Luminism
Luminism is the reverence of the lunar deities Alfhen and Svarhen, and is the state religion of the Jinn Empire. Its tenets hinge on the adoration of Alfhen as the supreme goddess over all creation, and the damnation of Svarhen as the traitor god who nearly sowed destruction upon the world.
Structure
Illuminated Emperor: divine conduit to Alfhen and head of the jinn imperial state. Depending on satet politics and denomination, literal embodiment of the divine.
High Paladin: rare and powerful warrior anointed only by the emperor. This title is outside the normal satet hierarchy and has no administrative authority, though they may command things of the other members. Their role is more as divine warrior to head up religious conflict and intervention, or crusades.
Wharh: high priest of the satet, or church. Serves as the actual administrator and functional head of the religion, with unilateral control over canon and satet custom outside of imperial intervention.
Hryss: lesser priests without defined technical rank. Seniority is a big factor, however, and job title within the caste is important to social hierarchy; enforcement, judicial, scholarship, liturgical...
Khonsar: the warrior caste of both the imperium and the satet. Its members are anointed by the Wharh or the Emperor, and functionally make up the military might of the jinn state.
Culture
The core beliefs of Luminism as they answer the fundamental religious questions are:
Origins - luminists believe Alfhen gave form and life to the jinn, that Svarhen gave form and life to the svartali, and that humans/other races are byproducts of the bestial wild.
Mortality - jinn believe that when they die, they pass to the spirit realm and live with Zakhara, their messianic figure. Those jinn who do not follow the tenets of luminism properly do not ascend to be with Zakhara, but instead pass into the nether, void of consciousness (a dreadful concept for a race of beings with such longevity).
How to live - luminist philosophy is based on the superiority complex of Alfhen's chosen people. Jinn are more successful biologically than any other race, and have inner powers as opposed to the svartali who must manufacture theirs. Because the belief in Svarhen's fall and abandoment of his children, jinn also believe they are the stewards of svartali as a "lost" race. This leads to a culture of backhanded generosity versus open hostility to those who oppose their religion, and indifference to those who simply refuse it.
Because of the zealous custom of protecting Alfhen's children from the abandoned, fallen progeny of Svarhen, military might and warrior spirit is an important aspect of luminism. Khonsar are born, not made, and are invariably conscripted into "divine" service. Other castes of jinn are encouraged to endorse the satet with their skills and their innate abilities.
Mythology & Lore
In the beginning, Alfhen and Svarhen emerged from the Nether and wished to create of themselves. Svarhen, in his cleverness, created the matter of the world and its many functions and sciences. Alfhen, in her wisdom and love, created the jinn and endowed them with magic. Svarhen sought to imitate her, creating the svartali of the ground itself and endowing them with cleverness of artifice. Each saw that their creation was wondrous.
For a time, Jinn and Svartali lived in harmony in their lands and created wonders with each other. Their cities knew no equal and their inventions and arts knew no boundaries.
But Svarhen became jealous of Alfhen's innate ability to create life and love out of nothing, and sought to destroy what she had wrought. Alfhen, seeing the danger, gave unto her people great power of the sword to defend themselves from the divine onslaught. A war raged between the fey and the divine, with the svartali joining the jinn as they found themselves betrayed by their divine father. For uncounted time the war shook Aerit to its core, the land splitting and mountains sinking into the sea, until at last a savior was born to the jinn: Zakhara, first empowered with the essence of Alfhen herself.
Zakhara was born of the strongest jinn, of the blackhorn blood that stood strong on the battlefield. Alfhen saw her good heart and strong arm and blessed her with the power of the gods. Leading her people against the onslaught of Svarhen's minions, Zakhara seized victory for the fey - but bittersweet was the war's end, for the land had been smashed beyond recognition and sunk beneath the sea. With trepidation for the future, Zakhara led her people west until they reached new lands.
The wilds of the western continents were too great for the battered jinn and their svartali companions to conquer. Inhospitable humans and other crude races, born of the animals themselves, withheld their hospitality. So the svartali took to the mountains and the eastern hills, hoping to replenish their love of artifice and seek new wonders. Zakhara led her people on a long, arduous pilgrimage until they found a place to build a city; and upon erecting grand structures and growing their people once more, Zakhara passed from the world and ascended to the side of Alfhen. The city was named for her, and all jinn may aspire to her greatness to ascend as well.
Tenets of Faith
Luminism is guided by several important authoritarian tenets but few practical ones.
1. Alfhen dwells within the Illuminated Emperor; none shall be before them.
2. Holy is the word of Alfhen, and spurned it shall be not.
3. Lowly are the people of Aerit, their fate bound to the Nether.
4. Slandered shall never Alfhen be, she who lifts the world from darkness.
5. As Alfhen united the fey, never shall the faithful be sundered.
6. Alfhen lifts all who accept her grace; through Alfhen all may be eternally ascendant.
Ethics
The rules and ethics of luminants are mostly defined by the state, it being a theocratic one; devotional law is minimal, since vocational calling is regarded as the devotion itself.
Luminants are not required to keep relics or symbols of the faith, as it is an established state religion and divergence from it is rare for jinn. Symbolic adherence is mostly architectural, in the building of temples and state-funded structures like military installations, palaces, tombs, forums/markets, and so forth. The symbol of Luminism is also the symbol of the Empire: a crescent representation of Alfhen cradling a spherical Svarhen.
Devotion involves regular festival attendance and giving of alms. There are also a number of sacraments: emergence, anointing, and lustration being the central importance and the most public.
The extremely pious are those who devote themselves wholly to their vocation, which is regarded as their devotion; the pious also may be the especially generous, especially in the support and sponsorship of sacrament.
The enshrouded are those who do not accept Alfhen's grace but otherwise do not break the will of the state (which is the extension of Alfhen's will). In life they do not practice the sacraments, give generously, devote themselves to a vocation, or some combination of those. They will not receive ascendance upon death, but they are tolerated as members of society.
The sinful are those who actively oppose the will of the state and break the law. This extends to those who oppose the Empire from without, such as nations that encroach upon them or publicly attack on the international stage.
Worship
Daily practice: prayer as a prelude to engaging in one's work. Prayer involves general invocation of Alfhen's name, or invocation of the light itself (considered to be the physical embodiment of Alfhen's presence).
Sacraments:
Emergence: the coming of age for young jinn, around age 60-80 or so. It involves choosing a devotion/vocation, and being blessed by the clergy in this endeavor. Ceremonial garb is worn by the emerging jinn and by the clergy, and the sacrament must be held within a satet (temple). Ceremonial garb is crafted by the parents of the emerging jinn, who do not necessarily remain together as married partners after their offpsring are of age. It is also an opportunity for parents and children to reflect on their upbringing and on their mutual relationships in the future.
Anointing: the ceremonial appointment of Khonsar and other warriors after a proving trial. It involves the baptism of the gem-hand in holy water and the bestowing of a holy sigil or glyph upon the warrior. Ceremonial garb is worn and the ceremony must be held within a sanctified place, though it does not have to be a satet.
Lustration: the spiritual cleansing of those entering public service, the peerage, or the clergy. Such a sacrament must be performed by a committee of clergy, including the Wharh or the Illuminated Emperor, and must be held in the Kafre Temple in Zakhara. Ceremonial garb woven by the clergy and washed in holy water must be worn.
Political Influence & Intrigue
Because the Emperor is the Illuminated conduit of Alfhen herself, they are generally in control of the entire court thanks to the zealotry of the court's members. However, because the Wharh is the active administrator of the religion itself, they can undermine the Emperor's will in subtle ways. It also means that the Emperor must comport themselves in ways that adhere to Alfhen's scriptures and writings, as well as those of Zakhara the savior.
Walk in the light
Founding Date
After Zakhara's Death
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Capital
Alternative Names
Alfhenism; Moon-Worship
Demonym
Luminist
Leader Title
Government System
Monarchy, Theocratic
Currency
Kelshe weight system
Legislative Body
Imperial Council
Judicial Body
Satet Court
Official State Religion
Deities
Divines
Related Traditions
Neighboring Nations
Related Ethnicities
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