Monotheism
From FiranMUX
Monotheism is the belief that there is only one God of Firan: Zutiv. Followers of monotheism worship believe that all other religions are heretical, but that some religions are more tolerable than others. Most monotheists are from the Gold Dragon clan or the Hydra clan, which promote monotheism as the clan religion.
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Worship
There is at least one Zutivian Temple in each Firan city. Zutiv is to be worshipped once a day as the sun sets. Zutiv does not require any animal sacrifice, but he does require that a worshiper, at a minimum, follow these steps in worshipping:
- Drink clean water to purify the body
- Wash face and hands
- Clean all weapons and tools
- Find a place where there is a roof and kneel
- Offer all weapons and tools up to Zutiv to take if He wishes
- Confess all dishonesty
- Thank Zutiv for all that is good.
Marriage
Only a priest can marry a couple. The marriage is performed by a type of trial. The couple is tied together at the wrist and ankle and then placed at the entrance to the temple's garden maze. Together they must find their way out of the maze. Meanwhile, the guests leave blessings, gifts, and tokens at the maze's exit. When the couple exits the maze and collects the gifts, they do not know who the presents are from. The priest takes the leather straps off the couple and weaves them together with either fur, feathers, or gold to make two matching necklaces. The priest then says a blessing over the necklaces. At the end of the celebration, the priest ties the necklaces around the necks of the happy couple and pronounces them married.
Dissolution of Marriage
This is done when a couple returns their necklaces to the Priest. The Priest will burn the necklaces, saying the appropriate prayer over them, and will pronounce the couple no longer married. Both the husband and wife must bring their necklace to the priest.
Funerals
A body must be anointed with holy oils and spices that can be obtained from Priests. The body must then be burned on a pyre while asking Zutiv to watch over the dead Firan.
The Priesthood
Men can be Priests of Zutiv. While there are no special titles for those higher up on the priestly hierarchy, there are, clearly, some priests who are more powerful in the order than others. In order to serve Zutiv, one must come to live in the temple. Furthermore, as an initiate, one must offer one's back (freely) to the priests of the temple to beat with a three-tailed whip.
Historically, Zutivian priests have been either warriors or scholars. Zutran is one of the centers of higher learning throughout the Firan realms, and is the seat of Zutiv's eternal flame, as well as his most important temples.
Some priests go there to study and others to train in warfare using a whip.
Once a person has entered the service of Zutiv, one must worship three times a day (once before each meal) in addition to the worship atsunset.
Priests of Zutiv also have the power to bestow blessings upon weapons and have some limited healing powers.
Attitude towards other Religions
All other religions are heretical; however, some religions are more tolerable than others.
Monotheistic Zutivians believe that the polytheists have simply confused Zutiv's minions and incarnations for gods. They do understand the forms and functions of the gods and goddesses in the Firan pantheon, they simply do not believe that they are divine and believe that any worship of them as gods will offend Zutiv. Monotheistic Zutivians seek to convert believers of the pantheon by way of reason and education.
Totem worshippers are less fortunate. Monotheistic Zutivians believe these worshippers to be barbarians who are basically incapable of understanding the divine order of Zutiv, and instead chose to worship Zutiv's favored creatures. Monotheistic Zutivians do not try to convert these people. Instead, they shun them and create laws that make their lives hard.
Atheists or believers in foreign religions are considered, by the Zutivian monotheists, to be enemies of the state and subject to execution if necessary for public order.
