RELIGION IN THE CONFEDERATION
The Confederation is a diverse place when it comes to religion. Officially the state has no set religion and no laws exist that give one faith any special treatment. All places of worship must pay tax unless they gain an exemption based on proving that they make a "significant contribution" to their local community. In a broad sense there are five main faith groups within the Confederation.
*Folk Faiths (these are sub-divided between several groups who while names of deities change they share many similarities). They make up around 40% of the population
*Catholic Faith. They make up around 20% of the population
*Vodou Faith. They make up around 10% of the population
*Rastafarian Faith. They make up around 5% of the population
*
Aladura Christianity. They make up about 5% of the population.
FOLK FAITHS
The largest of the Kermah Folk Faiths is the Aboway Faith. While there are subtle differences between the various folk faiths the vast majority of them follow a similar pattern of the Aboway Faith there understanding this faith is usually a good way of understanding all folk faiths.
The faithful believe that a series of humans grew directly out of the soil and that these began the human race. Each of these "Soil born" took on the role of custodian of a particular part of nature. The most powerful of these was the Soil Born man Aboway and as such he is the most respected. It is believed that the "Soil Born" began to have their own children and that all "Flesh Born", a term used to describe all humans since the "Soil Born", can trace their lineage back to these original humans. When the "Soil Born" died their physical bodies were returned to the soil from where they came and now act to ensure their descendants on Mundus survive. It is believed that at certain times of the year that the "Soil Born" can communicate with the world of today. Adherents arerequired to participate in frequent rituals within the year and a general communal worship once in a year at a spot it is believed the "Soil Born" came to life, during this large scale communal worship the oracles speak on sensitive issues concerning the community.
The faith have built shrines and temples on spots it is told "Soil Born" did deeds of importance or came forth from the ground. Most of the shrines or temples or single sex with only those of the same gender as the "Soil Born" who the building is dedicated to can enter. The faith permits Priests and Priestesses as each is tied to a particular "Soil Born" Once a year a week long gathering called the Mabatado takes place where all members of the clergy gather to discuss key issues and the faithful may attend to ask for guidance or resolution of moral issues.
At the age of 10 boys are initiated into the faith. They are taken on a ritual hunt and must drink the blood of what they kill before taking the meat to the nearest shrine. Here they are smeared in the blood and spend two days in prayer and meditation, the blood may not be removed until their mother, or female family member ceremonially washes them in front of at least 10 witnesses. At this point it is believed that the "Soil Born" may communicate with them.
Meanwhile girls are considered to be initiated into the faith following their first menstrual cycle. It is customary that once this takes place the girls family take items with the blood on to the shrine where they are ceremonially burnt and the girl is blessed by the Priest/Priestess. At this point it is believed that the girl is now able to communicate with the "Soil Born".
Historically once a young person has gone through a rite of passage they are classed as adults and can marry however since national laws have since superseded the faiths own this is no longer practiced. There are though usually one or two cases a year where rural families have ignored this preferring to believe that faith trumps man made laws.
The faith believe that at death the "Soil Born" gather at a cave that permits travel between the temporal and spiritual worlds. The spirit of the dead person arrives at the cave and is judged whether their soul is worthy to join the "Soil Born". Those who worthy are welcomed into the spiritual world while those who are not are returned to the temporal and reborn into another body to be given another chance to live a life worthy of joining the "Soil Born." It is though believed that when the original "Soil Born" ascended to Mundus a further group attempted to but their souls were not pure enough to survive the journey. These are today thought to live in dark places and should someone live a life so unworthy they are permitted to eat their souls to prevent rebirth. These "Unborn" are considered to be like demons and ghosts.
CATHOLICS
There had been various attempts by Christian missionaries to bring the faith to the lands that today form Kermah. The most successful of these has been the Catholic Church who made real inroads in terms of conversions in the early 1700's. Today around 20% of the nation consider themselves Catholic however while Church attendance is high some still also carry out the rituals associated with their folk faiths.
The faithful are headed the Archbishop of Isiobodo, Emeka Abiodun. The newly constructed Basillica of St.Arcadius was completed in 2022 and is now the home of the Catholic faith in the nation.
The nations patron saint is St. Arcadius who is thought to have been a martyr in the 4th Century. He was killed after hiding from his community during pagan rituals that involved sacrifice as his Christian faith was outlawed. His absence was noted and he was arrested and sentenced to death. Each of his limbs were removed joint by joint until he was just a head and torso. His feast day is January 12th. It is not uncommon to see the "Banner of Arcadius" used by Catholics across the nation.
Banner of Arcadius
VODOU
With the introduction of the Christian faith many began to adapt the new faith with more folk based rituals. This was also reinforced by a huge number of Hougon and Mambo's from Paracambi crossing the border to spread their faith to the region. With the similarities of the two faiths being apparent to many the Vodou faith did relatively well. Today around 10% of the population believe in the faith and are regularly active within their community. The Loa Erzulie (Ezili) is particularly revered as she is thought to be symbolic of a goddess of the word, love, help, goodwill, health, beauty and fortune, as well as goddess of jealousy, vengeance, and discord. As such she is equally feared and respected.
The faithful have no real set hierachy however do recognise Emperor Benson of Paracambi as the High Hougon of the Vodou faith and as such take spiritual guidance from the Paracambian monarch in much the same way a Catholic would the Pope.
RASTAFARIAN FAITH
Around 5% of the population of the Confederation follow the Rastafarian faith. The faith spread to the Confederation in the 1930's from Paracambi. Today the faith has built several large community centres across the nation. The largest contingent of Rastafarians are of the Bobo Ashanti Mansion. This branch of the faith is considered rather strict compared to most other sects. The Bobo Ashanti are vegan and follow strict dietary rules which includes fasting on the first Sunday of each month. The Bobo Ashanti hold some strict gender roles central to their faith. Men are in charge of life outside of the family home while women are in charge within the household. A woman is also forbidden from cooking for a man during her period as she is at that point considered "Unpure".
ALUDURA CHRISTIANITY
Formed in the 1920's the Aludura Christian Church grew out of the Catholic community feeling that the Papacy was not successful in achieving the conversion to the Christian faith. The Church puts great emphasis on the power of praying and in faith healing. The church opposes traditional Kermah religion, and sometimes burn cult images as idols. They oppose polygamy and witchcraft. In more recent times they have also turned their opposition to Vodou and Rastafarianism.
Priests are expected to regularly minister in areas where the Church is not present and try and gain converts.