| Pages: [1] :: one page |
| Author |
Thread Statistics | Show CCP posts - 0 post(s) |
Spoon Thumb
Caldari
Paladin Imperium
Curatores Veritatis Alliance
   |
Posted - 2008.02.18 13:47:00 -
[1]
This is mostly aimed at a certain person  but what are the main differences, if any, between the church establishments in the Kingdom and the Empire?
Do they share the same heirarchy, dogma/canon, beliefs and practices or even the same clergy (as many different churches might have the same patriarch or pope)?
Khaldari
khanidpublic: RP channel for Kingdom loyalists
Recruiting |
Rodj Blake
Amarr
PIE Inc.
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
|
Posted - 2008.02.18 14:06:00 -
[2]
I imagine that they'd be pretty similar as five hundred years is like a blink of an eye for the Amarrians.
Dulce et decorum est pro imperium mori.
|
Dex Nederland
Caldari
Lai Dai Infinity Systems
|
Posted - 2008.02.18 15:45:00 -
[3]
Wouldn't there be regional and possibly planetary differences?
I realize 10,000 years is a long time and it would slowly change over time, but there are differences between various churches who claim the same basic beliefs have different details partly because of where they live.
Unless a LDIS Press Release is made, the views of its employees are their own. |
Arderich
Bruderschaft des Wahrhaftigen
|
Posted - 2008.02.18 17:00:00 -
[4]
If your question is mostly aimed at a certain person then why donÆt you talk to this person?
Here is my opinion. As far as I know there are no differences described in the backgroundstory. The only statement I remember now is this line in the Khanid Kingdom chronicle: ôOther features, such as the importance of religion and slavery, are also very much alike in the two states.ô
This is not really a satisfying answer. Importance of religion must not mean it is the very same religion. However I do believe it is safe to say the chronicle is talking about the very same religion. If that would not be the case I think it would have been mentioned.
So the religion in the Kingdom is 100% identical to the religion in the Empire? I think itÆs the same religion but with a slightly different interpretation.
Religion is a tool to justify the power of the elite / holders, to justify the caste system, to justify slavery, to justify everything. The preachers in the Empire will justify the reign of Heideran VII. The preachers in the Kingdom will justify the reign of Khanid II. All preachers use the very same scriptures but different interpretations.
Example:
ôThe Lord gave our Emperor the power to harness the Good and punish the Evil.
Ever since, the Emperor has lived the lives of his subjects and breathed the air of authority."
The EmpireÆs preachers say the Emperor is the unquestionable authority because he had won the succession. The Khanid preachers say Heideran had not the power to harness the Good and punish the Evil and therefore can not be chosen by God. If Heideran was a false Emperor then Doriam must be invalid, too. I think both sides are very much aware it is a power game and has nothing to do with real faith. Both sides will continue with this gamble as long as they see an advantage for themselves.
With this in mind I do believe the Khanid Kingdom must have something to counter the institution of the Theology Council (Church of Khanid). Khanid II offering Tetrimon a safe haven is another hint into the direction that there are religious distinctions.
Having only black and white, Khanid or Empire interpretation of the scriptures would be far too simple from my point of view, though. It would be also misleading but more on this later. I do believe there are countless major and minor sub cults in the Empire and in the Kingdom. Example of a major: ô As could be expected ArdishapurÆs domains are very backward in many ways, as more time and effort is spent on following strict religious services than on economical or social advances. For many modern Amarrians moving around the realm of the Ardishapur-family is like taking a trip back in time.ô Ardishapur is an example of a more or less tolerated fraction of amarrian religion (letÆs call it orthodox). Without a doubt religion inside ardishapurian realms plays a different role than in other amarrian regions. I am sure there are many others as much as I am convinced there are many not tolerated sub cults hunted down by the Inquisition. There are plenty hints in the backgroundstory. I wouldnÆt be surprised if each planet has itÆs very own saints and very own traditions.
|
Arderich
Bruderschaft des Wahrhaftigen
|
Posted - 2008.02.18 17:02:00 -
[5]
The huge problem within the amarrian cultural sphere is that some Holders are so powerful, they can split from the Empire and have their very own competitive state. This happened with Khanid. It could happen with others as well. Religion is the only thing that holds this mess together. The need for a standardised state religion that is fighting unwanted sub cults is crucial for survival for the Amarr Empire as a whole. Different interpretations of the scriptures can not be welcome. Most if not all Holders will recognize the need of an institution like the Theology Council as long as the power of the Theology Council doesnÆt disrupt their very own power for too much.
This however is not/no longer a given. The example of Aritcio Kor-Azor is one example (it is for sure not the example that finds the most sympathy, though), the current situation the Bleak Lands caused by HeideranÆs decision to prevent local holders building up their very own fleets is another example. Sarum Navy standing against Amarr Navy before the succession of Doriam. Idonis Ardishapur talking about ôthe risk that heresy poses to Amarrian civilization today and the recent disintegration of its core valuesô shortly before the succession. All this are signs that not every amarrian Holder is happy with the exercise of power supported by the Theology Council. This is first and foremost an internal amarrian problem (incl. Khanid Kingdom) but not a Khanid-Empire conflict.
Summery: religion is a flexible power tool for Holders. As stronger the Holders are as more they want to have their very own interpretation that suits their very own needs. The counter is the standardised (but also flexible) state religion which serves the Emperor and a centralized government the most, against the interests of individual holders.
|
Arderich
Bruderschaft des Wahrhaftigen
|
Posted - 2008.02.18 20:07:00 -
[6]
Addendum:
ItÆs getting even more difficult. The scriptures are not only a single book. ItÆs a huge library which not only contains religious doctrines, prayers and such things but also science, laws, history and so on.
The core of the scriptures to some extend are documents from the time before the eve gate collapsed. The Amarr consider this core parts as being given by the Sefrim.
Now itÆs getting messy. Other parts were added at a later stage. This seems to be an ongoing and never ending process of adding and revaluation. From this point of view it would be no surprise that the latest parts will differ in Kingdom and Empire. I must admit that it might not only be a dispute about different interpretations but also a dispute of what is canon and what is not. This seems to contradict with my previous post but I think the core problem is the different interpretation.
If we have differences among christians because of different translations and different opinions what is canon and what is apocrypha then it is no surprise that the amarrian scriptures of such epic dimensions will give countless reasons for dissensions (f.e. Tetrimon). The eternal conflict between different interpretations is a part of amarrian RP. House Ardishapur also has some very old ædocumentsæ and I would not be surprised if they will make a difference in the future.
|
Nomakai Delateriel
Amarr
|
Posted - 2008.02.18 22:15:00 -
[7]
Considering the amount of PF dealing with various Amarrian cults (some heretical, some merely strange) I think that with the exception of some key issues (mostly revolving around Khanid himself and the legitimacy of his actions) the differences within the Empire and Khanid Kingdom are greater than the differences between the Empire and the Khanid Kingdom.
______________________________________________
-You can never earn my respect, only lose it. It's given freely, and only grudgingly retracted when necessary. |
Spoon Thumb
Caldari
Paladin Imperium
Curatores Veritatis Alliance
|
Posted - 2008.02.19 14:50:00 -
[8]
I suppose again I'm probably trying to make false analogies to RL. Was thinking something like where you have different churches and some are purely differentiated on religious beliefs whilst others are different in practices and yet others are different in that they are directly linked into the mechanics of a state/nation or a combination of all three
The way you describe the Amarr religion sounds a lot more like the way scientific community operates at the moment (where one paper refers to and is based on an older work, which in turn is based on an older work etc etc)
Khaldari
khanidpublic: RP channel for Kingdom loyalists
Recruiting |
| |
|
| Pages: [1] :: one page |
| First page | Previous page | Next page | Last page |