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|imagewidth=250px|caption=The Sole Star surrounded by the House of God, a prophesized house of worship in the ''Point of Creation''.
|type=[[Universal religion]]
|main_classification=
|scripture=[[Message of The Sole]]
|theology=[[Wikipedia:Monotheism|Monotheism]]
|language=Common
|territory=Land of The Genesis (Omis)
|separated_from=Religion in pre-Sole Omis
|founder=[[Mesoah]]
|founded_date=433
'''Sole''' (lit. '''Will of The Sole God''') is a monotheistic religion centered on the teachings of a 7 volume series called [[Message of The Sole]] (simply ''The Message'') as preached by prophet [[Mesoah]] to be the unaltered word of the Sole God, or simply God. Followers of Sole are simply known as ''adherents'', known for relentless prayer and studying of Sole and, in rare cases, masking one's natural features out of submission to God. Adherents exist in small diaspora groups located mainly in [[Omis]], [[Kuthara]], and [[Mahogany]].
Adherents believe that Sole is the second-to-last testament of God's will upon Alathra until the aftermath of an event known as the [[Long March]], a prophesized scenario in which Mesoah, the deceased prophet, is to be resurrected (''as a mortal'') and bring about a gathering of adherents and the ''6 stars of sentience to'' [[Omis]], at which point will be known as the [[Land of The Genesis]], leading the adherents to the ''Point of Creation'', a hypothetical spot on Alathra where it is believed that God created sentient intelligent life. Adherents also believe that sentient life is inherently imperfect, being both good and evil. It is believed that sentient life is provided with a gift of life upon birth to either willingly accept God's mercy, or oppose it.
The religion first appeared on the greater desert of Omis in 433 [[Crops' calendar|
▲The religion first appeared on the greater desert of Omis in 433 [[Crops' calendar|B.C.]] (year 0 for adherents) when Mesoah left his 5 year period of isolation in a cave after receiving his last revelation from God, with the goal of preaching his religion. After being exiled from most major cities in the greater desert at the time, Mesoah and his small following attempted to find a land (albeit mentioned once) called Mahogany, located in central Omis. The land was never found by Mesoah in his life, passing away shortly after publishing the 7 volume book. Eventually, Mesoah's companions had dispersed throughout Alathra, with the original volumes being lost for centuries until it was found being sold in a bazaar in Kuthara. The book's translation into Common made it a popular source of interest among agnostic escapists during the [[Valtaran Civil War]], culminating in a small expedition into central Omis. The successful finding and mapping of the Land of Mahogany motivated a revival of the religion, causing a new wave of adherents to move to the region in 5 A.C.
== Etymology ==
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Adherents as a people were historically referred to as ''Mesomis'' (wordplay of Mesoah-Omis) during it's former years, and is considered offensive by adherents due to it's implication that adherents worship prophet Mesoah rather than God.
==
Baseline creed in Sole is the acceptance towards the idea that intelligent/sentient life will naturally, both with or without ''The Message,'' have 6 points of diversion into differing cultures and civilizations, those being
In volume 2 and 3 of The Message, it is stated that any culture embodies one of the 6 stars of sentience at any point of time, with their final and
The 6 stars are commonly depicted as 6 points inside of an
▲In volume 2 and 3 of The Message, it is stated that any culture embodies one of the 6 stars of sentience at any point of time, with their final and "''most righteous''" act being to accept Sole and become a society of adherents.
▲The 6 stars are commonly depicted as 6 points inside of an octogram, surrounded by a house, symbolizing a house in the ''Point of Creation''. The octogram is the most widely used way to symbolize Sole despite having no official symbolism.
▲=== '''Sea People''' ===
With oceans being commonly depicted as a mysterious and violent yet hospitable source of power, many civilizations gravitate towards the thought as the ocean with either religious significance or livelihood significance, due to it's ease of accessibility and resourcefulness. In volume 4, it is stated that the Sea People, if left in isolation, will naturally believe the sea to be the source of power due to it's vastness mysticism.
Often times, connection and residency towards the sea will often equate to someone being a part of the Sea People by proxy.
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According to Volume 4, the sun is one of the most commonly associated entities assumed to be of a higher power, and in many cases, a deity in itself. Throughout the end of Volume 4, it is described that the Sun Children tend to develop a close relationship with the sun due to it's protection from darkness, it's close association with life, and warmth. In Volume 5 and 7, the Sun Children are unique in that they have the highest likelihood to be the most religiously sophisticated out of all other 6 Stars of sentience. In Volume 7 in particular, the uniqueness of the Sun Children are gone into detail by the Sole God:
<blockquote>
''"And in your steadfast behavior, your only true friendly rival is to be with the Sun Children. For their bravery in their steadfast belief, the mutual love that they share for that which seems endless in power, yet merciful in it's ability to nurture life, a creation, is what your lord finds beautiful and righteous. But for they, in any attempt to view the sun, is it not painful? It is not they who are misguided for believing in just but a mere custodian to the creator's creation. The Sun Children will understand, for the love of a lord they know naught exists within. For I am the most merciful, preserve every stone of their colossal work in the Land of Genesis."''
</blockquote>
▲''- 21:2 Message of The Sole''
=== Forest People ===
The
=== The Crowns ===
The Crowns are mentioned in every volume of ''The Message'', including the single-verse 6:1. While vaguely described, the crowns typically refer to kings, monarchs, elites, and de-facto rulers of sovereign civilizations. The Crowns are diverse in nature, and typically involve a small group of people who hold absolute power, sometimes culminating in [
They are mentioned again in detail in Volume 2 in that the crowns of Omis, who become willingly absorbed into the Land of Genesis, become re-identified as one of three stars that most closely is associated with them, being either one of the sea people, sun children, or forest people. They are mentioned finally in Volume 4 in that when a person of power is removed when they are in adulthood, they forever remain one of The Crowns.
===
Sole preaches throughout all volumes that within all sentience and intelligent life, there is natural imperfection, sometimes culminating in an evil known as deception. The
According to
== Practices ==
▲According to Volume 7, like the crowns, the deceivers have an ability to change this identification through adherence and repentance, becoming any other 5 of the stars.
While adherents pray in thoughts throughout most of the day, compulsory prayer happens daily at dawn and dusk
Fasting happens every
▲While adherents pray in thoughts throughout most of the day, compulsory prayer happens at dawn and dusk, outside, every day. Except for October - as it is considered the month of revelation, in which Mesoah was first greeted by the archangel who relayed God's message.
▲Fasting happens every thursday, as one cannot eat or drink between Dawn and Dusk unless on the brink of death, described in Volume 5.
▲=== Dawn prayer ===
Starting at dawn, adherents bow their faces towards the Land of Genesis, in the greater desert region. At any point in the world, they must face this location. Dawn prayer happens shortly before breakfast, and is encouraged to happen with family and houseguests.
At sunset,
▲At sunset, just before either breaking fast with dinner or as a meal is prepared and ready, a two minute prayer must take place. During this time, prayer is not guided out loud, and
=== Verse 6:1 ===
According to most scholars of Sole, Verse 6:1 (Volume 2) is the most
<blockquote>
''"Righteousness is not in turning your faces towards the land of Genesis. Rather, the righteous are those who believe in the creator, the result of the Long March, the angels who revealed to Mesoah, the Books, and the prophet; who give charity out of their cherished wealth to relatives, orphans, the poor, needy traveelrs, beggars, and for freeing captives. Righteousness embodies those who establish prayer, and keep the pledges they make; and who are patient in times of suffering, adversity, and within the heat of battle. It is they who are true in their faith. It is they who are true in the belief of their Lord. For he is one; a merciful, and all powerful creator."''
</blockquote>
▲''- 6:1 Message of The Sole, Volume 2''
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