Manual of Etiquette: IV - Temple Etiquette
From FiranMUX
It is the duty of every Firan to attend temple regularly to pray and worship, showing their respect to the god or gods whose home the temple is. While this is not a religious treatise and I shall not delve into arguments for polytheism or monotheism, nor address in great detail the specific forms of worship and ceremonies particular to each temple or circumstance as these are matters for priests to discuss, there are some points of etiquette which should unite them all.
To attend a temple, the house of a god, may be considered analogous to visiting the home of another, with many of the same rules applicable. The wonders of the gods themselves serve as invitation to worship, from the lightning which crosses the skies to the growth of plants, from the creativity we are granted to the victories we achieve in battle. When one is regularly faced with invitations of such awesome magnitude, what excuse have we to remain in our homes without giving thanks to the gods?
Several temples require specific dress for worship, or specific dress or even undress for particular ceremonies, but regardless of the dress required, it should generally be clean and in good repair. To attend the house of a god wearing a dirty tunic implies that the god is not worthy of your effort, that going to worship was simply an afterthought when returning from some other event where one has allowed oneself to become dirty. Indeed, several of the gods insist that a follower must wash themselves and/or their equipment upon entering the temple, and to arrive unbathed and filthy, only to pay lip service to this requirement by dabbing a tiny drop of water to the face and hands is an insult in the face of the god one seeks to honour.
On arrival at a temple, to draw a parallel with visiting the house of a mortal, one should naturally greet the host and offer gratitude for their hospitality before one greets any other guest. In the temple, one is expected to pay one's respects to the altar before moving off to greet any fellow worshipper. Should one be in the temple when an acquaintance arrives, therefore, it is the very height of poor manners to greet them until they have paid their respects at the altar, as they should be forced to either ignore your greeting or to respond and risk offending the very god they come to venerate. Every action within the sacred grounds of a temple is observed closely by the gods, and one should bear this in mind at all times.
Under no circumstances at all should one partake in violence within a temple. To do so is to risk the wrath of the gods on all Firans. If one remembers nothing else of this scroll, remember this lesson!
Voices should be kept low and respectful while in the temple, and one ought to remain silent while a priest is leading worship unless called upon to speak. Should one be called upon, one should rise to one's feet in respect for the god, and speak in a clear, confident voice which might be heard, not mumble and mutter as though one has a sickness of the mind. Private conversations, whispering with messengers and giggling should be saved for after the service. To take part in such behaviour when one's attention ought to be fully on the prayer and reflection led by a priest is simply arrogant. Likewise one should not use the temple ceremony as a suitable time to enjoy luncheon or snacks. Such things might wait until a more appropriate time. If you are truly hungry, eat before the service!
It is offensive to both the god whose temple it is and the god to whom you pray for one to pray to a different god while there. Should one hold conflicting beliefs, simply remain respectfully silent while others around you pray to that god.
In general, although certain temples have different degrees of latitude in the matter, animals such as horses, oxen, goats or dogs should not enter the temple with their owner, unless the animal is particularly favoured by the god in question. The temple is a place of worship, not a farmyard or cattle auction, and to allow in animals, particularly during a service or ceremony, is in particularly bad taste as it should disrupt the prayer of those in attendance. No matter how beloved one's pet, if it is not complementing the worship of the god it may remain equally beloved when tied at the door.
While the guidelines above should be useful in most circumstances, each temple is unique, with its own set of rules which should be followed above all things. If one is uncertain, speak with a priest to establish the requirements of each particular god before risking offending them by failing to adhere to these. Lastly, one should not go far wrong if one is to observe one's fellow worshippers in general, rise when they rise, sit when they sit and otherwise ape their behaviour.
