlia particularly was squashed to oblivion. Mauism was especially persecuted in Jusdelva as it provided a political rival to the Morstaybishlian High King in the form of the Rangitanga-a-te-Moana.
13th Century Reformation
Reformist Thaerism
The Valerian Church implemented many changes in its version of Thaerism in the in the 13th century. Still as a classic missionary religion, a group of old-way Thaerists from the Kingdom of Valeria implemented the Prophet Eldwin as their holy saint. Valerian Thaerism, more commonly known as Reformist Thaerism is considered a denomination of Thaerism.
Temple
Most temples, besides Syllester Abbey and other large ceremonial temples, are basic in design. They feature large interior spaces with basic architectural design. Most temples will feature walls full of mellow stained glass windows; the most common of which being all blue, all purple or all green. An area at the front is designated for speech, meditation and other routine. For speeches and weddings, the interior is filled with rows of basic wooden observer chairs. There can exist stands and other niche details that vary from temple to temple.