Zhunism
| Zhunism | |
|---|---|
| Zérour arre Zhūn | |
 | |
| Type | Universalizing/Ethnic Mix |
| Classification | Zunbil |
| Scripture | Stellibri |
| Theology | Ditheistic |
| Region | Hunterra, Alathra, New Frontier |
| Language | Modern Common, Draconian Zunic |
| Headquarters | Zunhóver, Nést Fróbri, Flithover |
| Founder | Bright One Gorbo "The Father" Gorbon, according to the Stellibri |
| Origin | ~13,000 PH |
| Separated from | Old Zunbil |
| Number of followers | unknown amount (referred to as Zhunists) |
Zhunism is a ditheistic faith with limited henotheist belief focused on the worship of the Sun, referred to more commonly in the Zunic word Zhūn, and condemnation of the Moon, also more referred to in Zunic, as Heyvê.
Zhunists believe Zhūn to be the God of creation and energy as well as the true God of many other religions. The only other God, thought to be Heyvê, by contrast is meant to be representative of chaos and destruction as well as the true God of faiths considered sinful to Zhūnism. For most of history, Zhunism has largely been followed only by the Zunbil people but due to efforts largely accredited to their current High Priest, Hūnare Blipper Brirahk, have been reformed and now spread in the lands of Southeastern Alathra.
Etymology
The word Zhūn comes from the word 'Hūn' meaning "great or Godley power, typically of benevolent intent," and the letter Z, which is often used in the Zunic language to associate a word with goodness. The word Heyvê comes from the word Hey, which also refers to Godley power, typically of malicious nature, while Vê means unholy.
Beliefs
Rebirth and Death
The main tenet followers of Zhūn have is that their soul is created by Zhūn as a blank slate and is placed into a random body upon birth. This body of the soul would not be considered their final body and will be subjected to living as different people every time they die in a process known as paibresu (after life). The soul does not carry many attributes from any of their previous bodies other than every virtue and sin which are permanently imprinted on their soul. The coalescing of their deeds figuratively either lightens their soul or weighs on it, which will either bring them closer up toward Zhūn or down towards Heyvê. Eventually, the soul is thought to go towards one entity or the other to be with them forever in a state called Lonresu (final life). If a soul resides with Zhūn it goes to the Zhunist version of Heaven, called Hūdran, to fight alongside them forever. If the soul resides with Heyvê, however, they will be forced to fight for them forever as undead monsters known as Vêykin.
Pluralism
Zhunism is generally pluralistic in its teachings, accepting faiths with similar values. This is due to the tenet of Zérourkin (familial worship), which believes that what one worships is irrelevant if they still stay virtuous to the 'true God.' The tenet is also used to explain the existence of other religions, vying that both Zhūn and Heyvê take many forms to appeal to the many peoples of the world through taking many forms, occasionally even each other. Zhunists have been observed to be very hostile toward religions deemed to be backed by Heyvê, which typically includes religions that encourage war; condone sacrifice; worship chaos; or consider chickens particularly holy.
Practices
Communion
It is encouraged by the High Priesthood for everyone to attend their services at their temple whenever they may occur. Service typically includes.
Most people are allowed to interact and participate in basic Zhunist rites as part of the Zérourkin tenet; this does not include people declared to be bahtrest (cast out). Bahtrest is most similar to the idea of excommunication, though, due to the inclusivity of Zhunism, it can apply to people who do not believe in Zhūn or are of a different sect. Declarations of Bahtrest are, in effect, signs of no confidence that the subject will be able to improve in their current life.
People with this status are forbidden to enter temple grounds, partake in rites and ceremonies, access Priesthood resources, etc.
Sacred Promises
Zun Gozibarre (sacred contracts) is the belief that promises have divine stakes rather than only personal, and adhering to them is important for being honorable and maintaining Zhūn's order. What is considered a "contract" is broad and includes any agreement or promise made by one or more parties; such includes anything from verbal promises to signed government contracts, all of which are considered equally legitimate for it is believed virtue and sin can transcend the physical world.
While fulfilling or breaking an agreement is good or evil, before that happens, it is allowed for the arrangement to be modified upon the consensus of all involved parties. Similarly, while somewhat looked down upon, it is allowed that one may include fine print or exploit loopholes to an extent as the fault of the exploiter and exploited (the exploiter for being deceptive and the exploited for their lack of vigilance).
Great Holy War
Old Zunbils have been known to become violent towards peoples considered sinful, which has led to them being raided. Zhunists, too, believe violence is occasionally a correct response toward sin, though they are much more cautious and organized when it comes to such. When deemed best, the clergy of the High Priesthood will launch a Hūn Zolarre (Great Giving of Light) War against a nation(s) considered a direct threat to the morals of Zhūn. These "threats" are typically large and corrupt or warmongering states. A list of Hūn Zolarre is as follows:
None have occurred yet.
Sects
There are two sects of Zhūn worship: Old Zunbil and Zhunism.
Old Zunbil is the unreformed worship of Zhūn that is so attached to the Zunbil culture alone that it is named after the culture. The teachings of Old Zunbil bands/tribes are not uniform and are passed through oral tradition which has led to them forgetting or changing aspects of their faith, are also very slow to change and isolationist, making what practices they have left to be considered unique. People still of this belief have either never been exposed to modern Zhunism or have rejected it.
Zhunism is the reformed version of Old Zunbil made in 2022 PG when High Priest Blipper Brirahk was inspired to research and write the history of the world, as it pertains to the subject of Zhūn, in the book called the Stellibri. Zhunism attempts to be more accessible to Commons and is structured to encourage proselytizing through the Zhunist High Priesthood. The teachings of theology under this sect are more consistent due to the establishment of religious leaders and high amounts of documentation on religious matters.
Hierarchy
The Zhunist High Priesthood has a structure in which priests can move up or sometimes down based on their merit of faith.
- Priests (Héz) are new recruits in the Priesthood and apprentices to those of higher tiers.
- Diviners (Hézbarre) overlook local mass and religious matters.
- High Diviners (Hézbri) manage the lower tiers of the region. They have the power to appoint priests and diviners and overlook Sun Trials.
- The High Priest (Hūnare) is the worldly authority of the High Priesthood able to cast out people, start Great Purifications, commune with Zhūn to an extent, and promote/demote members of clergy.
There are other roles in the High Priesthood, such as saints, known better by the Zhunists as 'Bright Ones' or 'Zolbils.' Bright Ones are people who are likely to reach lonresu and go to Heaven when they die even considering the possibility of their past lives being sinful.
History
Due to the religion being very old, there is little to contest their account of history other than when science figures it out however many centuries from now. According to the Stellibri, the first being in the Overworld was Bright One Gorbo, an immortal and intelligent lizard, made by Zhūn as they were figuring out how to make life. Sometime after making Gorbo, Zhūn creates the first fifty humanoids called the Paorsbrilse.
These Paorsbrilse lived peacefully with the guidance of Gorbo until Heyvê sent more evolved monsters after them. After that, someone by the name of Rans (placeholder name that means betrayal backwards in Zunic) comes to power and starts to enact increasingly sinnful policies which causes Bright One Gorbo to leave with a group of loyal followers. It is thought that those who followed Gorbo became modern-day Zunbils, and those who followed Rans eventually too fled their rule and became every other culture.
After a wide range of events that I have not finished conceiving to their entirety, Blipper Brirahk of Avalon was divinely touched by Zhūn, giving him the power to more easily commune with them and making him the new High Priest of a reforming Zhunist faith.