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The Tlateochihualtletl

Temachtism or the Way that is Taught is a religion originating in Zacapican where it is known as Neltiliz Teixtlamachtiliztli meaning "true teachings". It is one of the oldest continuously practiced religions in the world, believed to have origins as far back as the foundation of classical Zacapican in the 2nd millennium BCE although it does not enter recorded history until the 7th century BCE. The foundations of modern day Temachtism were laid by the prophet known to history only as Neltiliztemachtiani (lit. "preacher of truth") who is believed to have lived in the late 8th century BCE and was already dead by the time the earliest surviving records of his teachings were created. Neltiliztemachtianii's teachings tell of a divine being which had a great love for humanity and so broke with the other divine powers of the primordial world and elevated humanity. He did this by teaching the humans to master fire and to sow and harvest grain, for which Neltiliztemachtiani names the deity by the name Zacatecuhtli although he is also referred to as Tlatoque Tlapixcaliztli (lit. "Harvest Lord") in the texts. The posthumous records of Neltiliztemachtiani's philosophy, visions, teachings and accounts of his life are and were at the time incomplete, leaving his followers to further develop and elaborate on the prophet's teachings in subsequent and supplemental writings. These writings, along with the records of the prophet's direct teachings, are compiled within the Huehuetlahtolli or "Words of the Elders" which serve as the holy texts of Temachtism.

The practices of Temachtism are directly relate to and derived from contemporary Zacapitec religious traditions, and it is believed that many aspects of the new religion were already common religious practices and that Temachtism itself was only a more recent iteration of ancient beliefs dating back to the very dawn of Nahua civilization in Zacapican. Core aspects of Temachtism which are thought to be derived from precursor belief systems include pyrolatry and a deep religious dimension to the process of sowing and reaping grain. The distinct aspects of Temachtism revolved around the Harvest Lord, in whom many often disparate aspects of preceding beliefs were inter-connected within a henotheistic framework rather than an animistic one.

- - - ooc notes - - - tlateochihualtletl - the holy flame tetlechipahualoyan - flame-temple/purging flame-temple tlecomitl - fire altar tlecuahuitl - fire impliment, fire-stick huentlatlatilli - offering that is burned

nezcoliztli - warming by the fire, act of worship

teopixcacalli - monastery teopixqui - monk/priest neltiliz tenonotzani - truth teacher teotemachti - holy teacher teyoliuhtlamachtiani - preacher of contentment/story keeper tlazomahuizteopixcatatli - high priest