Make your own ALT religion!

Me first

Sophism: founded in 669 AD by an Armenian woman, who was born into Nobility, yet forced into a convent. She later escaped the church and wrote several texts that where considered "Heretical" by the Orthodox Church, and was sentenced to burn at the stake in 675 AD for her preaching. This mytardom would cause her relgion to become even more popular, and she would later be given the title "Holy Sophia." The Sophian Bible contains the entire Christian bible, but also several "Sophian texts" making it over twice as long. In Sophian Doctrine there are six holy gods and six unholy devils. Of the six gods, half are male (god the father, god the son, god the holy spirit,) and the other half are female (Goddess the mother, Goddess the Daughter, and the Holy "Sophia" or knowledge). They are opposed by the inverted six (often mistaken for a 9 due to the similarity in Indian Numerals.) The male Satan the Father of Hell, Satan the Son, The Satanic Spirit, and the Female Satan the Mother of Hell, Satan the daughter, and The Satanic, or Forbidden Knowledge. Although drawn primarily from Christianity, and Gnostism, it also draws heavily from nieghboring religons such as Zorroastrianism, and Manicheaism. The Religon's sybolic "69", often mistaken for "sixty nine", instead of it's religous meaning of "six in ballance with an inteverted six" is also believed to be taken from the Taoist concept of Ying and Yang. Under Sophism, Jesus Christ is just the latest "God the Son" created when The Holy Spirit enters a male baby inside his mother. Past "Sons of god" include Jewish Prophets, such as Adam, Moses, Abraham, Enoch, etc. Simlarly past incarnations of the Holy Knowledge included the Virgin Mary, to whom the Holy Sophia herself claimed to be the successor of, Eve, and other "good" female figures of the bible. Simlarly, when the Satanic Spirit or Satanic Knowledge enter a human baby at birth, an "Anti-Messiah" is created. Judas the Betrayer is considered the last Male Anti-Messiah, while the last Female Anti-Messiah was Salome. Notably the Sophists reject the Cross, as they veiw the Crucifixion to be the day of evil's greatest triumph. Sophist Clergy is made up of couples of married men and women, with only male clergy communing with the male gods, and only female clergy communing with the female gods. Marriage outside the church stritly forbiden for clergy, and new clergy can't join if they're already married. Clergy are expected to marry as soon as they enter the church, stay married until the death of their partner, and remary soon after the death of a partner to maintain "holy ballance". Sophist veiw of the afterlife is "Heaven for the extremly good, Hell for the extermly evil, reincarnation on earth for the neutral." Cremation is the perfered method to dispose of the dead.
 
Hi ArKhan,

I am interested in your sophistry (eugh!) and would like to ask a few questions, if I may.

First, whence does the writer derive her texts? Is it purely from what she believes to be Holy Spirit prompting -- I assume that she believes in the Holy Spirit which is dealt with, directly, in the Holy Bible; or is it a result of some inferences from the Bible?

If it is the former, how does she reconcile with the things in the Bible? If it is the latter, which parts of the Bible give her direction on the various 'hallmarks' of theological thought in Sophism?

Also, could you please expand on the Theology which is distinct to Sophism and how it is different from Christianity -- in this case, one of the Orthodox Churches.

I am interested in the idea, but I'm not quite 'ready' to go full force into the development of a new religion or religious movement. I would, however, like to hear more about yours.
 
This is for a silly little AH project of mines with the POD being that Ptolemy Keraunos doesn't assassinate Seleucus and prevent the Seleucids from overrunning Macedonia so things are a bit different here.

Theiapistianism was a syncretic Hellenistic religion founded by Bagadates I Megas in the year 25 BCE who ruled the Seleucid Empire from 31 BCE to 8 BCE, intending to unite the different groups of people who lived in his empire by merging the best elements of the different faiths and form a new religion. The elements were primarily drawn from the old Hellenic religion and Zoroastrianism but some others were also taken from Judaism, Buddhism and the old Babylonian religion. Bagadates promoted the new faith, establishing grand temples to honor Chronos, Lord of Infinite Time and Matter, and his Son, Zeus Oromasdes, the latter of whom is in an eternal struggle with Arimanius. It had its beginnings when the Seleucid monarch had a "religious experience" with a burning bush while on the hunt in a preserve of his. Theiapistianism is focused on the eternal struggle of the human condition and seeking the path of enlightenment and self-improvement.
 
Hi ArKhan,

I am interested in your sophistry (eugh!) and would like to ask a few questions, if I may.
Of course!
First, whence does the writer derive her texts? Is it purely from what she believes to be Holy Spirit prompting -- I assume that she believes in the Holy Spirit which is dealt with, directly, in the Holy Bible; or is it a result of some inferences from the Bible?
You're very close, In Sophian religous though it is believed that she was possesed before birth by the female "Holy Knowledge", rather then the male "Holy Spirit" which in the Sophist religion is beleved to be incapable of entering a female host, while the Holy Knowledge is to be similarly only capable of entering female hosts. A number of her ideas are derived from Christian Gnostic sects that where a minority in Armenia at the time. In TTL, christianity is rather more diverse then in OTL, with a "Roman church" a "Byzantine Church" an Aegyptian Church" A "Gothic (Arian) Church", and a "Celtic Church" taking hold in different parts of the mediterranian. Islam does not exist in TTL, so Persia is still a majority Zorroastrian with Manichean minorities, and T'ang China expanded as far west as the Ukraine, resulting in exposure to Chinese religions as well.

If it is the former, how does she reconcile with the things in the Bible? If it is the latter, which parts of the Bible give her direction on the various 'hallmarks' of theological thought in Sophism?
Also, could you please expand on the Theology which is distinct to Sophism and how it is different from Christianity -- in this case, one of the Orthodox Churches.
I think the biggest difference between her teachings and the "mainsteam" christian sects can be seen in a few areas, Firstly the three of the holy "Trinity" is replaced by the six of the Holy...Sexity? Hexity? This is considered heretical by the other churches, in the more Orthodox Byzantine and Roman churches because it rejects the Trinity, and for exactly the opposite reason in the Anti-Trinitarian Gothic Church. Other major differences are the equality of male and female clergy, the rejection of the cross, the duality, which rejects the idea that "God" is omnipotent, with his power split between six gods, each with limited power, and in ballance with six devils of equal power. Needless to say this doesn't go over to well with some mainsteam christians who view Sophism as "Satan worshipers", despite the worshiping of satan being looked upon as being just as sinful to the Sophists as to the Christians. Another interesting bit of Sophist Faith is their focus on numberology, especially on the number six, which is considered the holiest of numbers. It colors Sophist speach with expressions like "by the six" and "thank my holy/lucky sixes!" Similarly 9, or inverted six (more acruately rendered as a -6 in later math) is considered to be evil. This would later evolve into a superstition for the number nine as well, due to the similarity in Indian numerals (which where introduced to the Medditerrian much earlier in TTL, and as such, are actually used in original the Sophist bible.) This has also effected the Sophist religous callender. The sixth day of the sixth month is considered "Holy" or "Lucky" while, the ninth day of the ninth month is considered "Unholy" or "Unlucky" for example. Similarly, the sixth day of the ninth month, and the ninth day of the sixth month are considered days when good and evil where in conflict.

I am interested in the idea, but I'm not quite 'ready' to go full force into the development of a new religion or religious movement. I would, however, like to hear more about yours.
Well all right. Glad you liked my creation at least.
 
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This is for a silly little AH project of mines with the POD being that Ptolemy Keraunos doesn't assassinate Seleucus and prevent the Seleucids from overrunning Macedonia so things are a bit different here.

Theiapistianism was a syncretic Hellenistic religion founded by Bagadates I Megas in the year 25 BCE who ruled the Seleucid Empire from 31 BCE to 8 BCE, intending to unite the different groups of people who lived in his empire by merging the best elements of the different faiths and form a new religion. The elements were primarily drawn from the old Hellenic religion and Zoroastrianism but some others were also taken from Judaism, Buddhism and the old Babylonian religion. Bagadates promoted the new faith, establishing grand temples to honor Chronos, Lord of Infinite Time and Matter, and his Son, Zeus Oromasdes, the latter of whom is in an eternal struggle with Arimanius. It had its beginnings when the Seleucid monarch had a "religious experience" with a burning bush while on the hunt in a preserve of his. Theiapistianism is focused on the eternal struggle of the human condition and seeking the path of enlightenment and self-improvement.
Very interesting. Is the Jewish God just seen as another God in the Polytheist Pantheon?
 
Eneism (from Hellen énas, one) is a monotheistic religion founded under Xenophanes’ (570-460 BCE) theology. It rejects antropormophic gods, defends wisdom and non-excessive social pleasures, and proclaims the absoluteness of the One: “Everything is One and One is God”. Xenophanes also preached that God was a very high being, different from men in all attributes, and non-reachable; although his student, Agiodes (530 – 440 BCE), would later suggest the possibility of reaching God through rational thinking and self-embetterment.

Eneism would play a vital role during the Classical Age, often merging with Semitic and Dharmic religions. It stands today as one of the most practiced religions, not suffering the same fate of other creeds.
 
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Sophism and the Nativist/Transmigratory debate:

The largest single point of division within the Sophist faith is between "Nativist" sects, who maintain that the Holy Spirit or Holy Knowledge, as well as their Satanic equivelents can ONLY enter a human body while the person is still within their mother, and "Transmigratory" sects who uphold that the Holy Spirit or Holy Knowledge can be "gifted" upon the death of one individual into a new host regardless of age. "Transmigratory" Sophists for example believe that the Holy Spirit was passed from Jesus Christ to John The Baptist upon his death, and continues to exist in the human world in an as of now unkown host. Similarly, they hold that the "Holy Knowledge" was passed from the Virgin Mary, to Mary Magdalene, and every female of her bloodline until reaching the Holy Sophia six centuries later. Transmigratory Sophists believe that "The Holy Sophia", founder of their religion was the direct matrilinear decendent of a female child fathered by Jesus christ and Mary Magdalene, where as Nativist Sophians hold that Jesus Christ dies childless, and that the Holy Sophia was not related to Jesus in flesh, only in Spirit. Nativist Sophians beleive that The Holy Spirit and Holy Knowledge are only active in the human world on occassions when the ballance between good and evil is threatened. Transmigratory Sophists believe the Holy Spirit and Holy Knowledge to allways be active in the human world, but to only reveal themseves to humanity in times when the ballance between good and evil is threatened.
 
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Serpentarianism: an obscure cult with origins in Crete. Inspired by christianity, but the myth of Adam and Eve is understood in completely different way: the first people were sentient but without ethics and only serpent made them ready to grasp the concept of good and evil. The priests caste is dominated by women as it was Eve who was first to taste the Fruit of Ethic. The inspiration also comes from ancient sculptures of women with snakes in their hands.
 
Very interesting. Is the Jewish God just seen as another God in the Polytheist Pantheon?

The Jewish god Yahweh is identified by the Theiapistians TTL as one of the many names that refer to Orosmades due to similarities in behavior (especially the vengefulness) and most of the Jewish stories were incorporated or adapted to some degree into the Theiapistian canon. Eden is a giant tree (its roots grown from the decaying body of Atlas) from which the first man and woman, Adam and Eve dwell in, living off its nourishment without knowledge of what was good or evil until one of Orosmades' Yazata, the loyal and kind-hearted Zazae'il was approached by the Arimanius, Chronos' Other Son and the Lord of Darkness, who appeared to him in the form of a serpent and tricked him to grant the humans the divine fires that lit up the Gates of Heaven. As punishment, Orosmades stripped Zazae'il of his rank and orders the fallen Yazata to be chained to a rock in the Caucasus where his liver would be consumed by an eagle, only to be regenerated by night, due to Yazata being immortal creations of Orosmades. Adam and Eve were forced to leave Eden by its appointed guardian Mithras.
 
Parrhesianism - it's a faith that plays a huge role in my TL. It developed from a mix of thought brought on by the founder's interruption of Neo-Platonicism, Deism, and a mix of Greek mythology and the Cult of Isis. Of course it's going to have a heavy Christian influence, since that's the society it's arising from; successful religions are built off the bones of the previous after all. It also has heavy influences from an anti-elite/nihilistic philosophy from the TL called Dalism.

Basically it arose after a the Black Death 2.0 ripped through the world in the late 18th century, which is my POD, and a survivor, driven insane, has visions the All Mother of creation spoke to him, telling him he needed to make the world right again. He names her after the Greek deity of liberty Eleuthera.

My big inspiration was having the Cult of the Supreme Being of the French Revolution actually develop into a bonafied faith.

Oh yeah, I used the term Parrhesia since it means 'to speak truthfully', which to it's followers, is the underlying truth of reality
 
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Delvestius

Banned
Probably my favorite I came up with is Norse-Christianity.

In any timeline where England is held under Danelaw, aspects f Norse Paganism mix with Christianity:

Odin is the father, while Thor/Baldur amalgamates to be the son. Valkyries and female goddesses become important angels. Surtr becomes the devil and Loki the antichrist.
 
Lutism - Formed by a man by the name of Lumis. The religion was formed during the middle ages. After the fall of the Roman empire, Lumis was disgusted at the way people lived. Lumis was a wealthy man, he was not used to anything else other then the best. One day he strolled into town. As he was walking deeper and deeper into the lower class end of London he noticed how unclean they were. How they dealt with waste and how so many slept in one room. Lumis searched for the answer he couldn't believe people lived like this for so long and got nothing out of it. He gave money to the poor trying to make a difference but it had little or no impact. One day while meditating in the upper class part of London, he saw people crying. Then he saw something shimmer up into the sky. He then noticed this shimmer looked vaguely human. the shimmer sat down crying and depressed, it then vanished. He later found out that the crying people were crying because one of their relatives died. Lumis knew the man who died personally, he also knew he was not a kind man. He looked down at people as if he was better then everyone. One day Lumis was meditating again in the lower class end of London, again he saw a shimmer. But this time it went into the air smiling and content with what has happened. Again the shimmer vanished, but this one vanished happy and laughing. Lumis went to the place where he saw it originate from. It was a house of 7 people. One of their family had died. None wept, this had happened so many times in the past. The were in some ways joyful. They thought the person had suffered so much will find death more peaceful. On that day Lumis decided that death can be happy, if you have tried all your life. If you do not it is sad and horrible. He also concluded life is simply a test for what death is like. After this Lumis went into the streets and preached his findings. He gathered a small group of followers who were nice and helpful to the kind encouraging them to carry on. When they met someone wicked they did their best to convince them to change their ways. If the person did not he was killed, as their was no point for the person on earth anymore - they failed the test.
 
Lutism - Formed by a man by the name of Lumis. The religion was formed during the middle ages. After the fall of the Roman empire, Lumis was disgusted at the way people lived. Lumis was a wealthy man, he was not used to anything else other then the best. One day he strolled into town. As he was walking deeper and deeper into the lower class end of London he noticed how unclean they were. How they dealt with waste and how so many slept in one room. Lumis searched for the answer he couldn't believe people lived like this for so long and got nothing out of it. He gave money to the poor trying to make a difference but it had little or no impact. One day while meditating in the upper class part of London, he saw people crying. Then he saw something shimmer up into the sky. He then noticed this shimmer looked vaguely human. the shimmer sat down crying and depressed, it then vanished. He later found out that the crying people were crying because one of their relatives died. Lumis knew the man who died personally, he also knew he was not a kind man. He looked down at people as if he was better then everyone. One day Lumis was meditating again in the lower class end of London, again he saw a shimmer. But this time it went into the air smiling and content with what has happened. Again the shimmer vanished, but this one vanished happy and laughing. Lumis went to the place where he saw it originate from. It was a house of 7 people. One of their family had died. None wept, this had happened so many times in the past. The were in some ways joyful. They thought the person had suffered so much will find death more peaceful. On that day Lumis decided that death can be happy, if you have tried all your life. If you do not it is sad and horrible. He also concluded life is simply a test for what death is like. After this Lumis went into the streets and preached his findings. He gathered a small group of followers who were nice and helpful to the kind encouraging them to carry on. When they met someone wicked they did their best to convince them to change their ways. If the person did not he was killed, as their was no point for the person on earth anymore - they failed the test.
I don't know whether that is beautiful or insane or both. In other words the perfect religion!
 
Reform Islam. A sect of Islam developed in the 19th Century by a variety of Muslim thinkers in Granada. Responding to some of the intellectual challenges of the Enlightenment, reform Islam rejects a literal interpretation of the Koran, and insists that while Mohammed was a wise philosopher with important insight into the divine, he was not especially selected for a divine message. It has grown to embrace women's rights, arguing that all are equal before God, and stresses the traditional Islamic concept of ijtihad, believing questioning of all matters is critical to understanding the truth. Reform Islam spread from its origins in Seville to Morocco and much of the Ottoman Empire, and is the underlying philosophy behind many Muslim Democrat parties.
 
Vejovism - As the Roman Empire declined, the widespread spiritual discomfort of the people continued to grow. Many people were searching for a new religion, yet there was none to be found. However, in 304 a new cult of the Roman god Vejovis arose. The Vejovians gave many aspects to their god, who was described as a god of the underworld, of volcanoes, earthquakes, marshes, and thunder. He was also identified as the protector of slaves and the wrongly persecuted, giving him great popularity among the lower classes of the empire. However, Vejovis was often cast as the foe or opposite of Jupiter, which earned the Vejovians the hatred of the Roman authorities. In time, influenced by various gnostic ideas, these two gods fell into a great duality, with the Vejovians claiming that Jupiter was the god of the evil material world, and Vejovis the god of the good spiritual world. The Vejovians claimed that their god was the son of Jupiter, and would one day overthrow his father like Jupiter had toppled Saturn. The conflict between these two cults eventually destroyed the empire. Although the Jupiterites had defeated the Roman Vejovian leaders, the conversion of many Germanic tribes to Vejovism doomed the older Roman religion, as the invaders destroyed many temples of Jupiter and replaced them with temples to Vejovis. The Eastern Empire remained Jupiterite, however, dividing Europe and the Middle East with a conflict-ridden religious divide.
 
An interesting and one who get very freaky when radical fundies are taking it further and further was that alt dharma one, whom I sadly forgot the name right now. Zoroastrian clash turning hinduism and related paths around, trying to find that link here again.
 
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