Hello there AH users! Every wanted to talk about your alternate history religion you created, but think it doesn't generate sufficient interest or too risky? This is the chance to discuss about your alternate history religion with other users who will comment and suggest about it.
To start the thread, I'll be introducing my AH religion:
Founder: The Oracle of the Stone Elephant
Tenets:
When the Trans-Pacific Slave Trade occurred in the late 16th century after the enforced ban on enslavement of Africans and Native Americans, thousands of people from Asia were brought to the Iberian colonies of America as prendiza (slaves) on treacherous, deadly voyages crossing the Pacific that transited at Hawaii and the Milislhas (Hundred Islands) for resupply.
The forced enslavement and gradual destruction on ethnic and religious identities of prendiza caused an intermixing of various religions, languages and cultures from Asia to form the Kaom Amarelo ethnicity, the Basa Amarelo language and the Ugama Cathay religion.
On the Autumn of 1575, a young prendiza girl referred as the Oracle of the Stone Elephant experienced a divine revelation. She heard a booming voice like an elephant that led her to a murky pool of water mixed with muck. Glancing at the pool of water, she touched the water and it miraculously cleared. In front of her reflection was an elephant-headed being.
The elephant-headed being referred himself as Joss Ganesa. Joss Ganesa taught the Oracle about divinities and spirits referred as Joss-Joss and the importance of remembering the ancestors and identity as well with the fight for freedom against the oppressors. He requested that she must carve a Stone Elephant as a virtuous act of merit-making and piety.
Over the next few nights, the Oracle learned many things from Joss Ganea. She learned about the divine realm of Cathay, the three hereafters and the paths of rebirth, the principal Josses called the Harmonious Ones, the Josaphat and the Wali. But most of all there was the prophecy of the Amida that became important.
The Oracle and Joss Ganesa helped write down the principal corpus of Ugama Cathay which was based on their nightly discussions and lectures called the Ancestral Kitab-Kitab, which consisted of
Pantheon:
To start the thread, I'll be introducing my AH religion:
----
Ugama CathayFounder: The Oracle of the Stone Elephant
Tenets:
- Worship of divinities and spirits referred as Joss, who control the elements and ideas of nature, and rules over the Mortal/Material Realm. The Josses are responsible for giving the Kaom Amarelo fortitude to survive the toils and injustices of slavery.
- Veneration of ancestors and their spirits called Anitao and Keramat.
- A strong emphasis on filial piety, want for freedom, importance of identity and memories, preserving knowledge and wisdom, fighting back the oppressors and enduring in a world of sengsara (suffering).
- Belief in the foretold arrival of the Amida, a Maitreya-like figure who would deliver the Kaom Amarelo from slavery and teach them the pure adat of Ugama Cathay.
When the Trans-Pacific Slave Trade occurred in the late 16th century after the enforced ban on enslavement of Africans and Native Americans, thousands of people from Asia were brought to the Iberian colonies of America as prendiza (slaves) on treacherous, deadly voyages crossing the Pacific that transited at Hawaii and the Milislhas (Hundred Islands) for resupply.
The forced enslavement and gradual destruction on ethnic and religious identities of prendiza caused an intermixing of various religions, languages and cultures from Asia to form the Kaom Amarelo ethnicity, the Basa Amarelo language and the Ugama Cathay religion.
On the Autumn of 1575, a young prendiza girl referred as the Oracle of the Stone Elephant experienced a divine revelation. She heard a booming voice like an elephant that led her to a murky pool of water mixed with muck. Glancing at the pool of water, she touched the water and it miraculously cleared. In front of her reflection was an elephant-headed being.
The elephant-headed being referred himself as Joss Ganesa. Joss Ganesa taught the Oracle about divinities and spirits referred as Joss-Joss and the importance of remembering the ancestors and identity as well with the fight for freedom against the oppressors. He requested that she must carve a Stone Elephant as a virtuous act of merit-making and piety.
Over the next few nights, the Oracle learned many things from Joss Ganea. She learned about the divine realm of Cathay, the three hereafters and the paths of rebirth, the principal Josses called the Harmonious Ones, the Josaphat and the Wali. But most of all there was the prophecy of the Amida that became important.
The Oracle and Joss Ganesa helped write down the principal corpus of Ugama Cathay which was based on their nightly discussions and lectures called the Ancestral Kitab-Kitab, which consisted of
- Hymnody of the Harmonious Ones
- Radiance of Immeasurable Light
- The Great Play of the Josaphat
- Records of the Anitao and the Keramat
- Chronicle on the Creation of the World
- Three Realms and Many Rebirths
- Hagiographies of the Wali
- Teachings of the Oracle
- The Adat of the Josses
Pantheon:
- Joss Masu: The Joss of the Seas and Water, as well the Joss of Mercy. She is a Joss that hears the anguished, agonized cries of enslaved Kaom Amarelo that she strives to protect and controls the seas and waters. She is often accompanied with her acolytes Jade Dragon Maiden and Golden Youth of Wealth. Her epithets are Great Mother of Mercy and Lady of the Seas.
- Joss Inthera: The Joss of the Sky and Thunder, as well Lord of the Josses. He is a Joss that empowers the Kaom Amarelo to fight back against their masters, slavers and overseers. He controls the weather and brings down thunder and rain. His epithets are Kingly One, Britora-Slayer and Kindler of Rain.
- Joss Ganesa: The Joss of Wisdom. He is a Joss that imbues wisdom into Kaom Amarelo, especially pendeta (scholars) and clergy, and maintains the stream of wisdom. He is also breaks obstacles that impedes the Kaom Amarelo. His epithets are Destroyer of Obstacles and Stone Elephant.
