Azztanism
In the Republic of Utlia religion takes the form of the state-controlled Azztan church named the Azz'marin. Azztanism is a monotheistic religion that is mainly worshiped in Utlia and the Utlian East Ocean Territory with smaller groups in the Eastern Bloc. Azztanists worship the being Azzta.
History
Azztanism gets its name from a book of the same name written by Vyren Kiyrn, an Utlian explorer and the founder of Azztanism when he met Azzta in his cave, located in South Utlia. After returning from his expeditions, Vyren distributed the book and had it enshrined by the Frish King, the book was then spread to the various city-states and the Eutan Kingdom by merchants and travellers throughout Utlia. After Vyren's return, the Frish king established the Azz'marin as a way to administrate and govern the religion.
Beliefs
Believers in Azztanism believe that the god Azzta chose Utlia as his sacred island. Azzta takes the form of a massive Utlian Mor-crab that crashed into the island, forming the Crater of Azzta in South Utlia. Azztanists generally believe in the idea that after death, worshipers are sent to The Deep, which is said to be a utopian Ideal of Utlia, sculpted entirely by Azzta themself.
Within Azztanism the occupation of explorer is considered among the holiest, highest respect careers due to Vyren being an explorer himself. This has lead to an idea that you should strive to live your life as an explorer even if you are not one in occupation, in early Azztanism this had a more physically literal interpretation, meaning you should try to wander, explore and seek out places you have never seen before. In modern Utlian society its gained a more abstract meaning, being that you should always be striving for change, still seeking out new things,places and ideas but more tailored to lives that cant drop everything and become nomadic.
View on death
Within Azztanism, death is seen as a natural part of all life, in Azztanism by Vyren Kiyrn, Azzta states that while there is no afterlife in this realm, all his followers go to his domain when they die. This place is called The Deep and is hinted at to be both deep within the cosmos and far under the Maaryn in Azznin, The Deep is said to be only enter-able through death while under the light of Azzta. Azztanists believe that their body is tied to a specific Morsote and its shrines, after an Utlian dies their body is to be buried near a shrine of that Morsote. After death it is said that decomposition of the body is simply the way in which the Utlian travels to The Deep piece by piece, as the whole body cannot travel at once. Azzta states that only those under the light and of Azztanist spirit can venture to the utopian realm, non Azztanists and those of non-Azztan spirit go nowhere instead, their bodies are not tied to any shrine meaning they cannot be transported to The Deep.
Organization
The Azz'marin is state controlled and all priests and scholars of Azztanism must be recognized by the Azz'marin and its head committee to operate within the Republic of Utlia.
Priest types
In the Azz'marin there are 3 kinds of clergymen, Ardey, Ledeys and Cuspmen. The Ardey are the most common and populous of the 3, they are the preachers of Azztanism in shrines. Ledeys are members of the Azz'marin who are former Ardey that have been selected for their exceptional holiness and devotion to Azzta. Ledeys are travelling clergymen, moving between religious sites to preach and pray. Cuspmen are theologians, religious advisors and one of the most respected groups in Utlia. The Cuspmen study the books of Vyren Kiyrn as scholars. They are also the second highest position within the Azz'marin, only below the Kiyr Committee.
Kiyr Committee
The Kiyr Committee is a group of five Utlians who govern the whole of the Azz'marin. Of the five, one of the members must also have a seat at the Upper Cabinet as a religious advisor. The rule is a continuation of the law during the Utlian Kingdom that required a king or queen to have atleast 1 member of the Kiyr Committee in their advisors. The committee is one of the oldest surviving institutions of Utlia, originally being formed when the Azz'marin was first established.
Sojourners
Within the Azz'marin a Sojourner is a person who is recognized as an exceptionally holy person, usually doing some great act in the name of Azzta. The first of these was Vyren Kiyrn, recognized after his death in 1740 TT.
Morsote
Morsote are Sojourners with direct links to Azzta, such as speaking to or being influenced by them.
Practices
Azzta worshipers place a great emphasis on religious eating and the belief of Idols. A common sight in most Utlian homes is a small, rotund wooden crab. These are said to protect the residents of the home from danger and disease, as it allows Azzta to watch over them. On Azztas Day, which falls on the 3rd day of the first month in a new year, Utlians confess their sins to one of these crabs and then destroy the idol, usually by fire, to wash away the sin. In Azztanism, followers will often feast or confess in a shrine, local places of worship managed by Ardey. While there is not a common worship day in Azztanism, most Azztanists will visit a shrine once or twice a week.
It is common for believer families to make trips to the Crater of Azzta and burn wooden crab statues in honour of Azzta.
Holidays
Azztanist religious holidays are as following:
- The Merriment: happens yearly on 12-12, a holiday of celebrating Utlia and Azzta with family, gifts are given and wooden crabs are burned, the holiday is closely associated with the cold season due to its date.
- Decapotent: happens yearly on 12-6 the oldest holiday, mentioned in Azztanism, involves eating of a sacred meal that consists of mor crab and shrefe fruit. The main practice during the holiday is painting pictures of Azzta to give him strength.
- Azztas Day: happens yearly on 1-3, a new year tradition involving the whittling of a small wooden crab, the confession of sins into the crab and then burning of it to "wash away" the sin now trapped within.
- Kiyrnet: A day to celebrate Vyren Kiyrn, festivals are held across Utlia but the largest takes place in Kiyrns birthplace, Unlaunen-Ut. Occurs everyyear on 12-2 to mark the beginning of Kiyrns expeditions into Utlia.
Conversion
Conversion to Azztanism is considered to be a fairly difficult process for non-Utlians. The steps required to fully gain the Light of Azzta that all native Utlians are born with involves gaining Republic of Utlia citizenship (or a similar certification), being approved by the Azz'marin, being enlightened by an Ardey at the Shrine of Azzin in Tinlea-Ut and living in Utlia for multiple years. converts must also participate in holidays and religious service along with visiting Azztanist Holy Sites at least yearly.
Variants
There are few variants on mainline Azztanism but there are larger side strains. These include the eeean and Akarian versions, which take influence from those nations in their practices