[center][img]http://fontmeme.com/freefonts/img.php?f=36517&s=60&t=Religions%20&c=FFFFFF[/img][/center] [hider=Qutreli] [b]Name Of Religion:[/b] Qutreli (Qwa-Trel-ee) [b]Followers are Called:[/b] Qutrelian, or Qutrelist. [b]Creation:[/b] The creation of the world. Before time there was no sky nor earth, only an empty void. One day, a gap formed in the void, as Li the divine creator awoke for the first time. All that was lighter than the gap headed upwards and formed the sky. All that was heavier than the gap fell down to become the earth. Li was so overcome by the beauty of the black sky and dark earth the Li cried tears of joy. Li's tears fell to the earth, creating the oceans, and seas. The God Ne and Goddess Ma were born from Li's last two tear drops, as they fell into the great ocean. Ne and Ma joined Li in Bashae, and Li welcomed them to life. Li created gifts for his new children. Li made the moon For Ne, and the sun for Ma. Later Ne and Ma bore two children together, the Goddess Ku, and the God Ko. For the celebration of their birth Li put the stars into the sky. Li created all the fish in the seas, and birds in the skies for Ku to love and care for. And then Li spun the earth like a top for Ko, and night and day were created, and thus time started. Many Eons past, and the earth became overrun with animals, as death had yet to be created. Ne, Ma, and Ko pleaded with Li to take away some of the animals from their beloved earth, as it had become cramped and chaotic. Ku objected, as she love every animal as her own child. But Li agreed, and so Li created death by taking away the animals immortality. And the cycle of life on earth began. Ku was distraught, as every day more of her animal children died. Li tried to explain to Ku that the after an animal dies their lifeforce only exits their mortal body, but is still wondering the earth. Li had hoped this knowledge would make Ku happy, but it only made her more sad. She cried and begged Li to bring them back to life, as she could not see, hear, or touch her animal children when they had become lifeforces, all she wanted was for Li to give them back immortality. Li told Ku that once something is created it can not be unmade. And so death would always be apart of earth. But with all of Ku's tears and pleading, Li decided to bring the wondering lifeforces up into Bashae, and give them bodies. Ku was so happy to have her children brought live with her in Bashae, she pledged to never ask for anything from Li again. Li had thus created the first souls. Thousands of years past, and every time a animal was born on earth a new soul appeared. And every time an animal died on earth, their soul would ascend to Bashae to live among the Gods, and Li. In a short time these animal souls had come to overrun Bashae, and so Li created reincarnation. Li sent all the souls in Bashae, one by one back to earth to be reborn. Thus there was no more new souls begin created. At this point in time all souls were born with all their memories from their pasts intact. Tigers with a rabbit soul, Birds with the soul of a whale, and mice with the souls of bears, made life on earth incredibly chaotic. So Li had to make it so that every time a soul was reborn they would forget their past life and selves. The creation of people. One day Ma sculpted two statues out of clay she gathered from the earth. She had made one look like her son Ko, and the other her daughter Ku. Ma painted the statues and gave them jewels for eyes. Ku and Ko were overjoyed when Ma presented the statues to them, and Ne draped cloth woven from the stars upon them. Ko and Ku also wished to add to Ma's beautiful statues. Ko dusted them in a shimmery powder he had made from all the things he loved on earth. And Ku took one of her beloved souls, split it in two and placed half in one, and half in the other. The statues came to life, and Li named them Yara and Yoon. They looked and sounded like the gods, but they had a shared soul of an earthly being, and were not immortal. So a short time later, Li decided that it was best for Yara and Yoon to live their lives on earth. The day came for the Gods to all say goodbye to their most beloved creations of all, and as parting gifts each God blessed Yara and Yoon. Ma blessed them both with creativity, and gave Yara the gift of Prophecy, and Yoon the knowledge of fire. Ne blessed them with wisdom, and gave them tools. Ko blessed them with prosperity, and strength. Ku blessed them both with the knowledge of everything on earth, from the plants and animal, to the weather, and seasons. Ku also secretly blessed them with the gift of fertility, and ability to create a family. Li brought Yara and Yoon down to earth, and explained to them all the ways they could still contact the gods in Bashae. Through prayer and rituals. Li formed a small home for them made from stone, and he promised them divine protection and happiness on earth as long as they never broke the rules he laid out for them. Do not kill, do not lie, do not steal, do not harm, keep the gods in your thoughts, and do not lay with other souls. Li went on to explain everything that is the Qutreli religion, or true way of life. Li went back to Bashae after binding Yara and Yoon together in marriage. [b]Afterlife:[/b] They believe that after they die, their soul goes on to live with the gods in the sky Kingdom aka Bashae. That is, unless the Li decided they are not complete. Then instead their soul is reborn. Most say that someone has to go through life 10 dozen times before they are accepted by the gods, and allowed into Bashae. [b]Dogma:[/b] [b]Deity:[/b] - Li - Divine Creator. Li is genderless, and not considered a God, but rather they highest power in the universe. Every person is apart of Li, as Li is the creator of everything. Li is the mother and father of all. Li creates new souls. Li is the judge, jury and sovereign of Bashae. Li is the one who decides if your soul is ready to enter Bashae, or needs to be reborn. - Ku - Goddess of Life, Fertility, Spring, Woman, Birth, Family, Agriculture, Truth, Health, and Animals. - Ne - God of Night, The Moon, Winter, Stars, Sleep, Change, Wisdom, Water, Protection, and Hunting. - Ma - Goddess of Day, Beauty, Nature, Summer, The Sun, Prophecy, Light, Fire, and Creativity. - Ko - God of Death, Men, Autumn, Strength, Crossroads, Travel, Prosperity, War, and Time. [b]Rituals:[/b] [b]Funeral Rites:[/b] [b]Coming of Age:[/b] [b]Babies & Birth:[/b] [b]Marriage & Weddings:[/b] The groom follow a band of musicians to the bride's home. During the ceremony, the couple wear crowns made of paper and flowers, joined by a ribbon signifying the binds of marriage. A Kuma leads the couple and their bridal party three times around the altar while well-wishers cheer, sing songs and throw dried lavender buds. It is believed that marriage is blessed by Li and the gods when both the bride and Groom are true soulmates, and have found their other half. [b]Religious Leaders:[/b] Woman are the only ones with positions within the Religion. Kumas take a vow of chastity in order to devote themselves to the study and correct observance of holy rituals, and prayer. Some of a Kuma's tasks include Giving blessings, guarding sacred artifacts, caring for the sick, praying on behalf of the people, preforming ceremonies, keeping safe wills, testaments, and historic text. They also are to maintain the sacred fire, that is to be kept going at all times. [i]High Kuma[/i] - She is the leader of the Qutreli Religion. She is the matron and overseer of all the Kumas. [i]Kuma[/i] - [i]Zukuma[/i] - This is a priestess of the Their duties encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Zukuma's commitments include the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people. Basically they are a religious order of midwives, nurses, surgeons, healers, and pharmacist. [i]Likuma[/i] - When Qutrelian girls turn twelve they are sent to the Shrine house to begin their two year seclusion within. The girls learn the arts of healing, medicine, food preservation, weaving, midwifery, cooking, knitting, money management, calligraphy, and they attend to the Kumas. After two years they are given the chose of taking Kuma vows, or going back to their families to marry, work and have families of their own. After completing their two years they are considered official Likumas. A Likuma is a [b]Worship Practices:[/b] - Prayer - [b]Shrine House:[/b] [b]Missionary Work:[/b] ---- believe in four gods, called Ku, Ma, Ne, and Ko. Woman are the only ones with position within the Church. Priestess take a vow of chastity in order to devote themselves to the study and correct observance of holy rituals, and prayer. The Shrine house is the home of the priestesses and high priestess. The shrine house is also the sacred temple of the Treva people. The inside of the Shrine House is off-limits to the males. Some of a Priestess's tasks include the maintenance of the sacred fire, that is to be kept lite at all times, Giving blessings, guarding sacred artifacts, caring for the sick, praying on behalf of the tribe, preforming ceremonies, and keeping safe wills, testaments, and historic text. [/hider] [hider=Sol Cielo]sun god[/hider] [hider=Estello Lune]moon goddess[/hider] [hider=Sorok Bogi]40 old gods,[/hider] [hider=Finiarel] [color=fff79a][b]Name Of Religion:[/b][/color] Finiarel (fen-nEE-ah-rel) [color=fff79a][b]Followers are Called:[/b][/color] Finius [color=fff79a][b]Creation:[/b][/color] [color=fff79a][b]Afterlife:[/b][/color] [color=fff79a][b]Dogma:[/b][/color] The religion revolves around pursuing the unity of Crol and Manji. [color=fff79a][b]Rules:[/b][/color] The eight divine standards of Finiarel. - Benevolence - Justice - Knowledge - Integrity - Loyalty - Continuity - Self-effacing - Cleanness nobility of blood vs nobility of virtue -- strict, obligatory gender roles... teach that a virtuous woman was supposed to follow the lead of the males in her family, especially the father before her marriage and the husband after she marries. arranged marriage, no divorce, and when widowed no remarriage and must stay chastity. woman should be silent, hard-working, and compliant [color=fff79a][b]Deity:[/b][/color] [color=fff79a][b]Rituals:[/b][/color] [color=fff79a][b]Funeral Rites:[/b][/color] [color=fff79a][b]Coming of Age:[/b][/color] [color=fff79a][b]Babies & Birth:[/b][/color] To notify the neighbors of a birth of a child, a woolen strip was hung over the front door. If dyed red this indicates a female baby. Dyed yellow this indicates a boy had been born. Dyed black if the baby was stillborn or died shortly after birth. If the strip is tied in a bow this indicates the mother had died. [color=fff79a][b]Marriage:[/b][/color] Girls are expected to marry very soon after they get their first period. Thus girls typically get married in their early teens, and often to a much older man. Marriage is normally arranged from a very early age. Though the girl does not know or meet her husband until the wedding day, after her father and betrothed agree to the dowry. Boys do not typically marry until they are in there 30s, as a man has to establish himself within the Finiarel community, and serve five years as a Lorage before being offered marriage bids. [color=fff79a][b]Wedding:[/b][/color] Weddings last three days. [b]-First Day-[/b] It is extremely important that the Bride is a virgin, so the mother of the groom is given the task of confirming if the bride-to-be's virginity is intact. In cases when the grooms mother is not alive, then his aunt, grandmother, or a married sister is given the task. Just after dawn the groom, and brides father sacrifice a cow together. They drain the blood into a large pot, and also toss in the organs. The dead cow is then butchered, and the meat is gifted to the brides family. The cowhide is sent to a tanner to be made into a rug. It is the bride's female relatives that have the job of making the wedding stew. Wedding stew is made with the organs and blood of the sacrificed cow, along with chili peppers, garlic, lentils, onions, and coconut milk. The stew is made in a huge pot, and cooks all day, and all of the second day so it can be served hot at the wedding feast on the third day. Once her virginity status is confirmed the bride spends the day alone in a locked room where she is expected to reflect and pray as she grinds up the cow bones into a fine powder. She also is not to eat or drink anything until the wedding feast on the third day. [b]-Second Day-[/b] A Groom spends the day bathing in the hot springs with male relatives and friends. They drink large amounts of wine, and get very drunk. The Bride is allowed out of the locked room. Most of her day is spent making bowls out of clay mixed with the bone powder. But much of the time is spent among her female family members singing and telling stories. Before bed her mother cuts the bride's hair until its only an inch or two long. This is the first and last hair cut a Finiarel woman will ever receive in her life. (Unless her son dies in battle. Then it's copped off to chin length.) [b]-Third Day-[/b] This is the day the ceremony and wedding take place, and is also the first time the bride has ever seen/met the groom. The bride is washed in a warm bath and rubbed down with sunflower oil by her female relatives. A blue wool dress is [url=http://i.imgur.com/XL3278B.png]worn[/url], and a crown of herbs is placed atop her head over a white veil. The Bride carries a jorum of warm milk and fragrant oil down an aisle to where the groom sits. She must not spill any of it, as that would bring hardship, and unluckiness to the marriage. She bows her head to him, and he kisses her forehead. Then she kneels down in front of him, and places the jorum at his feet. He puts his feet in, and she washes them. After washing and drying his feet, he stands up gives her his hand to help her up from the floor. They stand side by side and recited the marriage vow. Then the presiding deacon marks the bride and grooms foreheads with a red dot of paint, blessing them as official man and wife. With the ceremony complete it is time for the wedding feast. [color=fff79a][b]Religious Leaders:[/b][/color] [b]Lorage[/b] - A man between the ages of 15-25, who is serving as a soldier of Manji. (similar to a paladin or crusader) Men must serve as a Lorage for a minimum of five years before they can marry. [b]Hebe [/b]- A female priestess that works in the temple and function as dancer, and prostitute servicing male devotees in the temple. They also operate as a spiritual guidance counselor, and matchmakers. Lots of girls who are the youngest of many sisters, typically chose to enter the temple to become a Hebe, as they have hardly any dowry to gain a husband with. Hebes also have more freedom and rights within the religion. Any children born to a Hebe are sent to live with her relatives, or they are adopted by other Finiarel families. Children of Hebes are seen a blessed and luck bringers. [b]Acolyte[/b] - A male priest that works in the temple [b]Deacon[/b] - [b]Elder[/b] - [b]Manji Vessel[/b] - A Hebe or Acolyte can volunteer to become the Manji Vessel. Basically someone from the group of hopefuls is selected by the Elders to be the Manji Vessel after the death of the current one. There is only one Manji Vessel alive at a time. Once chosen they surrendered their name, position, and identity upon becoming the new Manji Vessel. During the ritual their tongue is cut out, and a concoction of oleander, datura, belladonna, Opium, and Psilocybe is poured down their throat, resulting in seizures, psychosis, brain damage, tetanus, hallucinations, paranoia, delirium, and mania. Their face is never seen again, as they wear a mask or veil at all times. Once the ritual is complete the Manji Vessel is enshrined in the high temple. The Manji Vessel is thought to be the oracle, and earthly embodiment of Manji contained within a body. It is considered the highest honor to be chosen to be the Manji Vessel. No one but the elders know what happens during the secret ritual. The Manji Vessel's psychotic ramblings, and fits are a daily occurrence and the Elders translate the incomprehensible babbling into prophecy and knowledge. [color=fff79a][b]Worship Practices:[/b][/color] - Prayer - [color=fff79a][b]Shrine House:[/b][/color] [color=fff79a][b]Missionary Work:[/b][/color] [b][color=fff79a]Key Word:[/color][/b] - [b]Crol[/b] = Soul. This is a persons immortal spirit, and source of sanity, and unlimited potential to improve and learn. - [b]Manji[/b] = Heaven. The source of reality, harmony, the cosmos, and nature. All that is, will be, and ever was. [/hider]