═───╡❖╞───────────────────────────═ EPHYRA ═───────────────────────────╡❖╞───═
═───╡❖╞──────────────═ Issue of Dispute ═──────────────╡❖╞───═
═───╡❖╞────────═ Religious Tolerance Survey ═────────╡❖╞───═
═───╡❖╞──────────────═ Issue of Dispute ═──────────────╡❖╞───═
═───╡❖╞────────═ Religious Tolerance Survey ═────────╡❖╞───═
Does YN have a state religion?
Yes.
If so, does your government's laws and legislature rely mostly or entirely on that religion's ideas?
Partially, but not mostly or entirely.
What is the biggest religion in YN (not including atheism)?
The Old Pantheon (known also as the Old Way).
Is your populace religious?
Not excessively. Religion is secondary to the immediate interests of the citizens of the empire.
What is the state of religious freedom in YN?
One is free to privately worship any deity, yet cults to the Great Enemy (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) are persecuted at varying levels. It is criminal to try and convert Imperial citizens to a singular faith. Most 'Ephyral atheists' regard the Ephyral Old Gods as being symbols of Imperial values without existing as conscious entities and deities.
If your majority religion tolerates the concept or idea, answer with O. If not, answer with X. Note that this doesn't apply to the populace as a whole; this only refers to the followers of the biggest religion in YN. Comments welcome.
Atheism: [O]
Atheism, either recognising the Ephyral gods merely as symbols and holding as fervently to the Ephyral values as a pious citizen, or in the form of simple rejection of theistic worship, is an accepted position in the empire. It is more prevalent amongst the nobility than it is the freeholder classes of the empire, and the position of atheism is being more and more looked upon as the position of the critical thinker.
People not in your religion: [O]
The Old Pantheon has no hostility to outsiders of the religion. A key Ephyral belief is that in death, Ishaxis devours everyone alike. How you embrace death and live life is viewed as the valuable aspect. Death is final for all. Because of this, there is no perceived afterlife and very little in the way of religious moral value. As a result, it's not really possible to be shunned as an individual as 'immoral', though one can still break state laws.
It is believed that Nalarion, the god of primal rage and hatred, favours those warriors who spill the blood of the outlander; the ignorant and the foreign. However this bloodshed is not thought to be born of a religious conviction to purify the outsiders but rather the defensive urge to protect the purity of the society within. Because of this, Nalarion is viewed as the patron of the armed forces and will smite the barbaric foreigners. The nature of these people's worship is of very little concern to anyone.
Polygamy: [O]
Polygamy is not common. It is rarer than the ritual practise of incest (also spawned from Nalarion). Due to the fact that the Old Pantheon will officiate polygamous weddings, it can then be inferred it is supported. The Old Pantheon lacks expansive religious texts but a few, and none of them actually touch on the concept of polygamy as either a permissable or abhorrent act. It was simply the reality of the Old Empire and later the Undying Empire that powerful men of pure blood and strong will would lay claim to multiple women.
Pornography: [-]
The Old Pantheon has no leanings either way. Culturally porn is not something openly discussed either negatively or positively.
Homosexuality: [-]
There is no position on this because the Ephyral as a culture does not recognise homosexuality as existing. They note a difference between desiring sexual acts with the same-sex for pleasure, and for reproduction. The former has its own controversies depending on social status and sexual active/passive position, whilst the latter (often registered as emotional investment) is regarded as a sickness. Ultimately how people respond to it is an entirely varied ideal and there's no religious or cultural consensus on how to respond to same-sex behaviours.
The rest of the LGBT community: [-]
Aside from trans, which outside of a religious issue is viewed entirely as a sickness, there is no cultural or religious stance facing bisexuality, asexuality, or other such preferences. The Ephyral would prefer that you keep it to yourself, as the moment you demand recognition for it, you permit everyone to form judgements about you and forfeit the right to complain.
Sodomy: [-]
Anal sexual activity is not explicitly mentioned in religious texts either as good or bad, and priests of the gods will not divulge any such answers beyond their own opinion. The validity of sodomy as a sexual act is varied by situation. Whilst it's deemed the norm for male same-sex acts, it's regarded as abhorrent for male-female sex acts (for the reason it's valid before). Yet these opinions are culturally, not religiously motivated.
Insobriety: [-]
Whether one is drunk or not is not a religious concern. It can however be a legal matter if one is creating a disturbance.
Fornication: [X]
Most despised in the form of adultery. Premarital sex is discouraged but not outright forbidden. Adultery is however deemed to be flagrant disregard for a union sanctified by the gods.
Stem cell research: [O]
There is nothing here that violates religious standards. Individual priests have cited opinions on stem cell research, and would (as do many Ephyral) that Ephyral not be used for testing, but no one speaks for the gods or the religion on this matter.
Science in general: [O]
Scientific advancement and understanding of the world is a worthy endeavour under the view of the gods.
Abortion: [-]
Ephyral culture renders abortion illegal and taboo. Yet as the act of abortion is not a religious affair, it is not cited either way in any religious texts. Despite this vagueness, Ephyral are however convinced that abortion is an offence to the gift of life given by the gods, and whilst some priests do promote this viewpoint, it is not backed up.
Contraception: [-]
The same as abortion, only people are far less hostile to contraception as it is the prevention of life, not its termination.
Women leading in your religion: [X]
As a result of the same cultural precedent of women not being permitted to rule or inherit, it is a religious standard that women may not become high priest/esses of the Old Pantheon. Women may however rise to high points in specific religious cults, and religions that permit the ascension of women are allowed in the Undying Empire. The High Priests of the Ephyral gods are male however.
Men leading in your religion: [O]
This is deemed the norm and is supported.
Is there any other information needed to be aware?
Tradition and culture is held in greater regard than religious superstition. The Ephyral gods exist as a representation of mastery and hierarchy. Their laws exist upon themselves. The power to create laws in their name lies upon the monarch of the empire, who is also the High Priest of Ishaxis. Thus the people do not turn to the gods when seeking moral and legal guidance but assess cultural tradition independent from religious involvement and legislation set in response to developments. Whether a division of the clergy believe one way or the other about a particular subject is ultimately irrelevant because the mass of people who follow the gods either religiously or not do so for their own reasons, though are generally united in a general disregard for theological law.
Theological law is viewed as necessary in the demonic cults of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and thus the Ephyral hold religions that mandate law in suspicion, and though other law-based religions are permitted, the Ephyral count very few of their own numbers in their worship. The Ephyral regard any moral obligations and actions they must undertake as being of a personal nature, or a cultural one to the benefit of the Ephyral civilisation, not to the chagrin or favour of a god.
Yes.
If so, does your government's laws and legislature rely mostly or entirely on that religion's ideas?
Partially, but not mostly or entirely.
What is the biggest religion in YN (not including atheism)?
The Old Pantheon (known also as the Old Way).
Is your populace religious?
Not excessively. Religion is secondary to the immediate interests of the citizens of the empire.
What is the state of religious freedom in YN?
One is free to privately worship any deity, yet cults to the Great Enemy (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) are persecuted at varying levels. It is criminal to try and convert Imperial citizens to a singular faith. Most 'Ephyral atheists' regard the Ephyral Old Gods as being symbols of Imperial values without existing as conscious entities and deities.
If your majority religion tolerates the concept or idea, answer with O. If not, answer with X. Note that this doesn't apply to the populace as a whole; this only refers to the followers of the biggest religion in YN. Comments welcome.
Atheism: [O]
Atheism, either recognising the Ephyral gods merely as symbols and holding as fervently to the Ephyral values as a pious citizen, or in the form of simple rejection of theistic worship, is an accepted position in the empire. It is more prevalent amongst the nobility than it is the freeholder classes of the empire, and the position of atheism is being more and more looked upon as the position of the critical thinker.
People not in your religion: [O]
The Old Pantheon has no hostility to outsiders of the religion. A key Ephyral belief is that in death, Ishaxis devours everyone alike. How you embrace death and live life is viewed as the valuable aspect. Death is final for all. Because of this, there is no perceived afterlife and very little in the way of religious moral value. As a result, it's not really possible to be shunned as an individual as 'immoral', though one can still break state laws.
It is believed that Nalarion, the god of primal rage and hatred, favours those warriors who spill the blood of the outlander; the ignorant and the foreign. However this bloodshed is not thought to be born of a religious conviction to purify the outsiders but rather the defensive urge to protect the purity of the society within. Because of this, Nalarion is viewed as the patron of the armed forces and will smite the barbaric foreigners. The nature of these people's worship is of very little concern to anyone.
Polygamy: [O]
Polygamy is not common. It is rarer than the ritual practise of incest (also spawned from Nalarion). Due to the fact that the Old Pantheon will officiate polygamous weddings, it can then be inferred it is supported. The Old Pantheon lacks expansive religious texts but a few, and none of them actually touch on the concept of polygamy as either a permissable or abhorrent act. It was simply the reality of the Old Empire and later the Undying Empire that powerful men of pure blood and strong will would lay claim to multiple women.
Pornography: [-]
The Old Pantheon has no leanings either way. Culturally porn is not something openly discussed either negatively or positively.
Homosexuality: [-]
There is no position on this because the Ephyral as a culture does not recognise homosexuality as existing. They note a difference between desiring sexual acts with the same-sex for pleasure, and for reproduction. The former has its own controversies depending on social status and sexual active/passive position, whilst the latter (often registered as emotional investment) is regarded as a sickness. Ultimately how people respond to it is an entirely varied ideal and there's no religious or cultural consensus on how to respond to same-sex behaviours.
The rest of the LGBT community: [-]
Aside from trans, which outside of a religious issue is viewed entirely as a sickness, there is no cultural or religious stance facing bisexuality, asexuality, or other such preferences. The Ephyral would prefer that you keep it to yourself, as the moment you demand recognition for it, you permit everyone to form judgements about you and forfeit the right to complain.
Sodomy: [-]
Anal sexual activity is not explicitly mentioned in religious texts either as good or bad, and priests of the gods will not divulge any such answers beyond their own opinion. The validity of sodomy as a sexual act is varied by situation. Whilst it's deemed the norm for male same-sex acts, it's regarded as abhorrent for male-female sex acts (for the reason it's valid before). Yet these opinions are culturally, not religiously motivated.
Insobriety: [-]
Whether one is drunk or not is not a religious concern. It can however be a legal matter if one is creating a disturbance.
Fornication: [X]
Most despised in the form of adultery. Premarital sex is discouraged but not outright forbidden. Adultery is however deemed to be flagrant disregard for a union sanctified by the gods.
Stem cell research: [O]
There is nothing here that violates religious standards. Individual priests have cited opinions on stem cell research, and would (as do many Ephyral) that Ephyral not be used for testing, but no one speaks for the gods or the religion on this matter.
Science in general: [O]
Scientific advancement and understanding of the world is a worthy endeavour under the view of the gods.
Abortion: [-]
Ephyral culture renders abortion illegal and taboo. Yet as the act of abortion is not a religious affair, it is not cited either way in any religious texts. Despite this vagueness, Ephyral are however convinced that abortion is an offence to the gift of life given by the gods, and whilst some priests do promote this viewpoint, it is not backed up.
Contraception: [-]
The same as abortion, only people are far less hostile to contraception as it is the prevention of life, not its termination.
Women leading in your religion: [X]
As a result of the same cultural precedent of women not being permitted to rule or inherit, it is a religious standard that women may not become high priest/esses of the Old Pantheon. Women may however rise to high points in specific religious cults, and religions that permit the ascension of women are allowed in the Undying Empire. The High Priests of the Ephyral gods are male however.
Men leading in your religion: [O]
This is deemed the norm and is supported.
Is there any other information needed to be aware?
Tradition and culture is held in greater regard than religious superstition. The Ephyral gods exist as a representation of mastery and hierarchy. Their laws exist upon themselves. The power to create laws in their name lies upon the monarch of the empire, who is also the High Priest of Ishaxis. Thus the people do not turn to the gods when seeking moral and legal guidance but assess cultural tradition independent from religious involvement and legislation set in response to developments. Whether a division of the clergy believe one way or the other about a particular subject is ultimately irrelevant because the mass of people who follow the gods either religiously or not do so for their own reasons, though are generally united in a general disregard for theological law.
Theological law is viewed as necessary in the demonic cults of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and thus the Ephyral hold religions that mandate law in suspicion, and though other law-based religions are permitted, the Ephyral count very few of their own numbers in their worship. The Ephyral regard any moral obligations and actions they must undertake as being of a personal nature, or a cultural one to the benefit of the Ephyral civilisation, not to the chagrin or favour of a god.
