Today, I felt it important to let you explore the religion that defines so much of humen life. It is the most dominant religion of Ethecorra, after all, and as with all religions on this planet, Numenism has its roots in an ancient and archaic religious system that has been lost to time, though they vehemently deny this. Yet I saw the start of this religion, and knew of the one that came before. I see the similarities, and the names that are carried forward. To the people of the planet though, it’s almost impossible to trace this ancient religion as the foundation of all known religions today.
Numenism is founded on worship of the Father-God. So called because he created the humens, crafting them in His image from the magic of Ethecorra, placing a spark of Himself in them and giving them life. He gave the Pillars of Mandate to His firstborn sons so that they might bring order to the world: Law, Knowledge, Trade, Faith and War. Their families have held these Pillars since they were first gifted, and today the Brotherhood governs both government and religion, their bloodline unbroken over thousands of years.
In their teachings, held by the Brother who holds the Pillar of Faith, it is stated that the Father-God, whose true name is forbidden to be spoken, will one day return for the righteous and obedient, with sinners trapped and bound to Ethecorra until the Death God claims them. The Father-God is the origin of all, and so nothing may stand outside of the order He has established, including humens, who were made in the image of the Father-God. He embodies perfect order, and so humens made in His image are intended to reflect that through obedience and purity. Desire is seen as a force that distorts the soul, making it impure within the teachings of Numenism, and so pleasure and desire are restricted.
Yet I remember the days when the Gods walked the earth. I remember those Mandates being gifted to the Brothers, when Numenism was yet to be named. When the laws and beliefs were yet to be scribed by Priests and Priestesses, when the Father-God still walked the earth and loved his creations, deeply. He crafted them in His image with a spark of something that was uniquely his and was very protective of his children. He wished to protect them from fear, sorrow and pain that came with beauty, desire, and love. And so, to protect them, he forbade it all.
I like to think he would be ashamed of his children, all these years later. He forbade pleasure only for them to monetise it. He taught restraint and they turned it into control. I have seen the pleasure that his Brotherhood sinks into behind closed doors. I’ve seen empires fall and new ones rise, founded not on the holiness He taught, but on the power and control they wield in His name.
I try to remain impartial as I witness the sons and daughters of the Brotherhood. But I cannot deny the smile that tugs at my lips when the rebellious ones begin to rise and reclaim their desires.
~ Nerien.