Patrism
Patrism is a polytheistic religion originating in Veiid that states that one god dreamed the universe into existence, then fragmented into a variety of deities both good and evil. Limited mostly to Veiid, Patrism has approximately 23 million followers. The majority of Patrists reside in the Pan-Veiidic Commonwealth, which is comprised of 5 out of the 7 Veiidic countries. Themes central to Patrism such as duty, higher purpose, and unified Veiidic identity have played a central role in shaping the culture of the continent, and religious schisms have ignited several wars. A notable example is the Novenadian Revolution, which began because of the persecution of traditional Patrist thought in favor of what is now referred to as Varkrimeski Patrism.
Patrism is based on writings supposedly copied off of massive obelisk of ice in the Antarctic by a nomadic tribe, who passed the writings down and copied them out faithfully until they became widespread throughout Veiid. The holy texts of Patrism consist of these writings and the 7 interpretations of them to varying degrees.
History
Some major elements of Patrism have been in Veiid since before recorded history, with clear symbols such as the Great Wyrm and the Divine in cave paintings from around 20,000 BCE predominantly in southern Veiid. The first interpretation of the obelisk writings was written by Yevgen the XXII in 414, a local preacher who moved to a castle owned by a sympathetic warlord to avoid prosecution for digging up a corpse. The castle later became the Varoslav monastery, where Spiyrt was discovered in 822. The Veiidic-Baskayan Patrist Church has detailed records going back to 437, when Patrism first became an organized religion and other monasteries were built in the Karjinas.
Beliefs
According to the obelisk writings and interpretations, Svega (which can be roughly translated to mean "Everything") created the universe in a dream, and then having spent His energy fell into a deep sleep. His soul entered his dream to sit in the center of Kerbin, and His consciousness split into the Divine, a group of deities representing the good in Him, and the Great Wyrm, representing His evil and immorality.
The Wyrm, being vastly outnumbered, fled to the center of Kerbin and sealed itself inside, feeding on the bowels of the world and hollowing it out. Meanwhile, the Divine built a paradise on the surface and in the skies for their descendants to live in. The Divine were the first animals, and all creatures descend from them. One Divine known as Baskaia was the most intelligent of all, and from him descend all kerbals.
Kerbin was a peaceful paradise for the Divine, kerbals, and animals for many years, until the Great Wyrm reemerged. It had grown strong from feeding on the energy from the soul of Svega, and a massive war was waged between the forces of Kerbin and the Wyrm. The war was deadly and lasted for 700 years, until the Wyrm was finally drained of energy and forced beneath the surface. The Divine, using the last of their strength, sacrificed their forms to lay the ice sheets of Antarctica over the entrance to the center of Kerbin, thereby trapping the Wyrm. They then left this plane, decreeing that kerbalkind must defeat the Wyrm alone before the Divine can return and use the energy of Svega's soul to regain their forms.
Thus, the grand goal of kerbalkind is to bring about the Reunification with the Divine by defeating the Wyrm. Once a kerbal does their part their soul is free to return to the Divine, and await the Reunification with them. If their duty is not complete they're simply reincarnated to spend more time attempting to achieve their purpose. Life in Kerbin will be a duty, not a pleasure, until the return of the Divine. All those who harm fellow children of the divine are committing the ultimate sin by hindering them in their responsibilities to bring about the Reunification, and will be judged by the Divine accordingly. Suicide is also sinful, and those who attempt it will be reincarnated until they fulfill their duty regardless. Sacrifice is honorable and responsible, whether it be death while charging an enemy position, performing a kind act at your own expense, or working hard.
Denominations
| Group | Percentage by denomination | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Veiidic-Baskayan Patrist Church | 48.5% | |
| Reformed Patrism | 12.2% | Only practised in Novenad |
| Varkrimeski Patrism | 0% | No longer in practice; outlawed in Novenad |
| Add yours here for fun |
Influence on culture
Patrism has deeply embedded values of sacrifice, hard work, and stoicism in modern Veiidic culture.
The entrenched distaste for suicide has led to suicides being widely underreported, and some social scientists have suspected that suicide is often made to look accidental to avoid stigma surrounding deaths.