Incarnandism

The belief system of the Shenimite Tribe of Jerushabla, adopted by many people and psychics of the Pallathantic, Incarnandism is the belief that the collective intelligence of the universe will take upon itself a human form in the future to overcome the power of entropy. Incarnandists often repeat the words, "The universe will be made flesh," and believe that it is essential to understand and prepare for God's coming. The line of Incarnandinas will at some future date give birth to a male human who will fulfill this role.

Incarnandists claim that the holy scriptures of the Khahonri Prophets of Jerushabla predict and foreshadows the Incarnandus. The first teacher and revelator of the Incarnandus religion in our age, they believe, was Shaqtirah or Holy Shaqtirah, Mother of the Mothers of God.

Origins

Many children of the Shenimite Tribe of Jerushabla were being born with the psychic gift—much more than was ever known among humans—though their numbers were still relatively small. An explanation was in order and the midwife, Saint Shaqtirah kath Katima revealed the gospel of the Incarnandus—that the Universe itself as manifested by God would transform himself and be born a human being. The Jerushablans largely rejected the words of the new prophetess, but most of the Shenimites accepted these revelations. Shaqtirah further revealed that God was causing the Shenimite women to give birth to more psychics to prepare the earth for the Incarnandus. She taught that mortals were to reject priesthoods as abominations and ready themselves to receive a higher priesthood when the Incarnandus arrived sometime in the future. She said that the priesthood of the Jerushablans had become corrupted and God no longer validated it. She taught her followers to spread the message of the gospel of Incarnandus, so that the world could prepare for the coming of God. Men could prepare by living a pure life and meditating on the Incarnandus daily. She chose seven followers to become Arch-Apostles of the Incarnandus to preach the word throughout the world, Thaulephus, Shannadh, Gerrick, Deelah, Rhamrhoth, Thyssa, and Brayand. Each Arch-Apostle in turn was to choose a successor Apostle and thus bring the total number up to fourteen which added to the number of St. Shaqtirah herself, produced the Sacred Number Fifteen.

The Anceps

The traditional symbol of the Incarnandist religion, the anceps was widely adopted sometime during the Middle Ages of Chaos. The symbol represents the duality of the universe and the Supreme Being, between the Infinite and the Finite, and also foreshadows God becoming human. It is also evocative of the esoteric teaching "As within, so without." The anceps can assume one of two positions. With the smaller half-circle turned to one side, it represents the anceps of contemplation, specifically contemplation of the Incarnandus. With the small circular pointed upwards (or atop the greater circle), it represents the militant anceps used by tisbajuma during their campaigns against the Chaos Rulers.

The Incarnandist Anceps of Contemplation

Core Beliefs

Khahonrite Origins

See also: Khahonri Cult of Yal

The first Incarnandists were members of the Shenimite Tribe of the Khahonrite people of Jerushabla.

The Incarnandus

Main article: Incarnandus

The Incarnandus is the interpretation into general language of the name of the sacred manifestation of the universe. Incarnandists believe that the physical universe is fallen and cannot be placed on the path to restoration with the divine universe unless the divine universe manifests in the physical universe. This particular manifestation of the divine, what is often called God, is the Incarnandus -- he who must be born.

The Incarnandina

Main article: Incarnandina

The present heir to Shaqtirah kath Katima is the Incarnandina. She is the woman foretold to give birth to the next Incarnandina. The succession is to continue until the Incarnandina Ultima or the final Incarnandina who according to Incarnandist prophecy will bear God in human form. The succeeding Incarnandina is the youngest surviving daughter of the Incarnandina.

The living Incarnandina holds immense power in the Incarnandist community. She is thought to have special protection from God and guidance from God about the whole world and particularly the leadership of the Incarnandist community.

Ecstatic Union with God

An important practice of Incarnandism is meditation which is thought to purify the soul and in time enable the possibility of ecstatic union with God in a meditative state of mind and spirit.

Conversion to Incarnandism

The early Incarnandists shared their message with other Khahonrites and visitors to their land, garnering a few converts. Before the missions of the Arch-Apostles, there was not a strong effort to evangelize the message of Shaqtirah.

Ancient Arathracian Reaction

The ancient Yophenthean Arathracian rulers of the world took a dim view of the message of Shaqtirah, calling it the Sactirate Heresy. Most missionaries of the Incarnandist Religion were persecuted and martyred by the local magistrates, priests of the Arathracian Religion, or worshipers of the Old Religion.

Non-Incarnandist Reaction and Syncretism

Most inhabitants of the Pallathantic nations subscribe to some degree to the Old Religion. Incarnandists are seen as holy and devout, but exceptional and people do not feel a strong compulsion to forsake their ancestral gods in favor of the belief of the Incarnandus. Thus, while not skeptical, most consider the worship of the Incarnandus impractical and even irrelevant. Skeptics insist that since all the powers of the Incarnandist missionaries and saints stem from psychic ability, the belief itself is really not a true religion. Others, however, have adopted a middle-way, a syncretic adaptation where both the Incarnandus and the Isxinthion Gods are honored. Since Incarnandists' beliefs are very personal and typically private, their true numbers are not well-known.

Common Incarnandism

See also: Harmonism

Many typical people in the Pallathantic Nations and indeed other parts of the world mix the worship of their local gods with the teachings of the Incarnandus. This syncretism is very widespread, so that while "pure" Incarnandists are a true minority, as many as half of the people of a given nation may practice some forms of Incarnandism.

Incarnandist Scripture

See also: Incarnature

Incarnandists accept many of the beliefs the Khahonri and some of their religious books. They also accept the religious writings of the Incarnandist Saints, although some works are more openly accepted than others. The Incarnandina has made some statements about some books and consequently they are considered canon, but has not openly rejected others. The current compilation of the Incarnature was largely the work of Sage Basmeath under the diretion of the Incarnandina.

Incarnandist Costume

Incarnandists typically follow the costume of the culture in which they live. On holy days, Incarnandists often don robes of linen of black, brown, or tan, but preferring grey and white. New-born children of Incarnandists are swaddled in fine white linen, then dedicated to the Incarnandus. Incarnandists who have made monastic or militant vows wear these types of clothes all the time.

Incarnandist Saints

Main article: Incarnandist Saints

See also: List of Incarnandist Saints

The first Saint of the Incarnandist Religion is Shaqtirah kath Katima, but Incarnandists are quick to point out that only God who is to come in human form is truly holy. Shaqtirah chose seven Arch-Apostles and these men and women have been recognized as Saints of Incarnandism since very early on in the religion. Incarnandists do not pray to their saints but acknowledge the holiness of their lives and their place in God's heaven.

Tension with other religions

Arathracian Religion

See also: Great Tambrigaline Concordat with Oliblish

Incarnandist Populations

Devout Incarnandists are commonly a minority among human populations, with the exceptions of Oliblish, Amerzcelindo, and to some extent, Umbardia, where they are the majority. Incarnandists are rarer east of the Jaggudorns and outside the sphere of influence of the Pallathantic Nations.

Incarnandists are most frequent in cities and towns of the world. In the rurals and wilderness, they ban together in small communities centered on monastic sanctuaries. In this regard Incarnandists are paradoxical, perhaps, as they cluster in highly populous cities and towns, but have a significant, if isolated, presence in the wilderness and the rural places of the world.

Highest Percentage of Incarnandists among their Human Population, In order from Most to Least

See also Religious Populations of Asdar.

Occurrence of Incarnandists among Humanlike Races

See also: Humanlikes

Incarnandism occurs much less commonly among the non-human races of the world. Of these, it is most likely (although a minority) among half-orcs and halflings. There is a significant minority of Incarnandists among orcs and dwarves. For example, many of the energist warriors of dwarven Gdelisica are Incarnandist.

Incarnandist Theology

Nobody speaks directly for God. Only one's heart can speak best for God. On fast days, the images of Incarnandist Saints are covered because you should be contemplating God and your own connection to God.

Local Incarnandists choose their saints. Incarnandism teaches self-control, rather than a top-heavy central authority. Meditation and contemplation are the most important pursuits. Helping others to come to God is the next most important.

God is infinite and manifests in infinite form.

Pacifism vs. Militancy

The subtle rift that has occasion to swell to disagreement among incarnandists arises from the philosophical divide between the faithful who adhere to a belief in minimal violence at all costs and the militant faithful who have embraced war as a means to liberate the captives as an expression of God's power and mercy. The divide was strongest during the time of the Isbajutha. Today, the place of Incarnandists is much more secure in the Pallathantic and the need to organize for war is rare. Consequently, the philosophical rift has receded, but can rise under the right conditions. Pacifists insist that peaceful meditation and avoidance of conflict are at the origins of Incarnandism. The militants, however, contend that only by opposing and defeating the Chaos Lords was the world transformed and prepared for the coming of the Incarnandus. The pacifists counter by stating that the element of conflict has compromised the essence of Incarnandism and in the long term, their will be consequences.

Sects

Other Religions deriving from Incarnandism or incorporating Incarnandism

• Archontism
• Hamagnosticism
• Omasoni
• Paimbalans

See Also

• Hamagnosticism
• Incarnandina
• Incarnandist Practice and Worship
• Incarnandus
• Interpretatio Incarnandista
• List of Incarnandinas
• List of Incarnandist Saints
• List of Incarnandist Sects
• Religions
• Religious Populations of Asdar
• Seven Archapostles of Incarnandism