Veridusism
The faith is followed by 82% of the nation (The rest made up of Christianity 7%, Judaism 5%, 2% Islam and 4% various minor faiths.)
The faith believe that there is a single God called Veridus who rules over a spiritual world. In that spiritual world there are two groups of spirits. Those who have not yet been deemed worthy enough and loyal enough to Veridus to deserve a place in a paradise and of course those who have passed his tests. Each spirit is given chances to earn a place in paradise by being sent to the physical world and following Veridus' instructions. If they do so they will, when transported to the spirit world when they die, come face to face with The Gatekeeper who guards the entrance to paradise. He will determine whether you have done Veridus will and if so admit you into paradise for eternity (assuming Veridus doesn't kick you out) while the who fail are cast back into the darkness for 1000 years before being given a second chance.
To help guide humanity Veridus has sent volunteers from paradise back to the physical world to rule as monarchs and be Priestesses. These are given significant power of humanity and should they do a good job they will be granted favours of the God. Should they not do a good job then they will be required to undertake a 2nd life in the physical world when they die but will always after this 2nd life be given their place in paradise back. There are some who believe that the Emperor is someone who has voulenteered for this duty several times.
The faithful try and maintain the Gatekeepers Code which is a series of rules that would give them access to Paradise upon death. Some of these rules have holy texts entirely dedicated to them while others form just a few sentences of the main religious text the Edict of Veridus.
The Gatekeepers Code1 - Rule of Loyalty (Virtus Legis)Every follower must pledge unyielding loyalty to Veridus, demonstrating their devotion through adherence to his teachings and unwavering commitment to the principles of discipline and order. To demonstrate this every child upon reaching the age of six is taken to Temple and given a middle name dedicated to a virtue that the God would want them to demonstrate. When a girl has her first period she is expected to, as an adult, declare her own loyalty to the God. This is done in a ceremony where she reads from the Edict of Veridus in public and then is tattood with the symbol of the faith
, a double crescent. She may have this in one of three places, the base of her neck, her left wrist or right ankle. Boys undertake the same ceremony but at the age of 13 however their tattoo may be either on the base of their neck or right hand. The placement of the tattoo is symbolic but not hugely important. The base of the neck represents a desire to remind yourself to think before you act as the neck is the passageway between thought (the brain) and action (the body) so it reminds us our thoughts control our actions. A womans left hand is the one used to bind herself to a husband during the wedding ceremony so is to remind her that she is always also married to the God. The right ankle is a reminder to walk the right path to ensure they reach paradise. A boys right hand was traditionally the hand weapons were held in so is a reminder to, if necessary, fight in Gods name.
While not common there have been times that a criminal has committed a crime so foul they have been executed and then had their tattoo cut from their body.
2 - Rule of Obedience (Obsequium Divinum):Followers must diligently follow the commandments and guidance set forth by Veridus, recognizing the divine authority and wisdom of the god in all matters. The faithful are expected to complete six acts regularly.
i) Regularly engage in the study of sacred texts, which contain the commandments and teachings of Veridus.
ii) Prayer and Meditation should be undertaken every day. The day should begin with a prayer and end with meditation.
iii) Ritual Observance - During the year there are four major ceremonies along with various more personal ones such as the coming of age ceremonies. These coincide with seasonal equinox's.
iv) Submission to Authority - Recognize and submit to the authority of the Emperor as the earthly representative of Veridus along with his appointed Priestesses. The Emperor's decrees and decisions are considered extensions of divine will, and followers must obey them in alignment with the hierarchical structure dictated by Veridus. This is done by either serving the Emperor directly or maintaining a shrine to the Imperial Family.
v) Acts of Charity and Compassion - Engage in acts of charity and compassion as expressions of obedience to Veridus's call for caring for his creation. By helping others and demonstrating kindness, followers contribute to the maintenance of divine order and reflect the virtues of the faith. Followers are literally expected to do a good deed everyday.
vi) Educational Pursuits - Pursue knowledge and education as a means of understanding the complexities of Veridus's creation. Intellectual growth is seen as a reflection of discipline and a commitment to personal betterment in accordance with divine guidance. In the nightly meditation it is expected to reflect on something you have learned that day.
3- Rule of Hierarchy (Ordo Divinum):Acknowledging the divine order, followers must respect and submit to the established hierarchy, recognizing the Emperor as the earthly representative of Veridus. Even in paradise there is a hierarchy with Veridus at the top and then those who have served him most loyally alongside him. Even the lowest person in paradise lives a life of happiness, no suffering and has the vast majority of their desires meet, those close to the God find his favour easier.
4- Rule of Divine Creation (Cura Creaturae):It is the duty of every follower to care for the world and its creatures, recognizing the divine essence in all of creation. Environmental stewardship and compassion towards all living beings are paramount. Veridus would want to see that his faithful can care for the physical elements of paradise and so if we can not care for the earthly one then we would not his spiritual one. While we are free to use the world he has placed us in we should do so with love and respect.
5- Rule of Personal Betterment (Melioratio Spiritus):Followers must strive for continuous self-improvement, both spiritually and personally. This includes the pursuit of knowledge, the refinement of character, and the development of virtues that align with Veridus's teachings. Education is held in extremely high regard and teachers are considered an honoured profession. Education is promoted in the faith as a life long thing and can come in many forms.
6- Rule of Discipline (Disciplina Animae):Discipline is the foundation of a righteous life. Followers are expected to lead disciplined lives, resisting temptation and overcoming challenges with fortitude and strength. While there are rewards for doing good there should be punishments for doing bad. Criminality is heavily frowned upon and as such punishments can seem harsh and even brutal at times.
7- Rule of Monarchy (Imperium Divinum):The Emperor is the earthly manifestation of Veridus's divine authority. Followers must accept and support the Emperor's rule as an integral part of the divine order, and opposition to the Emperor is considered a violation of divine law. The Emperor is a trusted spirit close to Veridus who has demonstrated the dedication to duty by helping guide humanity in the flesh. Therefore he is to be afforded due respect. The various monarchs and nobles are the trusted friends of the Emperor and thus are also spirits willing to forgo paradise for some time to help humanity.
8 - Rule of Divine Judgment (Judicium Divinum):Acknowledging the afterlife judgment at the gates of paradise, followers must live in constant awareness of their actions, knowing that divine judgment awaits them based on their obedience, loyalty, and adherence to Veridus's teachings. The Gatekeeper knows all about us when we arrive and even our thoughts can betray us. As a result we must not just do nothing wrong we must think nothing wrong. Meditation helps keep our mind pure.
9- Rule of Merciful Opportunities (Misericordia Temporum):Veridus allows for multiple chances for redemption. Followers who fail the test may, after a period of 1000 years in isolation, be given another opportunity to prove their devotion and obedience. As such the faithful are encouraged to act with forgiveness, this however does not mean they forget evil deeds. Punishment is necessary in this life as mandated by Veridus.
10 - Rule of Divine Reproduction (Procreatio Divina):The Emperor, as the earthly representative of Veridus, is granted certain privileges in line with divine purpose. This includes the right to have multiple consorts and offspring, symbolizing divine order and the perpetuation of loyalty to the faith. His bloodline is needed to allow Veridus to send back willing noble spirits to help guide us. In the afterlife we may have many romantic companions and so many would wish to be in the physical world with the Emperor. Children of the Emperor are considered to be among those who have already passed the tests on the physical world once and therefore are expected to be examples to humanity.
RITUALSSpring Equinox (Vernal Equinox) - Ceremony of Renewal:The ceremony is carried out to ensure the continuation of life and growth in the world. The faithful gather in outdoor temples are places of outstanding natural beauty. Once gathered the followers take part in a symbolic planting of seeds followed by acts designed to help promote care for the world such as removing debris from rivers, removing dead trees and the like. Once the work of the day is done there is ritual bathing in natural water sources whenever possible. Prayers are offered thanking Veridus for the opportunity to begin again and for the repeated chances he has given us. The Emperor leads the nation in worship by distributing seeds the day before to the faithful and then planting a sapling in a hole fertilised by the sacrifice of a lamb.
Summer Solstice - Celebration of LightHere the nation celebrate the fact that the light of paradise has triumphed over evil. In the evening the faithful gather outside following torch lit processions. They go to old standing stones at which the centre has been constructed into a large bonfire. The faithful spend the evening sharing drink, dancing round the bonfire and exchanging tokens of friendship with others in attendance. Those not married take part in rituals such as fire jumping which it is believed will show their courage, athletic skills and desire for a partner. The bonfires are part of a national network which acts like a relay. Only when the Emperor lights his bonfire may those within sight of it and so on. Before leaving the celebration each person must throw a token of love for Veridus into the flames before returning home. The fire must not be extinguished by non-natural means and must be watched over until it has "ceased smoking" As such some of these celebrations can last several days.
Autumn Equinox - Harvest Festival of GratitudeThis festival gives thanks to Veridus for giving us a harvest. We thank the God for the gifts he gives us in both the physical and spiritual world. People gather in fields or orchards and celebrate. Feasts are held where each person attending must bring a gift of food to feed at least ten people, so for example if you bring a cake it must be capable of being cut into ten portions. One portion of each dish is buried in the field as a feast for Veridus and the spirits close to him in the spirit world. Men are expected to present girls with gifts of flowers while girls present men with gifts made from wood. The Emperor is expected to hold a large feast at which he will present each guest ( the number determined by the Grand Matriarch of the Temple ten days before the festival) with a gift made from stone. He will also send gifts of flowers to each Temple in the Empire.
Winter Solstice - Night of Reflection and Rebirth:With the days beginning to once more get longer the people celebrate surviving the winter so far and thank Veridus for bringing light back into the world. This process takes a great deal of energy by Veridus and so the festival seeks to help him complete this task. It is a time for reflecting on the trials of the past year and making plans to fulfil the rules of Veridus in the year ahead. The festival takes place in the temples which are illuminated by candles. Each temple has a sacred pit into which an animal is herded and sacrificed, its blood being an offering to Veridus. The most important part of the rituals however take place at the Emperors private Temple and those of the seven monarchs. Here candlelight parades take place through the town. In the morning eight criminals facing the death penalty are executed and their blood drained. This is carried to the temple where along with the animals blood this human blood is poured. The pit containing the blood is passed by everyone as they exit the temple and the faithful are encouraged to dip a piece of fabric into the blood and take it home burning it on their own fire place to bring good fortune for the year ahead.
On the rare occasions eight convicted death sentence prisoners are not available multiple animal sacrifices have been used instead however the faithful believe this is bad luck. Up until the ending of slavery in 1826 if criminals were not available then slaves were sacrificed instead. Up until 1921 the prisoners sacrificed were brought to the temple and executed by having their throats cut. From 1921 until 1962 prisoners were still sacrificed in the temple but using a garrotte and their blood drained post mortem. Since 1962 executions took place by firing squad at either a military base or prison with facilities to conduct a private execution. It is actually believed that by having their blood used in the ceremony Veridus may grant them the chance to return to the physical world in only 500 years and not the 1000.