Savonism Organization in Kollark | World Anvil

Savonism

Savonism is very freeform, and is about someone's personal connection with their Divines.

Structure

Savonism is a very individual practice, but there is some hierarchy to it. Within certain divine temples there may be more specific roles for certain members to fulfill, but most divines do not require much of their followers, if anything.
 
A Savonite is anyone who practices Savonism, and is also the name for those who have no larger role in the religion. Savonites will worship any number of divines that they wish to, though most will choose a patron divine that they keep a full shrine for and worship others using a Savon box for each divine. They practice largely on their own, with family, or with friends. Savonites don't normally plan or organize rituals or festivals.
 
Polysavons are those Savonites who have decided to worship all divines equally. Because there are so many divines with many different needed traditions and rituals, polysavons are few and far between, and therefore worship on their own. They often use only small shrines or Savon boxes for the divines, and are expected to keep all worship spaces equal, and treat all divines equally. Polysavons have often dedicated their life to worship of divines, but because they must treat each equally, they are usually only welcome in general temples and Savonism Festivals, as opposed to festivals that are specific to certain divines.
 
A Devotee is someone who has gone to a temple and officially devoted themselves to a certain divine. They may not worship other divines but are still expected to treat them with respect. Devotees often keep a large shrine to their chosen divine, sometimes taking up an entire room. Devotees will practice on their own or with other Devotees, and will occasionally help Savonites whose patron is their chosen divine. Devotees will often volunteer to help for rituals and festivals that are specific to their divine, or they will help with the part of a ritual/festival that includes their divine.
 
Acolytes are the lower caste of those who work in temples. They are devotees to a certain divine and have decided to spend their life doing work for this divine. Each Temple works differently, but Acolytes will mostly help with cleaning, maintenance, the set up of rituals, and the care of ritual items. They worship with other acolytes and Savonites who come to temples to worship. Acolytes are often a large part of setting up festivals and rituals, and will often take part in them as well.
 
Clerics are the higher caste of Savonites who work in temples. They have devoted their life to a certain divine, and are often completing tasks that the divine asks of them. Within the temple, their work is often specific to helping others with tasks related to their chosen divine, performing rituals, leading worship, and travelling to assist others in worship and tasks. Clerics have to complete years of study as an Acolyte in order to complete their training and become a cleric. Clerics will often plan and run festivals and rituals, as well as worships.
 
The Curate is the leader of a specific Temple, and is chosen by the divine themselves. The Curate has often traveled as a Cleric for many years, and have done many deeds that their divine approves of. The Curate will spend most of their time acting as a cleric, though they may take larger roles in leading worships, festivals, and rituals. The Curate may lead a worship, but their true worship takes place alone, when they speak with their divine. The Curate is often the quickest way to get into direct contact with a divine, but otherwise they are not considered more powerful. If a Curate attempts to lie about a divine's wishes, they are quickly taken down by the divine themselves.

Public Agenda

Divines are already well-known to exist within Kollark, so Savonism's biggest goals are to make worship accessible, fun, and personal for each worshiper. Goals for each temple often align with that of their divine, and all temples will do whatever their divine wishes of them.

History

Savonism didn't rise until the divines were created. At the time, most of Kollark worshiped the Ancients. The longer the Ancients were gone, the more people worshiped the divines. The Borders were raised, and people, believing the Ancients had now truly abandoned them and were punishing them, turned to the divines. Savonism became the most prevalent religion in Kollark soon after that.

Demography and Population

Savonism is the most widespread religious practice throughout Kollark. 80% of the population practices it, another 7% worships their ancestors, 6% practices worship of Ancients, 3% worships nature, another 3% worship nothing, and 1% worship other entities.
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Demonym
Savonite

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