Romulan Religion - Revision history

Rhaego at 18:58, 4 April 2021

2021-04-04T18:58:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:58, 4 April 2021
Line 129:		Line 129:

	The Rihannsu language is therefore rich with phrases that acknowledge the sentience of the Universe such as: "Oh Elements, avert it!", "What in the Element's name?", "Elements be thanked!", "Oh Fire & Air & Earth!", "Powers and Elements!", "Elements granting" and so forth.		The Rihannsu language is therefore rich with phrases that acknowledge the sentience of the Universe such as: "Oh Elements, avert it!", "What in the Element's name?", "Elements be thanked!", "Oh Fire & Air & Earth!", "Powers and Elements!", "Elements granting" and so forth.

			==Origins of Rihannsu Beliefs==

			Why do so many Rihannsu follow, in one form or another, the faith of the Elements? Even under the most repressive of governments, Element-worship (or any other belief) has never been mandated, or even officially encouraged as such. Freedom of religion is not thought of as a right -- it is a fundamental assumption that is rarely if ever, questioned. Yet, though plenty of other sects have their share of followers, the majority of Rihannsu still worship the Quatrad. On Earth, under far more restrictive conditions, hundreds of religions have flourished. Why are the planets of the Empire, and especially the Homeworlds, so different?

			Part of the answer lies in Rihannsu attitudes towards duty and responsibility, which are rooted in mnhei'sahe. Though one is free, in theory, to believe whatever one wishes, a religion that conflicts with the law or with one's duty is difficult to follow. If mnhei'sahe compels you to abandon your duty for the tenets of your belief, it also compels you to accept the consequences of shame, punishment, or ostracism. Most Rihannsu thus follow some form of Element-worship, because its tenets generally match those of the law -- though there have been notable exceptions, particularly in the past century or so.

			Belief systems that conflict with the law, science, or other seemingly objective truths are another matter. Such religions are much rarer among Rihannsu than on Earth, where they were long dominant. The reasons for this are rooted in history, though differences in human and Vulcanoid psychologies are also a factor.

			When the Travelers (the future Rihannsu) left Vulcan, they were determined to make a fresh start. They knew that if they took all their culture with them, their new world would simply be a second Vulcan, their ending no better than their beginning. So they chose carefully what knowledge, beliefs, and ideas to keep, and swore to forget the rest, letting their children grow up free of Vulcan's self-destructive taint. Among the things left behind were most of the planet's six hundred religions. They were not, of course, forgotten completely, and the influence of many Vulcan beliefs can still be found in present-day Rihannsu. But by and large, this symbolic book-burning succeeded. Old habits were not easy to break, but few Travelers consciously followed any Vulcan religion.

			Belief in the Elements developed gradually during the Journey. It was the first purely Rihannsu religion -- though there had been Vulcan religions which worshipped the names of the Elements, in substance and detail they were utterly unlike the new belief. It would have made very little sense for a people entirely dependent upon technology -- whose lives daily rested on an intimate knowledge of their ships' workings and of the hazards of space -- to develop a religion that contradicted or questioned scientific fact. Children who had known nothing but space all their lives, students daily learning the intricacies of astrophysics, would not have accepted myths of turtles supporting the universe or worlds created with a thought. And they had little need (or so they thought) for supernatural explanations of the Universe. What was created, then, was less a religion in the Terran sense than a philosophy or a worldview. It was not so much about explaining 'what is' as much as about discussing what should be, and what could be done to help things be more as they should. By the end of the Journey, this basic philosophy was accepted by nearly all Travelers.

			Other religions developed, but they generally shared the essential characteristics of the first. Until contact with aliens, supernatural mythology was almost nonexistent. After contact, the expansionist phase of Rihannsu history began, and with it came some reversions to the old ways. Isolated colony worlds with low levels of technology developed their own beliefs. Some Rihannsu adopted alien religions, and even Element-worship was profoundly influenced by contact.

			But the fundamental philosophy developed on the Journey is still held by the vast majority of the Rihannsu. The only major recent disagreement over religion deals with the adoption of Vulcan practices (i.e. Reunification), and the objection there is made is not to their content, but out of fear that the Vulcans are attempting to sublimate Romulan culture into their own. The Rihannsu fight over many things, but religion is not one of them. The Homeworlds have never seen a religious war.

			[[Category: Imperial Databank]]
			[[Category: Romulan Culture and Society]]

Rhaego at 18:54, 4 April 2021

2021-04-04T18:54:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:54, 4 April 2021
Line 115:		Line 115:
	And stands ever.		And stands ever.
	</poem>		</poem>

			==Variations on the Elements==

			Some Rihannsu religion is similar to the practice of Wicca or Druidism. They have no particular Gods or Goddesses. Rihannsu religion instead centers around 5 elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Space, and the Archelement, which oversees all. In connection with this, the Rihannsu celebrate festivals to honor these elements. Each element has a festival devoted to it, with one culminating festival to the Archelement. Some of these festivals likely date back to the pre-Reformation era on Vulcan as do a few other Rihannsu practices in the area of religion. Though Rihannsu do not preserve 'katras' as the Vulcans do, many religious ceremonies retain a distinctive Vulcan flavor.

			Surprisingly, there are priests and priestesses of various sects in large numbers. Each element has, in theory, a single sect devoted to it (although in reality, many sects exist for each, some competing at cross purposes. But such is the way of the Rihannsu). There is no central leader to the sects, only a five-person Key'. The Key is a group of High Priests and Priestesses (one from each of the primary sects of each element) who hold the sects together and advise the Praetoriate directly when asked. As already mentioned, there are 5 elements -- Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Space. Strangely, there is no sect for the ArchElement, although all sects join together to worship and celebrate it equally. Each of the sects has three scrolls as its basis.

			These scrolls govern the daily life of the Elementals and the populace. S'Task and his followers created these scrolls and each tells of tales or legends for easy understanding without misunderstanding the true meaning. Each scroll stands for Mind, Heart, and Soul. Together they are the key to the understanding of the ArchElement. There are many, many rituals, ceremonies, prayers, songs, poems, stories, tales, legends, and sonnets for respect and empowerment.

			==Sentient Universe==

			Many Rihannsu consider the Universe itself to have borderline sentience, much as a favored pet. It craves attention and responds to such (or the lack of it) with affection (or annoyance). They further believe that the existence of a 'thing' gives it the right of nobility -- to be honored and appreciated; to be named, and hence to be able to respond to that name.

			The Rihannsu language is therefore rich with phrases that acknowledge the sentience of the Universe such as: "Oh Elements, avert it!", "What in the Element's name?", "Elements be thanked!", "Oh Fire & Air & Earth!", "Powers and Elements!", "Elements granting" and so forth.

Rhaego at 18:51, 4 April 2021

2021-04-04T18:51:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:51, 4 April 2021
Line 20:		Line 20:

	<poem>		<poem>
	'''In Star's heart and heart's desire		'''In Star's heart and heart's desire'''
	Here burns Fire-- '''		'''Here burns Fire-- '''

	Leaping, dancing flames give warmth, give light		Leaping, dancing flames give warmth, give light
Line 44:		Line 44:
	</poem>		</poem>
	<poem>		<poem>
	'''Reckless and Wild, without a care		'''Reckless and Wild, without a care'''
	Here blows Air-- '''		'''Here blows Air-- '''

	Capricious winds control the sky,		Capricious winds control the sky,
Line 68:		Line 68:
	</poem>		</poem>
	<poem>		<poem>
	'''In secret depths, Aekhwinarrae's daughter		'''In secret depths, Aekhwinarrae's daughter'''
	Here flows Water-- '''		'''Here flows Water-- '''

	The river runs cold, clean, and clear,		The river runs cold, clean, and clear,
Line 92:		Line 92:
	</poem>		</poem>
	<poem>		<poem>
	'''Eternal rock to life gives birth		'''Eternal rock to life gives birth'''
	Here stands Earth-- '''		'''Here stands Earth-- '''

	Mountains rise to pierce the sky.		Mountains rise to pierce the sky.

Rhaego: /* Elements Teaching Poems */

2021-04-04T18:51:15Z

Elements Teaching Poems

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:51, 4 April 2021
Line 21:		Line 21:
	<poem>		<poem>
	'''In Star's heart and heart's desire		'''In Star's heart and heart's desire
	Here burns Fire--'''		Here burns Fire-- '''

	Leaping, dancing flames give warmth, give light		Leaping, dancing flames give warmth, give light
Line 44:		Line 44:
	</poem>		</poem>
	<poem>		<poem>
	Reckless and Wild, without a care		'''Reckless and Wild, without a care
	Here blows Air--		Here blows Air-- '''

	Capricious winds control the sky,		Capricious winds control the sky,
Line 69:		Line 69:
	<poem>		<poem>
	'''In secret depths, Aekhwinarrae's daughter		'''In secret depths, Aekhwinarrae's daughter
	Here flows Water--'''		Here flows Water-- '''

	The river runs cold, clean, and clear,		The river runs cold, clean, and clear,
Line 93:		Line 93:
	<poem>		<poem>
	'''Eternal rock to life gives birth		'''Eternal rock to life gives birth
	Here stands Earth--'''		Here stands Earth-- '''

	Mountains rise to pierce the sky.		Mountains rise to pierce the sky.

Rhaego: /* Elements Teaching Poems */

2021-04-04T18:50:34Z

Elements Teaching Poems

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:50, 4 April 2021
Line 20:		Line 20:

	<poem>		<poem>
	In Star's heart and heart's desire		'''In Star's heart and heart's desire
	Here burns Fire--		Here burns Fire--'''

	Leaping, dancing flames give warmth, give light		Leaping, dancing flames give warmth, give light
Line 68:		Line 68:
	</poem>		</poem>
	<poem>		<poem>
	In secret depths, Aekhwinarrae's daughter		'''In secret depths, Aekhwinarrae's daughter
	Here flows Water--		Here flows Water--'''

	The river runs cold, clean, and clear,		The river runs cold, clean, and clear,
Line 92:		Line 92:
	</poem>		</poem>
	<poem>		<poem>
	Eternal rock to life gives birth		'''Eternal rock to life gives birth
	Here stands Earth--		Here stands Earth--'''

	Mountains rise to pierce the sky.		Mountains rise to pierce the sky.

Rhaego: /* Elements Teaching Poems */

2021-04-04T18:50:02Z

Elements Teaching Poems

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 <poem>
 In Star's heart and heart's desire
-Here burns Fire ~
+Here burns Fire--
 Leaping, dancing flames give warmth, give light
@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 Air blows wild
 And blows free.
 </poem>

Rhaego: /* Elements Teaching Poems */

2021-04-04T18:47:19Z

Elements Teaching Poems

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 In Star's heart and heart's desire
 Here burns Fire ~
 Leaping, dancing flames give warmth, give light
 Entice us -- but venture not too close,
@@ Line 41: / Line 42: @@
 Fire burns hot
 And burns out.
 </poem>

Rhaego: /* Elements Teaching Poems */

2021-04-04T18:44:19Z

Elements Teaching Poems

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:44, 4 April 2021
Line 16:		Line 16:

	==== Elements Teaching Poems====		==== Elements Teaching Poems====

			'''Four Elements are there.'''

	<poem>		<poem>
	~~Four Elements are there.~~
	In Star's heart and heart's desire		In Star's heart and heart's desire
	Here burns Fire ~		Here burns Fire ~

Rhaego: /* Elements Teaching Poems */

2021-04-04T18:43:44Z

Elements Teaching Poems

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:43, 4 April 2021
Line 19:		Line 19:
	<poem>		<poem>
	Four Elements are there.		Four Elements are there.
	In Star's heart and heart'~~sdesire~~		In Star's heart and heart's desire
	Here burns Fire ~		Here burns Fire ~
	Leaping, dancing flames ~~givewarmth~~, give light		Leaping, dancing flames give warmth, give light
	Entice us -- but venture not ~~tooclose~~,		Entice us -- but venture not too close,
	For Fire gives death, too, to ~~wewho~~ live,		For Fire gives death, too, to we who live,
	And those who play with Fire ~~arealways~~ burned.		And those who play with Fire are always burned.
	Never truly tame, ~~unstoppableonce~~ loosed,		Never truly tame, unstoppable once loosed,
	Wildfires and atom bombs,lightening and supernovae		Wildfires and atom bombs, lightening and supernovae
	Destroy. But Fire also builds;		Destroy. But Fire also builds;
	Sunfire, ~~starfire~~, ~~lifefire~~ in ~~ournerves~~,		Sunfire, Starfire, life fire in our nerves,
	And the fire in our hearts,		And the fire in our hearts,
	Our passions: Love, Joy, Loyalty,		Our passions: Love, Joy, Loyalty,
	Treachery, Hatred, Despair all ~~feedour~~ power.		Treachery, Hatred, Despair all feed our power.
	Its blaze consumes, searing away		Its blaze consumes, searing away
	All pretense, leaving truth ~~amidstthe~~ ashes.		All pretense, leaving truth amidst the ashes.
	In crises, it is our hidden strength,		In crises, it is our hidden strength,
	Giving all, unambivalent, ~~holdingnothing~~ back.		Giving all, unambivalent, holding nothing back.
	In brilliance blinds, an inferno,		In brilliance blinds, an inferno,
	And in one moment of glory		And in one moment of glory

Rhaego at 18:42, 4 April 2021

2021-04-04T18:42:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:42, 4 April 2021
Line 17:		Line 17:
	==== Elements Teaching Poems====		==== Elements Teaching Poems====

			<poem>
	Four Elements are there.		Four Elements are there.

	In Star's heart and heart'sdesire		In Star's heart and heart'sdesire

	Here burns Fire ~		Here burns Fire ~

	Leaping, dancing flames givewarmth, give light		Leaping, dancing flames givewarmth, give light

	Entice us -- but venture not tooclose,		Entice us -- but venture not tooclose,

	For Fire gives death, too, to wewho live,		For Fire gives death, too, to wewho live,

	And those who play with Fire arealways burned.		And those who play with Fire arealways burned.

	Never truly tame, unstoppableonce loosed,		Never truly tame, unstoppableonce loosed,

	Wildfires and atom bombs,lightening and supernovae		Wildfires and atom bombs,lightening and supernovae

	Destroy. But Fire also builds;		Destroy. But Fire also builds;

	Sunfire, starfire, lifefire in ournerves,		Sunfire, starfire, lifefire in ournerves,

	And the fire in our hearts,		And the fire in our hearts,

	Our passions: Love, Joy, Loyalty,		Our passions: Love, Joy, Loyalty,

	Treachery, Hatred, Despair all feedour power.		Treachery, Hatred, Despair all feedour power.

	Its blaze consumes, searing away		Its blaze consumes, searing away

	All pretense, leaving truth amidstthe ashes.		All pretense, leaving truth amidstthe ashes.

	In crises, it is our hidden strength,		In crises, it is our hidden strength,

	Giving all, unambivalent, holdingnothing back.		Giving all, unambivalent, holdingnothing back.

	In brilliance blinds, an inferno,		In brilliance blinds, an inferno,

	And in one moment of glory		And in one moment of glory

	Fire burns hot		Fire burns hot

	And burns out.		And burns out.
			</poem>