Angaism
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| Angaism | |
|---|---|
| Lam Angai | |
 Cilevi Emmeu, one of the earliest Angaist cilevim. | |
| Classification | Elisian |
| Scripture | Faraña, Yahangsa[a] |
| Theology | Eclectic, pantheistic |
| Region | Widespread across the world as minorities |
| Language | Liturgical Aneic |
| Founder | Raçime Angaiu |
| Origin | 670 CE Cilevi Akhna, Elisia |
| Separated from | Elisian faiths |
| Number of followers | c. |
| Ministers | Assrelem, Angoldrim |
| Church buildings | Cilevim, Rafohem |
Angaism is an eclectic esoteric religion and philosophical tradition centred on the teachings of Raçime Angaiu, outlined in the Faraña. Adherents to the religion are called Angais or Angaists, and the numbers of these across the world vary by definition, with many Angais also claiming membership of other religions, and some who decline fellowship with religious Angaism, instead adhering to 'philosophical Angaism', sometimes known as Reñat.
Angais believe that the teachings of Raçime Angaiu were revealed to him by the angel Hingras, and as such, they believe that the Faraña is fagrah, the 'highest word', and the most complete guide to human action, thought and being. Angais also believe that revelation of the divine nature of the universe was granted to Raçime Angaiu by a high god, and believe this information to be located in a book entitled the Yahangsa, though this book was lost shortly after the death of Raçime Angaiu, and only his closest followers, named the Efielim, beheld any of this second divine revelation before his death. Angaist beliefs are based on the veneration of the human soul (heyl) and the world around (hayngra), and they believe in a perfect afterlife (chi'et) which can be attained by any who act in selfless devotion to humankind, whereas those who are selfish, greedy or malicious are doomed to extermination of the soul (akh'ir). There are five central tenets of Angaism which govern the actions of Angais both in community and individually; sustenance (i'angi), service (late), self-awareness (açli), progress (keie) and teaching (angold). Angaist law (aiue) covers almost all aspects of life, including meditation practices, times for prayer and specific vows of charity and types of fellowship within Angaist priesthood (Assrelem). Angaism maintains a number of ritual celebrations, with perhaps the most important one being Ser Nu, a celebration which occurs every 1,000 days, with a lesser celebration, Ikvet Nu, occurring every 333 days, amounting to just over once per year between Ser Nu celebrations. Angais also strongly reject the establishment of holy sites or places of pilgrimage, with the tenet of keie teaching that Angais take their holy places with them wherever they go, and share the light of their souls with all they meet.
Angaism began in around 670 CE, with Angais believing that this was the time in which Raçime Angaiu wrote down his first revelation in the Faraña. Angaism has never been a majority in its place of origin, with Raçime Angaiu remaining a somewhat detached mystic during his lifetime, though his 22 most loyal followers, the Efielim, copied out the Faraña so that they could take it with them wherever they travelled. While they stayed with Raçime Angaiu, he revealed parts of his second revelation, the Yahangsa, with each of them, though shortly after his death, the Yahangsa became lost. The Efielim travelled far and wide, teaching the words of the Faraña to all who would listen and performing charity and miracles. By the start of the 2nd Millennium, small communities of Angais, known as Rafohem, existed throughout the Old World, and in the Age of Discovery, Angais engaged in missionary work in the New World. Angais became associated with trade, justice and the spread of ideas across the world, with the discovery of new cultures and practices being shared between Rafohem very quickly. Many Angaist philosophers became known for the support of liberal and progressive ideas, with the idea of punishing 'harmless acts' (n'asakh) being antithetical to Angaist thought. As such, Angais have long been supporters of initially fringe social movements before they became mainstream.
While Reñat Angaism, that being the viewing of Angaism as a philosophy rather than a religion, remains a common view among Angais, the two main branches of religious Angaism are Egevi Angaism (90–95%) and Akhnaci Angaism (5–10%). The main disagreement between the groups is over the tenet of angold, with Egevis believing that knowledge of the Yahangsa passed down through the Efielic lineages is not central to the faith, while Akhnacis believe that the Yahangsa can be found by those who are chosen (amielim). Angaism is growing internationally, with many Rafohem being founded each year.
Name
"Angaism" ultimately derives from the name of Raçime Angaiu. In Aneic, the faith is often termed Lam Angai, roughly translating to "the congregation of Angaiu". The name of Raçime Angaiu is sometimes considered to be a title rather than a name in the traditional sense, derived from raçime meaning "to do good" and angaiu meaning "to advocate". As such, the name of the faith has sometimes been likened to the term "advocators" or "advocacy", referring to the holy mission outlined in the five tenets of Angaism to advocate for humanity.
Angaism has been given many other names by the people groups it contacts, many of which have been derogatory in origin. However, there has been a trend among many Angais to adopt these names so as to reduce the power that the negative connotations have, or to encourage the adoption of less derogatory names.
Principles of faith
Little is known about the faiths preceding Angaism in Elisia, and given the sometimes contradictory status of the Angaist esoteric theology of the Yahangsa, little is known about what aspects were included within Angaist theology at all. Statements around the Yahangsa indicate the portrayal of at least one deity, considered potentially a high god or a creator deity in Angaist ontology. However, deities in Angaism are not seen as immanent to the needs of humanity, nor as directly important to the operation of the world.
Angels (Angrahailim) are beings described in the Faraña as "cosmic and spiritual guides and messengers", living in the presence of gods and observing the inequities of humanity. The most important named angel is Hingras, though numerous other angels are mentioned in various Angaist texts. Angels are characterised as moral actors in the world, capable of imparting divine recvelations to the faithful. While both major branches of religious Angaism claim the intervention of angels in the process of revelation through history, only Akhnacism maintains that angels still act as present purveyors of revelation, acting through intermediaries known as amielim to grant new insights to the faithful. Most angels are described as being "made of light" or "formless", though some, including Hingras, have been said to adopt humanoid form, either as a way to reveal things to worthy individuals or to test the morality and generosity of the faithful. The influential religious poems of Rashil Yasach are written as a dialogue between an angel and a human, and inform much of the modern perception of angels in Angaism. Further depictions of angels occur in writings on Angaist philosophy, eschatology and theology.
Perhaps the key aspect of Angaism, agreed to by almost all Angais, is the existence of souls, both human and otherwise. The soul is said by the Faraña to be "the key to the mind, the driver of the heart and the governor of all actions taken". The description of Angaism as "worship of the human soul" is often used to generalise the faith, but it is true that the soul is venerated, and much of the action taken by Angais to protect human and animal life is due to this veneration. Angais believe that the soul is sacred and eternal, though many Angais believe that "extermination of the soul" (aqkhir) is reserved for those who commit truly heinous acts against others in their lifetimes, but believe that this judgment is reserved for angels alone. This belief, coupled with Angaism's natural stance against killing, leads to Angais being in general against the death penalty.
Scriptures
The pre-eminent holy text of Angaism is the Faraña. Angais believe that the Faraña was revealed to the prophet Raçime Angaiu by the angel Hingras around 670 CE, while he and his followers lived in hiding in a hermitage. These revelations were copied down by each of his followers to create the Farañam-Asseret, the core and original copies of the Faraña. Most of the Faraña deals with how to live a good, pious and principled life, involving both general and specific requirements for ethical living. Believers in the so-called "living Faraña", including most Egevis, believe that the words of the Faraña are perfect and require no alteration, merely interpretation, while some reformists, a few Egevis and most Akhnacis, believe that the words themselves can be changed, either by divine revelation or in the "spirit of the Faraña" (abohel Faraña). The science of Farañic interpretation is known as angeañi (literally "speaking one's understanding"), and those who practice it tend to undertake religious learning in Rafohem, or communities of the faith. The Faraña is considered to be one of the finest works in Angaism, and one of the finest works written in liturgical Aneic, which is the official liturgical language of Angeism across the world.
Other important texts in Angaism include treatises, essays and poems on religious topics, and many Angais also see works written for other religions that deal with generosity and good works as valuable texts as well. The only other truly 'holy work' in Angaism is the Yahangsa, which largely deals with theological concepts. There are many different interpretations of the Yahangsa theology that is known, and much of it is simply lost. Raçime Angaiu is said to have revealed many of the details of the Yahangsa to his followers, leading to the Efielic Yahangsa, a set of oral and written transcripts that have been passed down through the Efielic lineages. Though there are many transcripts of the Efielic Yahangsa known, some are claimed to be forgeries, many contradict each other, and at least five are kept as secret knowledge by Akhnaci Assrelem.
Acts of worship
There are five acts of worship which are considered central to Angaist action, collectively known as the Five tenets of Angaism. In addition, Angais are also called to perform a number of supererogatory acts which are not as central as the five tenets, but which go beyond the base level of faithful duty set out in the Faraña.
Sustenance
Sustenance is seen as ensuring that oneself, one's family and one's community are sustained. While the Faraña specifies ensuring the physical needs are met, many Angais also include religious and spiritual sustenance, as well as a cultural sense of sustaining one's community and forming bonds of unity across different communities. This action includes sustaining one's spiritual health through prayer, song and fasting, which are not required acts officially but which are recommended by various Angaist teachers.