World Info: Religion

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Before the Mass Depopulation, there were eleven dominant religions spread out over the planet Aili. They were the source of much of the conflict in pre-peace times, since they ran the gambit from polytheistic, monotheist, animist and didn’t have anywhere near the same traditions and in some cases values as one another. The exact percentage of the population that believed in which faith did not affect which group survived the Mass Depopulation; people closest to the portal to Earth were wiped out most thoroughly, and the portals, being a scientific endeavor, were in a very populous city. In addition, one religion believed in faith healing to the point of refusing to see doctors, wiping them out entirely.

 

After the Mass Depopulation, there are three dominant religions: Abhan, Ionsai, and Ucatin. They have a 54, 37 and 9 percent following, respectively.

·         Abhan is polytheistic. There are four gods – note that in this language ‘god’ is gender-neutral – named Fuam, Aigean, Ealas, and Riona. The latter two are female. Fuam is the god of anger, vengeance, hatred and night. Aigean is the god of calm, forgiveness, love and understanding. Ealas is the god(dess) of atonement, fairness and law. Riona is the god(dess) of the lost, guardian of children and women, giver of life who places souls into being. All four are associated with liquid – the ocean, rain, blood and rivers, respectively. A great respect is placed on water and cleanliness within the Abhan faith, as well as politeness, but revenge has always been seen as a healthy part of the soul itself lashing out in defense. This enables them to reconcile their faith and their plans for humanity; indeed, it enables them to hang onto their anger as the right and sane reaction.

·         Ionsai is monotheistic, with one god called Tine. Tine’s one commandment is that life, in its sacredness, be preserved and made as painless as possible. Tine’s writings come from three books as old as Ailian history; naturally this means there’s a divide of three denominations within the resulting religion. Regardless, the focus on life’s being sacred can and has been used as a driving force by religious leaders to urge people to kill off humanity. It’s Tine’s will.

·         Ucatin has no gods but spirits in everything, and is extremely private in nature. They barely got out of the Mass Depopulation intact and were on poor terms with others beforehand. Afterwards, they’ve simply withdrawn from bringing up their faith, preferring instead to just try to co-exist.

 

Alisdair is a sworn in member of the Unity of Abhan. His father always worshipped Fuam, but Alisdair feels a particular closeness to Riona, and often slips out in the night to pray by the riverside or sometimes simply sit and try to feel her presence among the sounds of the river. That said, he has been known to partake in Ealas’ atonement rituals, including skipping meals and not allowing himself water when he feels he has failed as a follower of the four Abhan.