Akalism
Akalism | |
---|---|
Scripture | The Nas |
Theology | Radical Dualism, Reincarnation |
Structure | Monasticism |
Ondra (classical) Kovari (reformed) | Kvizeri Skalojori Elorae Axiven |
Region | Liosol, Trans-Miraria |
Founder | End of Limve |
Origin | c. 293 Masina (Eastern Liosol) |
Branched from | Iovism Alotol folk religions |
Separations | Orthodox, Lohetan, New Age, Solamese |
Akalism is the state religion of Asota, Liosol, and Loheta and is a minority religion in many other Mirarian states. A highly syncretic religion originating from the Recam region of Liosol, Akalism is an agglomeration of many folk religions and early teachings of Iovism, brought to Western Miraria by the Letsatian Empire. It is centered around the god Akal (and sometimes Dahanö), from which the name originates. It was founded in c. 293 in modern-day Liosol by the prophet End of Limve. Akalism believes that the world was created by two gods, Akal, god of life and light, and Dahanö, god of death and darkness. Despite being the god of darkness, Dahanö is not seen as evil, as he merely takes people to the afterlife when they die and is necessary to keep balance in the universe.
Etymology and meaning
The autonym for Akalism comes from the Proto-Quatic akihi etezal (lit. moon war). In 1383, the common name became akezal after the Kingdom of Setoel translated the holy texts into the vernacular. Akalism's holy book, the Naz comes from the word for "bleached paper" as the practice was common during the time of its printing.
Theology
Scripture
The Nas
The Book of Nas (Alotol: limthapde nasair) is Akalism's main text. It's name comes from the Alotol word for "answer."
Creation
The Nas details the creation of the world in the book joid jademirar (vision of the world). According to the book, Akal and Dahanö engage in combat at the beginning of the ages. "Dahanö the deceiver" plucks out one of Akal's eyes and throws it aside. It becomes a hollow rock, now known as the moon. As revenge Akal throws Dahanö down and removes his "eternal cloak", leaving him with nothing but bones. Dahanö fled from the fight and hid in his cloak, as a means to escape the infinite cold. Akal cursed the cloak and wept on it as she cried out in pain.
Representation
Dahanö is most often represented as a skeletal humanoid bird, due to the fact that the [Naz] describes it as a "lifeless husk devoid of flesh, yet still showing signs of the former glory of an angel".
Akal's representations differ depending on the source. Some depict it as some hooded humanoid figure, but the general consensus is that Akal is not a physical being, as opposed to Dahanö, and is thus often said to be the fabric of the universe itself.