Quartz 5

The One God

9 min read

The One God is a unique god, only appearing to mortals around the year 930. The One God claims to be the only true god - that all the others are charlatans who lie to mortals and hide the truth from them. The One God claims to be omnipotent and omnipresent, has no distinct name or gender (though traditionally is referred to us male), and completely denies the truth of the other pantheons and contradicts key aspects from them - the One God claims to have created the world, and to have been in conflict with the other pantheons as they sought to steal his power and lock him away from the world.
The One God is a lone god - unlike other pantheons, he does not share his powers, and is a god of all things. There are servants of the One God, angels, but they are not considered deities. Central to the religion is the belief that the One God is a singular, all-encompassing deity, seen as the creator of the cosmos, the source of all life, and the ultimate judge of all beings.

History

Deities of the Pantheon

The One God -

Angels

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Symbols

Tenets of the Religion

  • Monotheism: The core belief is the absolute oneness of the One God. Devout followers reject the divinity of other deities or divine beings, and believe them to be tricksters, fiends and worse. Even less devout followers are required to never worship another god, and don’t pay their respects to other pantheons unless absolutely necessary.
  • Divine Revelation: The Faith holds sacred texts known as the “Revealed Scriptures.” These texts contain the wisdom, commandments, and guidance given by the One God to enlightened prophets throughout history.
  • Righteousness and Compassion: Adherents are expected to lead lives of righteousness, showing compassion, kindness, and charity towards others who hold their faith, but also stand firmly against unbelievers. Injustice, cruelty, and harm to fellow believers are strictly forbidden.

Worship and Practices

  1. Prayer: Devout followers engage in regular prayer sessions, facing towards the holy city of Visiopax, believed to be the place where the first prophet received divine revelation. They recite verses from the Revealed Scriptures and seek guidance and blessings.
  2. Periodical Gatherings: Followers gather in places of worship on the 9th, 18th, and 27th days of the month to read and discuss the Revealed Scriptures, share communal meals, and offer thanks to the One God for the blessings of life.
  3. Charity: The Faith emphasizes charity and helping those in need. Acts of kindness and mercy are seen as a way to honor the divine.
  4. Pilgrimage: A sacred pilgrimage to the holy city of Visiopax is encouraged at least once in a lifetime. Pilgrims travel great distances, enduring hardships, to demonstrate their unwavering devotion to the One God.
  5. Fasting: Periodic fasting, especially during the holy Days of Creation, is practiced to develop self-discipline, purify the soul, and draw closer to the divine.

Holy Sites

Visiopax -

The Afterlife

When a mortal dies, the faith teaches their soul goes through the following stages -

  • Judgment: Every soul will stand before the One God for judgment. The One God weighs the deeds and faith of each individual, determining their fate in the afterlife. The faith recognizes the concept of intercession through prayers and supplication on behalf of departed souls. It also emphasizes the importance of sincere repentance during one’s lifetime, as repentance and seeking forgiveness are seen as ways to mend one’s spiritual state. Fasting and seeking forgiveness for misdeeds are considered to assist those who have wronged others, knowingly and unknowingly, in their final Judgment.
  • Reward for the Righteous: Those who have lived virtuously, adhering to the faith’s teachings and demonstrating genuine piety, are believed to be welcomed into the presence of the One God. They experience eternal joy, peace, and closeness to the divine, with those who seek to continue serving even being given the eternal grace of being turned into angels.
  • Consequences for the Unfaithful: Souls that have strayed from the path, committed grave transgressions, or rejected the faith may face consequences in the afterlife. These may include a period of purification or, in extreme cases, separation from the divine presence and condemnation of their souls to Mictlān.

Mystery of the Divine Will: The exact nature of the afterlife is considered a profound mystery, known only to the One God. While the faith provides guidance and teachings, it acknowledges that divine judgment ultimately transcends mortal comprehension, and that all that is known is a simplification meant to appease the minds of lowly mortals.

Clergy and Leadership

The religious hierarchy includes priests, bishops, and scholars who are well-versed in the Revealed Scriptures. They provide guidance to the faithful, perform religious rites, and oversee the moral and ethical well-being of their communities. The hierarchy of the Faith of the One God is well-organized, with distinct roles and responsibilities for clergy and leaders within the religious structure:

  1. Prophets: At the highest level of leadership are those believed to have received direct revelations from the One God. These prophets and visionaries are considered the most authoritative figures in the faith and guide its doctrinal development. They often emerge during times of great need or crisis in the world, delivering messages that shape the faith’s direction. The teachings of prophets are studied rigorously, as they are considered direct communications from the divine.
  2. High Priests: High priests are responsible for overseeing the administration of the faith, its rituals, and its religious institutions. They interpret the Revealed Scriptures, administer sacraments, and provide spiritual guidance to the faithful. The most senior among them is the Grand Prelate, who serves as the highest religious authority in the faith and is regarded as the closest mortal link to the divine.
  3. Inquisitors: Inquisitors are tasked with rooting out heresy, apostasy, and corruption within the faith. They investigate allegations of misconduct among clergy and ensure the purity of the faith’s teachings.
  4. Scribes and Scholars: These individuals are experts in the Revealed Scriptures and religious theology. They diligently transcribe and interpret sacred texts, ensuring the preservation of the faith’s teachings. Scribes and scholars also engage in theological debates, defending the faith against detractors and refining its doctrines.
  5. Templars: In regions where the faith faces opposition, templars are responsible for protecting the faithful, religious sites, and the Revealed Scriptures. They are trained in martial combat and are ready to defend the faith against external threats.
  6. Comforters: These clergy members specialize in providing spiritual and emotional support to the sick, injured, and bereaved. They use their knowledge of herbs, medicine, and divine magic to heal the body and soothe the soul.
  7. Administrators and Organizers: These individuals manage the day-to-day affairs of the faith, including the construction and maintenance of temples, the collection and distribution of alms, and the coordination of religious festivals and events.
  8. Missionaries: Charged with spreading the faith to new regions and converting non-believers, missionaries travel far and wide, often risking their lives to fulfill their sacred duty. They are trained in the art of persuasive discourse and are adept at adapting the faith’s message to diverse cultures and societies.
  9. Priors and Clerics: individuals who operate outside of the hierarchy, but have clearly gained the One God’s favour and have been given divine magic to assist them in their quests.

Festivities

  1. Festival of Revelation: Celebrated on the anniversary of the first prophet’s divine revelation, this festival includes communal prayers, feasts, and the reading of the Revealed Scriptures.
  2. Day of Compassion: A day dedicated to acts of charity and kindness, where followers actively engage in helping those in need.
  3. Days of Creation - for nine days in the twelfth month, followers of the faith celebrate the nine days it took the One God to create all the worlds. These celebrations include fasting during the days, and having feasts and drunken escapades during the night. It is considered a divine command from the One God to have as much fun as possible during the nights of this week.
  4. Fast of Resurgence - on the ninth day of the ninth month, a day of fasting is required of all believers, to purify their souls and prepare themselves for divine judgment.
  5. The Nineth - followers of the faith do not work on the ninth day of each month, to commemorate the day in which the One God completed the creation of all worlds and basked in his creation.

Mortal Affairs

The One God interacts with mortals through divine messengers, angels, and occasional visions. These manifestations offer guidance, impart wisdom, and give instructions to chosen individuals or prophets. Divine intervention is relatively rare, and the One God primarily expects mortals to exercise free will within the framework of their moral teachings. With that being said, the One God is known to be a jealous god, who does not tolerate long when mortals fail to recognize his power and follow him.

View of Other religions

The Faith of the One God is devoutly monotheistic, and so it regards other religions with a mixture of skepticism and, at times, outright hostility. They firmly believe that the worship of other deities or spirits is a form of idolatry and deviation from the true path, a belief which is strengthened by the claim of the One God about the other major pantheons. Tolerance for other faiths is limited, and in regions where the Faith is dominant, followers of other religions may face discrimination or persecution. This intolerance arises from the belief that adherence to the One God is the only true path to salvation, and all other religions are fundamentally flawed..

Demography

Deities

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