Archive:Eelgledism
| Eelgledism | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | EE |
| Classification | Mherdic religions |
| Theology | Monolatry Eternal life Panentheism |
| Region | Central Boroso, North-West Boroso |
| Founder | Ikah of Natipis |
| Origin | around 380 CE Natipis, Fals Empire |
| Separations | Western, Eastern Eelgledism, Ájurism |
| Number of followers | ~180 million |
| Temples | 10,277 |
| Tax status | Tax exempt in Fals Empire |
| Other name(s) | Eel Gled |
Eelgledism (Saavdis: Eel Gled /'ɛ:lglɛd/; Fáknir language: Elai Kálet /ɛ'ɫai kʰa͡u'ɫɛt̪/) is a Mherdic religion or group of religions in Boroso based on the writings and teachings of the Sages. Eelgledism was founded between 410 CE and 380 CE in the present-day Fals Empire. It is considered a descendant of the Boorian religion but incorporates a significant influence from Fáknir paganism and Saftian paganism, and later from other native religions in places whereto Eelgledism has spread. It is practiced primarily in the Fals Empire, where 95 percent of the population adheres to some form of the religion. It also has a notable presence in the Fáknir population of Lhavres, but to a lesser extent in the Fals diaspora in other countries. It is often erroneously referred to as the "Fals religion", as other, unrelated Fals religions do exist.
Eelgledism practices monolatry – it describes many gods, but only actively praises one, and condemns the others. Eelgledism finds its narrative in the corpus of scriptures considered to be divine revelations to the Sages primarily containing stories about the god Eel. At the same time, the scriptures also contain interpretations of the divine texts, as well as stories that are not revelatory, or otherwise unrelated to Eel; including among others historical accounts, directions on conduct and behaviour, duties of daily life, and politics.
Eelgledism is split in two main denominations – the largest being Western or Fávekkan Eelgledism; and Eastern or Heedionite Eelgledism, which rejects the writings of the sage Ikah. Smaller denominations like Ájurism, Horism, Íist Eelgledism, and Human Eelgledism also exist, but together make up less than one percent of all followers.
A follower or observer of Eelgledism is called an Eelgledist, or Teltep in Saavdis and Wortáp in Fáknir, both meaning "servant".
Beliefs
Eel
Eel (Saavdis: Eel /'ɛ:l/; Fáknir language: Elai /ɛ'ɫai/) is the primary and only worshiped deity in the Eelgledist pantheon. He is one of thirty gods, all of whom are children of Dav and Ammot.
Struggle of Eel
The Struggle of Eel (Saavdis: Eel ey Gled; Fáknir language: K Elai Ne Kálet), after which the religion is named, is a series of stories describing the cataclysmic events, their consequences, and their conclusion that occur after Eel murders the other gods. They describe Eel's creation of the Fals, and Ammot sending forth several plagues that ravage the world, including humanity, meant to destroy the Fals.
Dav and Ammot
Dav (Saavdis: Dav; Fáknir language: Daf) is the male creator deity in Eelgledism, and is often considered a personification of order and creative intent. Ammot (Saavdis: Ammot; Fáknir language: Hamut) is the female creator deity, associated with chaos and destruction. In the battle between Dav against Ammot, Dav creates of the world as a prison to cage Ammot within. In the process, Dav develops an affection for the world, and shapes it into a piece of art.
The Gods and their Murder
Empire in the Heavens
The Empire in the Heavens (Saavdis: Kuulatir ságmel ic; Fáknir language: En máspat n omo hs) or Heavenly Empire is the realm of the gods, a confined space above the world inaccessible to mortal creatures, and connected to the Plain of Names. From its towering trees, the gods observe the world below.
Eternal life
Plain of Names
Spirit Children
While being present in the Scriptures, the Spirit Children (Saavdis: Harmag; Fáknir language: En karamkn) are not strictly an Eelgledist belief, but are mythological creatures that were present in some form in most pre-Eelgledist Fals pagan religions, with the ones in Eelgledism having descended from the Fáknir concept. They are ghosts or wisps with the form of Fals children that can bring luck or misfortune, fulfill wishes or requests, or in folklore appear more commonly as pestering beings, usually as poltergeists or haunting entities. In canon, they were sent forth by Eel to roam around the world and set right unruliness or what he considers violations of his will.