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Coruscanti Orthodox Dilatrism
Site Lore
An archaic religion that, while old, is still somewhat fringe among the faiths of the galaxy.
Tenants and Beliefs
The primary basis behind Corusanti Orthodox Dilatrism is a duel-layer belief system. The first layer of the system revolves around the worship of a single, universal god of the entire galaxy. While offshoots of the religion may have different names for this entity; it is most commonly known by its original name: Eis.
While Eis is accepted to be the creator of the galaxy, and thus the most powerful being in existence, it is also accepted that he is not the only divine power. Instead, they believe in a vast pantheon of lesser beings, known as the Eisar, meaning Of Eis. The Eisar serve a role in the religion much like the gods of many polytheistic religions. Each of these beings holds a certain domain under its power; such as war, the harvest, hunting, and poetry. Complete lists of the Eisar differ wildly along even otherwise closely related religious communities, with each group giving different names to their pantheon, and developing either a smaller pantheon (with some domains traditionally held by separate beings being given to one, and others being cut out altogether) or a larger, expanded one.
Unlike most polytheistic religions, however, followers of Coruscanti Orthodox Dilatrism devote themselves to only one member of the Eisar. Only this member will be regularly worshiped by the follower aside from Eis itself, and to devote oneself to more than one being is considered a major cultural taboo (this is due to the belief that the Eisar vie between themselves for worship, and that they will only protect their worshippers from suffering in exchange for singular devotion). While there is no set requirement for this, it is not uncommon for all the members of a particular community to devote themselves to a single Eisar.
In contrast to the Eisar; the religion's mythology also tell of beings known as the Hinthial. Twisted visions of their former existence as Eisar, the Hinthial rebelled against Eis when the galaxy was still young, in a war known as the divine conflict. They believed that all the divine beings should be held equal to one another, and that Eis lorded its authority over its children. For their crimes, the Hinthial were cast out of the heavens and stripped of their greatest powers. Their influence affects the world still, however, infecting all sentient beings with malignant intent that must be fought to be overcome. Followers believe that he Hinthial are the root cause of all suffering in the galaxy.
One of the most prominent beliefs of the religion, as seen by outsiders, if its rejection of force users; as well as the force itself. While this belief did not begin with the religion itself, followers in its youth faced the fact that there existed being (and at times entire species of beings) who seemed blessed power beyond that of regular mortals despite not following the path of the devout. As such, conclusions were quickly drawn that these beings must have sourced their powers from more nefarious means. Currently, the leading consensus among theologians is that in the aftermath of the divine conflict; the souls of the corrupted Hinthial shattered. These shattered soul fragments latch onto mortal beings; granting them seemingly divine power, but at the same time corrupting them and turning them to evil. The origins of force-reliant species are said to be the result of certain groups purposefully binding these soul fragments to themselves; granting them similar power but condemning their descendants to the same corruption.
There exist two main religious scripts in Coruscanti Orthodox Dilatrism. The first, known as the Tul, was written by the lauxum himself. It sets out the essential tenants of the religion; includes a description of Eis, the Eisar, and the Hinthial; and also appears to have once laid out a rough outline of the religion's complete pantheon. Unfortunately, due to its age large sections of the text have been lost; leading to the pantheon being left incomplete and thus subject to such great variance. Sceptics of the religion also note that the text does not contain anything resembling the religions current intolerance of force users.
The second text is known as the Rasna. This text is not a single unified book, instead being comprised of 5 separate tomes written by prominent figures in the religions early history. As these sections were written independently of each other, they are not above contradicting each other when it comes to the religions tenants (for example, two sections provide largely differing lists of the divine pantheon). This had led to no small amount of debate between religious experts. It is worth noting, however, that no fewer than 3 of the text's authors included a stance against force users (though to varying degrees of harshness).
Both the Tul and the Rasna speak of reincarnation being the fate of almost all beings after death. The souls of those who die are believed to live again in another body without any of their previous memories. The being can be reincarnated instantly or a thousand years after death, in the same village as they lived, or on the other side of the galaxy. The only constants are that the soul of a sentient being will never be reincarnated as a non-sentient creature (and vice versa), and a force sensitive will never be reincarnated without the taint of a Hinthial's corruption. It is also believed that those who live faithful lives dedicated to an Eisar will not be reincarnated, instead ascending to live in the divine realm of their patron. As these realms are free of the Hinthial (and thus, free of suffering), this ascension is seen to lead to a blissful existence that should be strived for by the living.
The primary basis behind Corusanti Orthodox Dilatrism is a duel-layer belief system. The first layer of the system revolves around the worship of a single, universal god of the entire galaxy. While offshoots of the religion may have different names for this entity; it is most commonly known by its original name: Eis.
While Eis is accepted to be the creator of the galaxy, and thus the most powerful being in existence, it is also accepted that he is not the only divine power. Instead, they believe in a vast pantheon of lesser beings, known as the Eisar, meaning Of Eis. The Eisar serve a role in the religion much like the gods of many polytheistic religions. Each of these beings holds a certain domain under its power; such as war, the harvest, hunting, and poetry. Complete lists of the Eisar differ wildly along even otherwise closely related religious communities, with each group giving different names to their pantheon, and developing either a smaller pantheon (with some domains traditionally held by separate beings being given to one, and others being cut out altogether) or a larger, expanded one.
Unlike most polytheistic religions, however, followers of Coruscanti Orthodox Dilatrism devote themselves to only one member of the Eisar. Only this member will be regularly worshiped by the follower aside from Eis itself, and to devote oneself to more than one being is considered a major cultural taboo (this is due to the belief that the Eisar vie between themselves for worship, and that they will only protect their worshippers from suffering in exchange for singular devotion). While there is no set requirement for this, it is not uncommon for all the members of a particular community to devote themselves to a single Eisar.
In contrast to the Eisar; the religion's mythology also tell of beings known as the Hinthial. Twisted visions of their former existence as Eisar, the Hinthial rebelled against Eis when the galaxy was still young, in a war known as the divine conflict. They believed that all the divine beings should be held equal to one another, and that Eis lorded its authority over its children. For their crimes, the Hinthial were cast out of the heavens and stripped of their greatest powers. Their influence affects the world still, however, infecting all sentient beings with malignant intent that must be fought to be overcome. Followers believe that he Hinthial are the root cause of all suffering in the galaxy.
One of the most prominent beliefs of the religion, as seen by outsiders, if its rejection of force users; as well as the force itself. While this belief did not begin with the religion itself, followers in its youth faced the fact that there existed being (and at times entire species of beings) who seemed blessed power beyond that of regular mortals despite not following the path of the devout. As such, conclusions were quickly drawn that these beings must have sourced their powers from more nefarious means. Currently, the leading consensus among theologians is that in the aftermath of the divine conflict; the souls of the corrupted Hinthial shattered. These shattered soul fragments latch onto mortal beings; granting them seemingly divine power, but at the same time corrupting them and turning them to evil. The origins of force-reliant species are said to be the result of certain groups purposefully binding these soul fragments to themselves; granting them similar power but condemning their descendants to the same corruption.
There exist two main religious scripts in Coruscanti Orthodox Dilatrism. The first, known as the Tul, was written by the lauxum himself. It sets out the essential tenants of the religion; includes a description of Eis, the Eisar, and the Hinthial; and also appears to have once laid out a rough outline of the religion's complete pantheon. Unfortunately, due to its age large sections of the text have been lost; leading to the pantheon being left incomplete and thus subject to such great variance. Sceptics of the religion also note that the text does not contain anything resembling the religions current intolerance of force users.
The second text is known as the Rasna. This text is not a single unified book, instead being comprised of 5 separate tomes written by prominent figures in the religions early history. As these sections were written independently of each other, they are not above contradicting each other when it comes to the religions tenants (for example, two sections provide largely differing lists of the divine pantheon). This had led to no small amount of debate between religious experts. It is worth noting, however, that no fewer than 3 of the text's authors included a stance against force users (though to varying degrees of harshness).
Both the Tul and the Rasna speak of reincarnation being the fate of almost all beings after death. The souls of those who die are believed to live again in another body without any of their previous memories. The being can be reincarnated instantly or a thousand years after death, in the same village as they lived, or on the other side of the galaxy. The only constants are that the soul of a sentient being will never be reincarnated as a non-sentient creature (and vice versa), and a force sensitive will never be reincarnated without the taint of a Hinthial's corruption. It is also believed that those who live faithful lives dedicated to an Eisar will not be reincarnated, instead ascending to live in the divine realm of their patron. As these realms are free of the Hinthial (and thus, free of suffering), this ascension is seen to lead to a blissful existence that should be strived for by the living.
Structure
The primary structure of Coruscanti Orthodox Dilatrism is based off of small groups of believers lead by a single man or women devoted solely to matters of faith. These people, known as lautun, are responsible for spiritually guiding those under their influence, and interpreting the will of Eis and their patron Eisar. As a result of the religion's beliefs as it relates to singular worship of an Eisar, it is not uncommon for a small community that would otherwise need only one lautun to have two if there are significant populations within the community devoted to two separate Eisar. It is also possible that one of these religious leaders might also serve in a position akin to a Mayor for particularly small villages and communities.
Beyond this system of leadership, the religion is remarkably decentralized. Many worshipers will never know an authority higher than their local lautun. This is not to say that there is no higher authority, as there does exist a governing body for the entire religion. This group is known as the Tamera, and is made up of eleven of Coruscant's lautun, 2 representing each of the 5 authors of the Rasna and the last -as well as the informal leader of the group- representing the Lauxum. While the Tamera used to be highly influential among worshipers, now they're authority is generally in name only. While they still hold sway over the core worlds, most followers beyond the colonies go about their lives without acknowledging the heads of the religion.
The primary structure of Coruscanti Orthodox Dilatrism is based off of small groups of believers lead by a single man or women devoted solely to matters of faith. These people, known as lautun, are responsible for spiritually guiding those under their influence, and interpreting the will of Eis and their patron Eisar. As a result of the religion's beliefs as it relates to singular worship of an Eisar, it is not uncommon for a small community that would otherwise need only one lautun to have two if there are significant populations within the community devoted to two separate Eisar. It is also possible that one of these religious leaders might also serve in a position akin to a Mayor for particularly small villages and communities.
Beyond this system of leadership, the religion is remarkably decentralized. Many worshipers will never know an authority higher than their local lautun. This is not to say that there is no higher authority, as there does exist a governing body for the entire religion. This group is known as the Tamera, and is made up of eleven of Coruscant's lautun, 2 representing each of the 5 authors of the Rasna and the last -as well as the informal leader of the group- representing the Lauxum. While the Tamera used to be highly influential among worshipers, now they're authority is generally in name only. While they still hold sway over the core worlds, most followers beyond the colonies go about their lives without acknowledging the heads of the religion.
History
Coruscanti Orthodox Dilatrism was first founded several millenea ago by a man now known as the Lauxum. Little is known about him, aside from that he spent his life on Coruscant and became the author of the Tul; the religions primary religious text. The faith created by the Lauxum remained small for what is estimated to be several centuries, during which several sections of the Tul were lost or damaged.
It was in the 14th millennium BBY that the religion truly began to gain a footing outside of its place of origin. This was made possible largely due to the Tamera being formed; with its first members compiling what became the Rasna. With a new book of faith in hand; missionaries were dispatched to worlds throughout the inner rim, with pockets of followers becoming ingrained in worlds such as Alderaan; Chandrilla; and Corellia. These communities naturally spread throughout the galaxy over the following generations, spreading their faith with them first to the Colonies, and then eventually even as far as the Mid Rim. Historians regard this period as being the height of the religion. While they never held true sway over any planetary government, they often featured as a not insignificant faction in the politics of some of their more densely populated worlds.
In the years that followed, severe mismanagement of the Tamera over several generations led to many of the communities beyond the inner rim isolating themselves from the rest of their brethren. With their copies of the sacred texts, they preferred to follow their faith apart from the increasingly corrupt management of the religion. Spread of the faith slowed to a near stop, and while eventually the Tamera once again housed competent members, they would never again hold the influence that they used to among the now "rogue" sects throughout the galaxy.
As well as this, the rise in prominence of the Jedi as peacekeepers of the galaxy led to a general discrediting of Coruscanti Orthodox Dilatrism as a religion. Many communities split from the faith in the belief that their guardians could not possibly have been corrupted by evil, and the faith in general became a shell of its former self. During this time, a progressive faction within the theologians of the faith began to preach the theory that force users were not inherently evil; and could even ascend to the realms of the Eisar if they devoted themselves to the faith. In the years leading up to the one hundred year darkness, this faction had come close to taking complete control of the spiritual direction of the religion.
Unfortunately, this was not to last. The start of the great jedi civil war resulted in a veritable explosion of conservative sentiment within the Tamera and the religion at large. Arguments made in favour of force users not being inherently evil were burned right alongside the makers of those arguments, and the religion as a whole turned inwards once again; rejecting the force and force users; and becoming isolationist to an even greater degree than had been seen before among the communities. The war also gave rise to the greatest spread of new believers in the religion, as people saw the arguments about force users made in the Rasna as being true and justified. By 6903 BBY, the strongest groups of believers could now be seen on planets such as Onderon and Serenno; worlds that had most strongly rejected both the jedi and their exiles.
Coruscanti Orthodox Dilatrism was first founded several millenea ago by a man now known as the Lauxum. Little is known about him, aside from that he spent his life on Coruscant and became the author of the Tul; the religions primary religious text. The faith created by the Lauxum remained small for what is estimated to be several centuries, during which several sections of the Tul were lost or damaged.
It was in the 14th millennium BBY that the religion truly began to gain a footing outside of its place of origin. This was made possible largely due to the Tamera being formed; with its first members compiling what became the Rasna. With a new book of faith in hand; missionaries were dispatched to worlds throughout the inner rim, with pockets of followers becoming ingrained in worlds such as Alderaan; Chandrilla; and Corellia. These communities naturally spread throughout the galaxy over the following generations, spreading their faith with them first to the Colonies, and then eventually even as far as the Mid Rim. Historians regard this period as being the height of the religion. While they never held true sway over any planetary government, they often featured as a not insignificant faction in the politics of some of their more densely populated worlds.
In the years that followed, severe mismanagement of the Tamera over several generations led to many of the communities beyond the inner rim isolating themselves from the rest of their brethren. With their copies of the sacred texts, they preferred to follow their faith apart from the increasingly corrupt management of the religion. Spread of the faith slowed to a near stop, and while eventually the Tamera once again housed competent members, they would never again hold the influence that they used to among the now "rogue" sects throughout the galaxy.
As well as this, the rise in prominence of the Jedi as peacekeepers of the galaxy led to a general discrediting of Coruscanti Orthodox Dilatrism as a religion. Many communities split from the faith in the belief that their guardians could not possibly have been corrupted by evil, and the faith in general became a shell of its former self. During this time, a progressive faction within the theologians of the faith began to preach the theory that force users were not inherently evil; and could even ascend to the realms of the Eisar if they devoted themselves to the faith. In the years leading up to the one hundred year darkness, this faction had come close to taking complete control of the spiritual direction of the religion.
Unfortunately, this was not to last. The start of the great jedi civil war resulted in a veritable explosion of conservative sentiment within the Tamera and the religion at large. Arguments made in favour of force users not being inherently evil were burned right alongside the makers of those arguments, and the religion as a whole turned inwards once again; rejecting the force and force users; and becoming isolationist to an even greater degree than had been seen before among the communities. The war also gave rise to the greatest spread of new believers in the religion, as people saw the arguments about force users made in the Rasna as being true and justified. By 6903 BBY, the strongest groups of believers could now be seen on planets such as Onderon and Serenno; worlds that had most strongly rejected both the jedi and their exiles.
Intent
In making this religion, I wished to add diversity to our lore through an extra worldview that can be held by NPCs and PCs alike. As well as this, I felt that an anti-force religion would fit well in the aftermath of the hundred year darkness, and add further depth to the timeline. This was originally a religion made by KaiserMelech, which I am editing and resubmitting with his permission (screenshots of this permission will be sent to Malon.)
In making this religion, I wished to add diversity to our lore through an extra worldview that can be held by NPCs and PCs alike. As well as this, I felt that an anti-force religion would fit well in the aftermath of the hundred year darkness, and add further depth to the timeline. This was originally a religion made by KaiserMelech, which I am editing and resubmitting with his permission (screenshots of this permission will be sent to Malon.)
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