Overview of Faith in Demeria
Mar 4, 2013 17:27:29 GMT -5
Post by Grandmaster on Mar 4, 2013 17:27:29 GMT -5
Despite its cultural diversity and mixed heritages, Demeria maintains its devotions to a single sect of faith. While other beliefs and rituals are permitted, even protected, the people are born, raised and die within the teachings of the Demerian Church. Its rites, rituals, ceremonies and doctrines have been so long a part of the daily lives of the people that it is all but impossible to imagine life in Demeria without the Church, and any efforts to foment dissent within the Church or seek to lessen its influence are met with immediate resistance.
Though the Church traces its origins back to establishment in Linten and Arton, that which was established in Demeria has deviated slightly on both an ecclesiastical and a secular level - the Church in Demeria is neither as intrusive nor as powerful as its distant cousins in the other realms. Decided as much by the founding priests of the Demerian branch as by the King who ratified their presence, it was agreed that the Church should exist to offer spiritual guidance to the flock of souls rather than drive them as had been previous experience.
Consequently, the Church within Demeria is venerated rather than reviled, though naturally there are forces within and without looking to change this position. For now, the foundations of Demeria's faith remain safe in the hands of its aging Archbishop, a gentle but shrewd man looked upon as the Father of All Demeria.
Though the Church traces its origins back to establishment in Linten and Arton, that which was established in Demeria has deviated slightly on both an ecclesiastical and a secular level - the Church in Demeria is neither as intrusive nor as powerful as its distant cousins in the other realms. Decided as much by the founding priests of the Demerian branch as by the King who ratified their presence, it was agreed that the Church should exist to offer spiritual guidance to the flock of souls rather than drive them as had been previous experience.
Consequently, the Church within Demeria is venerated rather than reviled, though naturally there are forces within and without looking to change this position. For now, the foundations of Demeria's faith remain safe in the hands of its aging Archbishop, a gentle but shrewd man looked upon as the Father of All Demeria.