Difference between revisions of "Catologism"

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In Catologism several 'groups' are distinguished in the hierarchy of Life and Death.
 
In Catologism several 'groups' are distinguished in the hierarchy of Life and Death.
  
Above all there is the '''[[Council of Gods]]''', which formed after the devastating Chaos War between Gods and Microns. This Council, established by Cato, who had fought His way to the top, became a group of the most powerful deities that had ever existed.
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Above all there is the '''[[Council of Gods]]''', which formed after the devastating [[Chaos War]] between Gods and Microns. This Council, established by Cato, who had fought His way to the top, became a group of the most powerful deities that had ever existed.
  
 
Beneath the Council, there existed hundreds, and even thousands of gods that, in the eyes of the Council are of minor importance. However, from time to time, there is one of those gods that shows enough potential to get included by Cato in the Council.
 
Beneath the Council, there existed hundreds, and even thousands of gods that, in the eyes of the Council are of minor importance. However, from time to time, there is one of those gods that shows enough potential to get included by Cato in the Council.
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Of course, within each hierarchy stands '''humanity'''. We listen, we serve, we pray. And while so little and weak in such a powerful hierarchy, we are seen as the cornerstone of stability that could make the difference in the conflicts between higher creatures.
 
Of course, within each hierarchy stands '''humanity'''. We listen, we serve, we pray. And while so little and weak in such a powerful hierarchy, we are seen as the cornerstone of stability that could make the difference in the conflicts between higher creatures.
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[[category:Kildare]]
 
[[category:Kildare]]
 
[[category:Religion]]
 
[[category:Religion]]
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[[category:Catologism]]

Revision as of 16:07, 10 September 2013

Sun Symbol of the Catalogian Faith.
  • If you're looking for more information about older variants of Catologism: Ancient Catologism.

Shiro-Catologism, shortened to Catologism and represented on Micras by the Catologian Church, is a religion which has its roots in Batavian-Catologism. It's mainly practised in Kildare and Maraguo.

The religion grew over time and knows many variants. Those ancient variants are, since the move of the Catologian Church to Apollo City in 5141 ASC no longer seen as the True preachings of the Faith. Based upon the old South Batavian teachings, together with new revelations by the priests who had contacted the Gods, the Shiro-Catologian Faith came into existence.


The Pillars of the Faith

Catologism is a faith, based upon some principles (also called the Pillars).

The first Pillar is the believe in the Council of Gods: the only gods worthy worshipping, as these are the only ones who can reach the fullest potential of their powers. They are, de facto, raised above all other deities. This situation leads to a dangerous situation, as many gods are jealous and seek to take over the Council (some gods would have united into a dark union, which in the past had lead to the Kaiming Emperor of South Batavia going mad and killing himself). Within this pillar there is an important rule that should never been forgotten: Cato is above all gods, as He is oversees the Council.

The second Pillar is the Heavenly Mandate, granted to a ruler on Micras to represent the Gods on this world. It is the believe of Catologians that the Mandate protects Micras against the evils of the world. While helped and blessed by the gods, it makes the one who has received the Mandate a target for envy by other gods who want to overthrow the Council. For this, the ruler who was granted the Heavenly Mandate should be worshipped as a demigod during His or Her life. Through history, the Batavian Kings, the Heavenly Lights of South Batavia and now the Kaiser of Shireroth, have been granted the Heavenly Mandate.

The third Pillar is the belief in the Wheel of Life. Catologians believe that when they die, they stand before Germania, who uses the Wheel to see what the death's future will be. Their are several possible outcomes: reincarnation (not always into human form), based upon how virtuous the person was in his life, is a possibility. But some deaths become ghosts, so they can protect their former living place (or take revenge for something that happened), or even demigods. Others, who have to be punished for their deeds or haven't lived life to the fullest potential, end up in the Mines of the Afterlife. Just a few reach what is called Myxosea: a world for the spirits to come to rest.

The Council of Gods

The Catologian Faith recognises the existence of many deities. It, however, denies that all those gods are worth worshipping. Only the deities that are worthy in the eyes of Cato can reach their full potential as guardians over the universe. Those gods are part of the pantheon, which is called the Council of Gods.

Central to Catologism is the believe in Cato, a wise and sly god who in the beginning was just a minor gods in the shadows of many other creatures, but eventually rose to power. After several Wars between the Gods, which He survived, His worshippers became more fanatic and spread the word. He oversees the Council of Gods and grants deities membership to the Catologian pantheon. It is said that, in his early years, he impregnated Lumina, after which Malarbor was born. This could, of course, just be rumours.

Hieronymus Erasmus emerged from the crowd and became the Prophet of Cato. In Catologian believe, he became the Messenger of the Gods (which makes Him popular with seers and priests who try to reveal more knowledge).

The Goddess Germania, originally a goddess of cult that wasn't part of the Church, became well known as Goddess of Death and Life and Ruler of the Mines of the Afterlife (where those who had to be punished or hadn't lived their life to the fullest potential were forced to work).

From the old Southbatavian stories was the one of Sisera, who once was the Heavenly Light of the Southbatavian Empire, seen as the most impressive. Her aggressive stance towards enemies (and sometimes even allies) made Her worthy in the eyes of Cato to become member of the Council of Gods. She became the Goddess of War and Destruction.

When the Catologian Faith started to spread through Kildare, it came into contact with the Cedrist belief and the admiration of the Kildari for the Squid God of Time, Sakat. The Catologians didn't know if Sakat was a God worthy to join the Council of Gods, so they begged Hyroniemus for wisdom and guidance. Hieronymus took their message to Cato, who promptly invited Sakat for a fishing trip. Impressed by Sakat's power (within no time he had emptied the lake of fish), Cato welcomed Him in Their middle.


Groups

In Catologism several 'groups' are distinguished in the hierarchy of Life and Death.

Above all there is the Council of Gods, which formed after the devastating Chaos War between Gods and Microns. This Council, established by Cato, who had fought His way to the top, became a group of the most powerful deities that had ever existed.

Beneath the Council, there existed hundreds, and even thousands of gods that, in the eyes of the Council are of minor importance. However, from time to time, there is one of those gods that shows enough potential to get included by Cato in the Council.

In that group of deities, most are content with the role that was given to them in the Hierarchy of the Universe. But some, who are called Baishens, seek a way to weaken the Council and destroy or lock up all the other gods that are in their way. From the point of view of the Catalogian gods, the Baishens are pure evil, as they seek the destruction of their hierarchy. It is however said that for humanity, that they don't immediately would pose a threat and would just like to replace the Council Gods. However, the chaos that would come out of the destruction of the Council, would bring forth chaos and anarchy in the world. For this reason, priests and clergy oppose the Baishens in each way possible.

Demigods, ghosts and demons are also recognised by the Church as servants of the Gods and Baishens. While their powers are limited, they help their masters with fulfilling the tasks they are ordered to do (mostly because meddling directly in the human world is seen as not done). It was the spirit of Hieronymus who warned Magister Miguel for the coup d'état by Yuan Windsor on the South Batavian Throne (the death of the Kaiming Emperor and Yuans ascension to the Throne were all part of the Baishens plan to weaken the Council's power on Micras). For bringing this message and helping the Gods, Hieronymus would later be promoted to 'Messenger of the Gods' and receive the deity-status himself.

Saints are those who have fought in name of the Gods for a better life for others, or to protect the Church and its Gods. They are meant as examples for society.

Microns were seen as disloyal servants of the Gods who sought power through science. They were almost totally destroyed, according to Catologian documents, in the Chaos War. The Plague that spread through the universe led to the escape of the Gods to the Celestial Planes (effectively leaving Micras) and the Microns to some enclaves, hidden from the rest of the world.

Of course, within each hierarchy stands humanity. We listen, we serve, we pray. And while so little and weak in such a powerful hierarchy, we are seen as the cornerstone of stability that could make the difference in the conflicts between higher creatures.