Strong Sapio-Credal Model
The strong sapio-credal model is a metaphysical theory about the existence of the gods based on two premises: divine powers clearly and demonstrably exist; and yet each culture's version of the gods seems to be true, even when they seem to invoke contradictory divinities that occupy the same conceptual space (e.g., Tersa of the Ninefold Fane and Matha of the Church of the Starsea are both the cthonic deities of their respective pantheons, but are vastly different in their manifestations of that concept). Therefore, gods are the projections of humans' and other sapient beings' beliefs, and exist only because they are called into being by belief, and further exist only to those beings whose beliefs shape them.
This theory was developed around the third century FY in Kashgar as a branch of philosophical thought within Kagaism ; it is contrasted with the weak sapio-credal model that posits that, while belief shapes the aspects of gods, the divine powers are linked to a source independent of belief or thought.
Several critiques have been made of the strong model. One of the most compelling of these critical responses points out that the Church of the Starsea represents a potential paradox, since one of the Church's foundational tenets is the distance of the Powers from human concerns, and that in order to be true human belief would have to be able to create divinities who are unconcerned with human thought at all. Discussion of these points has brought forth a number of lively and spirited debates over the centuries.
In the current time, the strong sapio-credal model is largely considered discredited, since advances in arcane science suggest that something closer to the weak model is likelier to be true given what is known about the nature of the gods and the history of the faiths of Bresas-Imora.* Nonetheless, a few holdouts to the theory still exist and continue to produce complex, nigh-unreadable treatises on the subject. In a few cases, revivals of the strong model have inspired antideist societies arguing that humans should cease religious beliefs altogether in order to obliterate the gods they no longer have need of. These movements are fascinating, but so far have failed to gain much traction or last for long.
*Kagaist scholars have been quick to point out that this was always an assumption of the syncretist mainstream of Kagaism and the reason its pantheon is called "the Countless."
This theory was developed around the third century FY in Kashgar as a branch of philosophical thought within Kagaism ; it is contrasted with the weak sapio-credal model that posits that, while belief shapes the aspects of gods, the divine powers are linked to a source independent of belief or thought.
Several critiques have been made of the strong model. One of the most compelling of these critical responses points out that the Church of the Starsea represents a potential paradox, since one of the Church's foundational tenets is the distance of the Powers from human concerns, and that in order to be true human belief would have to be able to create divinities who are unconcerned with human thought at all. Discussion of these points has brought forth a number of lively and spirited debates over the centuries.
In the current time, the strong sapio-credal model is largely considered discredited, since advances in arcane science suggest that something closer to the weak model is likelier to be true given what is known about the nature of the gods and the history of the faiths of Bresas-Imora.* Nonetheless, a few holdouts to the theory still exist and continue to produce complex, nigh-unreadable treatises on the subject. In a few cases, revivals of the strong model have inspired antideist societies arguing that humans should cease religious beliefs altogether in order to obliterate the gods they no longer have need of. These movements are fascinating, but so far have failed to gain much traction or last for long.
*Kagaist scholars have been quick to point out that this was always an assumption of the syncretist mainstream of Kagaism and the reason its pantheon is called "the Countless."
Interesting how you've used the language of intelligence to obscure the meaning in places, giving this a very real feeling of being intended as intelligentsia for intelligentsia.