Astąhvism

Astąhvism (Ancient Imrinaic: "اشراق," meaning "Illumination," or alternatively "کسانی که توسط خدا دیده می شوند," meaning "those who are seen by God") is a monotheistic religion based on the theological teachings of the Prophet Salhim of Serephai, chronicled in the primary Astąhvist holy text, the Va'arheidim (وحی, the “Revelation”). With almost 782 million followers worldwide (primarily concentrated on the continent of Phaegia), Astąhvism is the third largest religious movement on earth, and the oldest organized religious movement currently in active, widespread practice - tracing its lineage back to the early Imrinid Dominion in the 5th century B.C.E.

While various Astąhvist sects have developed a variety of spiritual traditions and principles, followers of the “Illuminated Faith” generally believe in a single, omnipotent, and benevolent creator deity (referred to as ‘’’Astąh’’’ by worshippers), who has guided humanity over the ages through a succession of prophets and revealed scriptures. For most of their history, the largest and oldest Astąhvist sects have professed beliefs in a final judgment of the soul after death, the divine gift of free will, salvation through penitence and deeds, and a divinely “ordered purpose” for humankind. Most have also embraced (with a few notable exceptions) an understanding of the afterlife ordered around the importance of individual righteousness – with the virtuous rewarded in an eternal union with Astąh in paradise (Shai’al), and the immoral suffering an eternal separation from Astąh in Inanis (the “void,” “divide”). Practitioners of Astąhvism are referred to as “Astąhvists,” and less often (in the Iskshuri denomination), “Astąhiri”.