Corsanguinism

Corsanguine Churches
Iglesias del Corazón Sangrado
Classification	Sarpetic Religions
Scripture	Ancient and New Treasury
Theology	Nazarist Theology
Polity	Episcopal Polity
Region	Northwest Belisaria, specifically Ottonia
Language	Allamunnic Eonese
Headquarters	Ottonia City (de facto)
Founder	Amitai Pelayo García Koryn Eriksdotr
Origin	August 17th, 1743 (Excommunication from Honorian Church) Ottonia
Separated from	Honorian Catholic Church
Members	approx. 24 million

Corsanguinism, more properly referred to as The Corsanguine Churches in Allamunnic or Los Iglesias del Corazón Sangrado in Eonese, is a heretical Sarpetic movement. Originally a revival movement within the Honorian Church, the adherents of the sect were excommunicated in 1743 due to a mix of theological heresies as well as a political divide regarding how the nascent Reytled neopagan revival should be treated by Ottonian Sarpetics. In the nearly three centuries since then, the Corsanguine Churches, largely concentrated in North Ottonia, have accumulated a number of significant theological differences with Fabrianism as a whole and the Honorian Church specifically.

Today, Corsanguinism is the single largest Sarpetic denomination within North Ottonia, and composes substantial minorities within South Ottonia and Sudemark, with smaller populations further afield.

History and Name

The name of the denomination translates literally from the Audonian for "Bleeding Heart", a term which was used derisively by the movement's opponents within the Honorian Church due to what were perceived to be an overly-soft-hearted attitude towards the neopagan revival movement known as Reytled, and their categorical opposition to the violent suppression of that movement. Although originally used insultingly, the movement's adherents quickly reappropriated the term as a mark of honor, and when the movement was excommunicated by the Archbishop of Onneria in 1743, the name was applied to the renegade church.

The roots of the movement go back to the 16th-century Eonese theologian Pelayo García, who posited that God, being infinitely just and infinitely loving, would not punish a person for the sins of another, thus rejecting the doctrine of original sin. Moreover, reasoning that God would not give commandments that could not all be followed, García concluded that true free will must exist. Morever, this prompted Pelayo to also reject the notion that vindication could occur through faith alone; if perfect action was possible, it only made sense that God would judge by deed alone.

Despite the heretical nature of his writings, Pelayo's ideas found a ready audience in many adherents of the Ottonian Honorian Church, and despite attempts to suppress his writings, his views created an undercurrent in the Church. Two centuries later, one such Honorian, a nun named Koryn Eriksdotr, would lead the beginnings of a spiritual revival aimed at emphasizing Amitaian behavior among believers, including service and love of neighbors. When the Reytled movement began to emerge towards the end of the century, attempts by the Honorian Church to suppress the movement often found themselves frustrated by Eriksdotr's compatriots, who often opted to shield neighbors under suspicion of apostasy, often at great personal risk. This led several of the derisively-named "Bleeding Hearts" to be martyred attempting to protect their neighbors from Church and secular authorities alike.

By the middle of the 18th century, the Bleeding Heart movement had not only become a persistant roadblock to religious and secular authorities' attempts to persecute religious and political minorities, many adherents were expressing, with increasing openness, heretical and heterodox views. This culminated in the 1743 Decree of Unity by the Archbishop of Onneria Rufus Faramund which excommunicated the followers of the movement. The persecution would only increase, although relative tolerance in Tyrrslynd allowed a significant population of Corsanguines to take root their, alongside a growing neopagan population. A reversal of policy attempting to end the movements within Tyrrslynd's borders would help precipitate the Jormundean Revolt that fragmented the Kingdom of Tyrrslynd for good.

During the 19th century, many Honorians, especially in the northern parts of Ottonia, converted to the Corsanguine sect, and the movement's theology would have a noticeable effect on the developing theology of Reytled, as well. Notably, the religious divide between the largely Corsanguine and Reytleder North and the Honorian South would provide part of the tensions that would spark the Ottonian Civil War, with the monarchist faction largely coopting Honorianism to their cause and framing their revolt as a righteous crusade against paganism and heresy. The conflict, as well as large scale migrations that came with the stabilization of the border, and again with the 1935 - 1942 Great Ottonian War, would have the ultimate result of the vast majority of the Ottonian Honorian population residing in South Ottonia while the vast majority of Corsanguines would reside in North Ottonia.

In the present, the Corsanguine Churches are strongly, if unofficially, associated with the North Ottonian minor party the Union of Sarpetic Socialists.

Beliefs

Although initially rooted in the theology and traditions of the Honorian rite of the Fabrian Church, most of three centuries of sectarian separation have resulted in some significant theological shifts within Corsanguinism.

Pelagianism

The views espoused by Pelayo García are referred to in theological circles as Pelagianism, and encompass a mixture of the denial of original sin and its ability to tarnish even newborns, an emphasis on the existence of free will, and, due to the possibility of a spiritually-perfect life, the importance of good works in regards to salvation. All three beliefs placed García and his followers in conflict with the Fabrian Church's teachings. Pelayo's emphasis on the renunciation of material belongings and a life of service to others also inspired subsequent followers, most-notably Koryn Eriksdotr.

Inclusive Salvation

In line with Fabrianism and Honorianism, Corsanguines believe that salvation is inclusive, even for non-Sarpetics, and that other faiths contain truth and that one need not believe in the divinity of Amitai in order to receive salvation. Corsanguines, however, take this a step further and believe that it is sinful to actively preach to non-Sarpetics (that to do so is to indulge in the sin of pride through certainty in one's own rightness) who do not request the Word of God, and believe that their evangelization is to be done through their example alone.

Universalism

The Corsanguine movement also is strongly centered on the belief that, because God is all-loving and perfectly just, not only is salvation available to all, but in the end, all will be saved at the completion of God's plan, and creation will be made whole and perfect. Corsanguines do not believe in the concept of eternal damnation.

At different times, however, this has meant different things to Corsanguines. Earlier in the movement, during the 18th and early 19th centuries, this was understood to mean that all who died in Amitai (by living a righteous, compassionate life) would recieve eternal life and would be reborn in God's Kingdom. Meanwhile, those who did not live a righteous life would simply perish, their souls cut off from God due to closing off their hearts. This belief may well have influenced the development of Reytleder ideas regarding the soul. However, as time went on, the understanding of this belief shifted. Increasingly, the belief in a purgatorial "hell" spread within Corsanguinism, in which the unrighteous would serve penance before they would be ready for God's Kingdom.

Sacraments

Corsanguines, like their Honorian forebears, profess the existence of seven sacraments. These include baptism, eucharist, confirmation, matrimony, absolution, unction, and holy orders.

Practices

Worship

Aesthetically, Corsanguine worship bears a striking similarity to the liturgy of the Honorian Church. Corsanguine worship services are referred to as "Mass" and follow a very similar sequence of worship.

Marriage & Divorce

Unlike Fabrians and Honorians, Corsanguines do not believe that the practice of divorce is in conflict with the Word of God.

Clerical Celibacy

Unlike Fabrians and Honorians, Corsanguine ministers, priests, and religious brothers or sisters are not inherently required to take vows of celibacy. Though some clerics and persons engaging in a religious lifestyle voluntarily undertake such vows, it is not the expectation except for very specific religious societies.

LGTBTQ+ Issues

In contrast to the mainline Fabrian Church, Corsanguine congregations tend to be quite accepting of persons identifying with non-heterosexual and non-cisgendered gender identities. Because of the emphasis on love of one's neighbor and the universality of salvation, significant effort is made to ensure that Corsanguine Churches are welcoming environments for all.