RELIGION in RAGHA
Zaharianism
The symbol of Zaharianism, featuring a yellow circle representing oneself, surrounded by dark arches representing evil, with a yellow line going through the arches and connecting with a larger circle representing god to represent the constant connection with god even when surrounded by evil.
The Zahari faith, also known as the Zaharian faith or Zaharianism, was founded by the prophet Narseh in the 9th century. Narseh was born in Vaslekar, in what was then the predominantly Muslim Setab empire. Narseh taught of a new form of connection with god, without organized times or rules for prayer, based more on a constant connection with god through verbal or non-verbal prayer. Narseh taught of a somewhat more forgiving god than the previous abrahamic religions had taught of. Narseh also believed that those who followed other abrahamic religions were communicating with god, even if their practices differed, though this message has faded overtime, especially with the establishment of the theocratic government in Ragha. His teachings were initially shunned in Vaslekar due to the strong Islamic beliefs of the people and empire at the time. He moved to the smaller mountain city of Gashan, now named Narsehshar, where his beliefs caught on. Here he wrote himself the teachings of Zaharianism into a scripture now known as the Lirvan. The Zaharian faith spread in the inland areas of the Setab empire and continued to spread until it lead to the collapse of the Muslim government and the establishment of the Zaharian-centric Tezdar empire in 1082. Narseshar became a holy city for the Zahari faith, with Zaharians establishing the practice of making the pilgrimage to Narsehshar, just like Narseh had from Vaslekar.
Zaharian practices and beliefs:
- If possible, Zaharians should make the pilgrimage to Narsehshar at least once in their lifetime
- Zaharians do not believe in the holy spirit. They believe in god in a single form, they communicate with him directly
- Zaharians stoutly reject drugs of any kind. They believe drugs are the means by which satan influences the mind.
- Zaharians do not have a specific way by which they pray. They believe that as long as you stay connected with god constantly regardless of what position, verbally or non-verbally, he will hear you.
- At least initially, Zaharians believed that god, and the same god, communicates with all those who make the effort to communicate with him, regardless of their religious practices or their denomination.
Today Zaharianism is the basis of the Republic of Ragha. The state is constructed around preserving the faith and defending it from influence from other faiths, as well as spreading it elsewhere. Some scholars argue that defending the faith from external influence and rejecting other abrahamic faiths goes against the teachings of Narseh.
Islam
The Jezmani peoples are an ethnic minority in the northern region of Ragha that follow Islam. They continue to face persecution by the Raghan government for their refusal to follow Zaharianism. Their numbers are decreasing due to attempts to convert their people or eject them from the nation. A vast number of scholars from outside of Ragha have harshly criticized the government's persecution of the Jezmanis, saying that it goes against the teachings within the Lirvan, and that followers of another abrahamic religion should never be converted by force or harmed for their beliefs because they are loyal to god as well.
Manism
The theocratic government has continually dismissed Manism as a false religion, saying that it cannot be considered an Abrahamic religion, that it's teachings are morally wrong, and even insulting Mani on occasion. This has created tensions between Tamora and Ragha ever since the Theocratic Republic was established.